Footprint

Footprint visited the EcoSheet factory this week to find out more about this previously posted material. An exciting aspect of the product is the wide range of recycled plastics that are used: site hats; bottle tops; computer parts; construction waste; the list goes on.  In an age where the issue of recycling and landfill is so critical, this product is a welcome newcomer.

Sheets are made from recycled plastic waste; one application so far is site hoardings. The factory has grown steadily since its 2009 inception, and some major contractors have signed up for hoarding and temporary works. Post construction, the hoarding can either be moved to the next site, or can come back to the factory to be re-ground and re-used.

Construction waste ready to go on the conveyor belt for sorting

A range of plastic bottles

A mix of plastics

The product is still in its infancy, but there are hopes there will be a wider variety of products to come in the next year.  Already Fray Design are developing and testing the product for use in tabling, storage and reception counters; the latter will be displayed at Ecobuild.

Plastics are sorted on the conveyor belt and then sent for grinding

A range of ground plastics

The finished product

Currently materials come from within a 30 mile radius from waste companies, who bring the plastics they are unable to recycle. When the factory is running at full capacity there is scope to utilise 30,000 tonnes of plastic a year. This small transport radius influences the expansion plans too: smaller factories dotted around conurbations, rather than one large factory are planned to keep transport of waste down to a minimum.

A new product for later this year: coloured panels

by Jo Leeder

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