The four eco-towns announced by the Government present a now-or-never opportunity for the construction industry, according to Howard Waghorn, Managing Director of i-plas, the ultimate recycled building material.
The four eco-towns might be a scaled-back version of what was originally planned, but it is the construction industry that needs to up its game and not the Government, Waghorn argued.
He explained: “The construction industry really needs to up its game in terms of use of recycled materials. The materials are here to be used now but the industry sticks with what it knows, traditional methods and traditional materials.
“I see the construction industry like a huge lorry which needs turning around. Once it turns to face the right way there will be no stopping it, but at the moment the lorry has barely slowed down to notice recycled materials and green initiatives. We are blindly driving the planet to the brink. Everyone thinks the solutions are difficult or expensive. The reality is that there are solutions to the environmental problems we face which can be used right now. The construction industry can’t be bothered to try anything new.
“Network Rail is currently blazing a trail and using i-plas to replace wooden sleepers but the large construction companies are, by and large, successfully side-stepping the issue.
“We are the market leader and growing rapidly. However, we are only scratching the surface of the potential for recycled materials and there is plenty of waste material which can be transformed into i-plas. The capacity is there and all we need is for the world to sit up and ask questions of the industry. Why are we still using environmentally unfriendly materials when there is already an alternative?"
i-plas has had wide acclaim for its eco-credentials and versatility. Although naturally lending itself to exterior and landscaping uses, the material, which is made from recycled polymers, is also being used in applications as diverse as bridges, footpaths, walls, fences and flood prevention, as well as architectural uses. i-plas will not chip or splinter, is vandal resistant, requires no varnish or coating and can be formulated for specific applications. Additionally, the material is extremely hardwearing, non-combustible, difficult to ignite and will normally self-extinguish.
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