30 | SEPTEMBER 2020
Products
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
SUSTAINABLE SEALANTS
– LOCK AND RE-LOAD
Every year, it’s estimated that a staggering one hundred
million used sealant cartridges are sent to landfill in the
UK. That equates to around 6,000 tonnes of non-degradable
waste - with at least some of it being produced by the glazing
industry. One company which has found an innovative
way of addressing this problem is British-based, Bond It.
As David Moore, Managing
Director at the manufacturer
of sealants, adhesives, grouts
and other building chemicals,
explains: “For all businesses -
including those in the sealant
applicator sector - the case for
adopting more sustainable products
and working practices has
never been stronger. Aside from
protecting the environment for
future generations, going greener
can deliver major benefits in
other areas such as potentially
reduced costs and increased
marketing opportunities. A prime
example of this can be found in
our Reload range.”
Better by design
Bond It’s Reload range of silicones
employs a unique reusable
design that helps to minimise
waste to landfill offering a solution
around sustainable packaging.
The system is designed for
use with special sausage refills.
Currently being offered, three of
Bond It’s most popular silicones
and sealants, WP100, Frame-Mate
and Multi-Mate, with a view to
rolling out the concept to other
products in the range at a later
date.
How the Reload refillable system
works is simple. The silicone
is supplied in the form of EU3
aluminium foil sausages that can
be replaced as needed. The end
of this refill is removed with scissors
before the nozzle is attached
as normal. The sealant can then
be dispensed using an ordinary
skeleton gun and once the
refill is used up, the aluminium
slug can be simply and cleanly
removed and disposed of before
another refill is reloaded.
Going green
As well as being incredibly
easy to use, the Reload system
also offers significant environmental
benefits. In particular,
both the cartridge and the nozzle
are completely recyclable while
Reload’s refillable nature also
means that any excess silicone in
the nozzle doesn’t go to waste.
But the green benefits don’t
stop there. The reusable nature of
Reload also results in a considerable
reduction in the amount of
waste generated and subsequently
requiring disposal.
“Aside from helping to reduce
the enormous number of sealant
cartridges currently being sent to
landfill, the Reload system also
delivers a significant reduction in
packaging use and subsequent
waste,” explains David. “In fact,
compared to traditional spent
sealant cartridges, a used Reload
refill is up to 60% lighter and 80%
smaller in volume.
“This offers major benefits
against a backdrop where site
waste disposal costs are now
determined by waste type and
weight. It’s also particularly
pertinent when we take into
consideration the legal requirement
for Site Waste Management
Plans (SWMP) on all building
projects over £300,000 which
seek to increase waste reduction,
recovery and recycling.” Coupled
with landfill shortages around the
corner and increasing site costs
imposed by the Government, this
will lead to increased transportation
costs as waste will need to
travel further.
As a further benefit, the aluminium
foil packaging employed
on the refills ensures that the
silicone boasts twice the product
shelf life of traditional cartridges.
This helps to significantly reduce
spoilage. Plus, the reduction in
packaging also helps to make
the refills lighter and more space
effective than traditional alternatives.
As David concludes: “As a
business, Bond It has always had
a firm focus on product development
and on pioneering new
solutions that meet the evolving
needs of the industries we
serve. As a result, we continue to
enhance our range with products
that not only set new standards
in terms of performance and
technical innovation, but also
environmental credentials. Reload
is a prime example of this commitment.”
Potentially it will also be a
more cost effective option to
consider if the Government pass
legislation in 2022 to tax imported
plastic packaging that does
not contain at least 30% recycled
content. With current cartridges
being produced from 100%
virgin plastic there will be a cost
increase that inevitably will be
passed on to end users of these
products. Switching to greener
systems, like the Reload concept,
will reap commercial benefits as
well as tackling the increasing
issue of single use plastic and its
devastating affect on the planet.
www.bond-it.co.uk