With the COP26 climate conference fresh in our minds many of us are looking at how to reduce our carbon footprint and usage of non-recyclable materials, such as plastic. But which industry in the UK accounts for the most plastic consumption?
Whilst the packaging sector takes top place for generating the most plastic waste, the home improvement specialists at Insulation Express have identified that the construction industry is the second industry most reliant on plastic materials in the UK.
The UK construction industry accounts for 19% of plastic waste
The latest data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) revealed that the UK construction industry has increased its plastic waste output by 45.72% in the last two years. The most common plastic materials used in construction include acrylic, composites, polycarbonate, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride which are used in a range of applications, such as insulation, window frames and piping.
Approximately 50 tonnes of plastic packaging waste can be attributed to the British construction industry – that’s five times the weight of the Eiffel Tower! It is estimated that large quantities of plastic waste leave sites in mixed waste skips – sending 20 tonnes of plastic straight to landfill to be incinerated, which releases toxic fumes and contributes to dangerous carbon emissions.
6 ways the construction industry can cut their plastic waste:
- Cut costs and waste by reusing plastic packaging where possible: Reusing packaging will not only benefit the environment, but can also help businesses to keep costs down with less waste collection and skips to hire.
- Bulk order materials to cut volume of packaging per item: Ordering building materials in bulk will result in much less packaging material used overall.
- Speak to supplier to reduce packaging: Materials can be delivered and protected in reusable plastic boxes which can be returned to the supplier to use again. The whole procurement process can be addressed as suppliers and businesses work together to reduce packaging waste and unnecessary plastic extras.
- Correct site management of supplies: Over-ordering and theft of plastic materials can result in wastage. Efficient organisation is key to minimise the misuse of materials, whilst ensuring only to order the correct amount of items required will reduce left-over plastic.
- Creative solutions during transport of goods: Many companies will rely on shrink wrapping and extra protective plastic straps for transportation of goods on construction sites – innovation is needed to experiment with alternative solutions.
- Utilise recycled plastic: Road resurfacing materials are now often formed of recycled materials or reused asphalt. If recycled plastic is not feasible, the reuse of components or materials should be encouraged as standard practice.
Jenny Turner at Insulation Express says: ‘Plastic is heavily used in construction due to its durability and waterproof properties, but we are also seeing innovative recycling processes emerging where the plastic can be turned into other building materials. Recycled plastic can be turned into plastic timber for garden decking, cladding and fences, for example. The UK needs to continue the growth of these recyclable materials to improve the sustainability of the construction industry. The average construction professional, such as joiners and builders, can find ways to reduce plastic waste by speaking to materials suppliers, educating your workforce and creating good eco-friendly working practices.’
https://www.insulationexpress.co.uk/blog/can-the-uks-construction-lessen-its-plastic-usage.html