Reducing plastic in the construction sector is vital

With plastic proving a serious issue in the construction sector, it’s time steps were taken to reduce its environmental impact. Leigh Matthews, Operations Director here at Plasloc, had this to say on the issue, the important role the construction industry has to play and how we are doing all we can to tackle the problem.

Plastic pollution and the construction industry

It’s estimated that around 335 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year, highlighting the devastating impact plastic pollution is having on the environment.

The construction sector itself has a problem with plastic and it is understood to be second only to the packaging industry when it comes to the biggest producer of plastic waste in the UK, generating an estimated 50,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year. Our environment can no longer sustain this level of waste production and it needs to change before the problem gets even worse.

And with the threat of global warming constantly looming, managing and reducing the amount of plastic waste used within such a fast-paced industry is becoming increasingly important. It is, therefore, imperative that the construction industry reconsiders the way it consumes and disposes of plastics to protect the environment. And, as a vital part of the construction sector, the building products industry has an important part to play in the increasing fight to reduce the amount of plastic waste.

This can be done by reducing, reusing and recycling plastics.

How Plasloc is reducing the effects of plastic pollution

As a company that deals with plastic, we know it’s important that we strive to avoid a negative impact on our planet. Since our creation, Plasloc has been developed as an environmentally-friendly alternative to standard building materials, designed for quick installation and easy removal.

We take numerous measures to ensure we’re not contributing to the problem, such as minimal transportation and ensuring our products have a much greater reuse potential than other existing hoarding products. We buy the plastic as recycled material, preventing it from going to landfill so it’s much more sustainable.

After use, we remove the screens and they, like all Plasloc’s other partitions, are granulated and ready to be closed-loop recycled to produce more Plasloc in a process that creates zero waste.

The importance of construction waste management

All construction waste, not just plastic, is a big contributor to sustainability problems, particularly as the ‘make, use and dispose’ approach has often been favoured. But having an effective waste management policy that reduces, reuses and recycles can help combat the industry’s waste and sustainability problems.

The detrimental impact plastic has on the environment should be a cause for concern for us all, but by raising awareness and showcasing best practice the building products sector can get much better. We all have a role to play.

Since its establishment in 2011, Plasloc has been an essential component in more than 5700 projects and is a recognised brand amongst the UK’s leading retailers and building contractors. For more information on what we do here at Plasloc, give us a call on 01626 356 995, send an email to [email protected] or browse our website.