PLASWOOD
HOW PLASWOOD IS HELPING TO EMBRACE A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Katherine Lorek-Wallace , General Manager of Plaswood , a manufacturer of recycled plastic lumber , says informed material choices will be an important part of enabling builders to work to establishing a circular economy as the industry moves to developing more sustainable building practices .
A significant development in the drive to create a more sustainable world has been the move towards a circular economy as an alternative to the traditional linear version of ‘ make , use , dispose .’ Whereas with the linear approach , raw materials are collected , transformed into products and ultimately disposed of , under circular economy principles , the lifecycle of a material is extended as long as possible , with recovery , recycling and regeneration at the end of each service cycle .
Since a substantial part of the circular economy requires keeping products in use for as long as possible , a proactive way to make this happen is to focus on continued usability when purchasing building material and products .
Plastic lumber already provides an ideal demonstration of the circular economy in action , as it is manufactured from recycled plastic removed from the waste stream .
In terms of applications , the material is extremely versatile being suitable for a variety of products such as joists , decking , rails , fences , boardwalks and also outdoor furniture . And when it comes to longevity , plastic lumber has several additional benefits . It is fully weather-proof and easy to clean , which makes it more hygienic than traditional timber alternatives .
The material is also resistant to attacks by insects and has no risk of rotting or degrading with age , meaning it remains entirely durable and long-lasting even in the most challenging of environments . Just as important , plastic lumber is maintenance free and does not require painting or chemical treatment at any point in its life span , saving both time and cost in comparison to the upkeep of more traditional materials .
The process of turning plastic waste into useful second life products involves the collected items going through a series of rigorous
quality checks as they pass through the remanufacturing process that sees the plastic shredded , washed , blended and melted , ready for extrusion into lumber profiles .
And while the recycled plastic profiles are ideal for many requirements , from the landscaper looking for a planter to the builder constructing a revetment wall , all products can also be recycled and remanufactured multiple times over , thus continuing the circular economy journey .
PART OF THE SOLUTION
Achieving a comprehensive circular economy is understandably a long-term challenge , but it is something that industries need to aim for in order to ensure we create a world fit for future generations . In the construction world , the adoption of plastic lumber may be a small step but it a significant one , and one that will also find particular favour with consumers , given the current media focus on the problems of plastic waste and pollution . In this way , plastic waste becomes less of a problem and more part of the solution .
In demonstrating a practical use for used plastic through plastic lumber to replace conventional materials , builders can easily demonstrate a positive sustainability commitment – and just as important they have a functional and reliable product that will deliver many long-term benefits for both them and their customers .
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