Innovative roofing tile firm shortlisted for Lord Stafford Award

A REVOLUTIONARY roofing tile made from recycled polymers developed by a Shropshire man with help from the University of Wolverhampton has been shortlisted for a prestigious innovation award.

The Envirotile was developed by roofer of 35-years and managing director of Telford-based The Green Roof Tile Company, Trevor Wakefield and weighs just 710g – less than a quarter of the weight of conventional concrete roof tiles.

The tiles clip together using a tongue and groove mechanism before being fixed into position with a nail or screw.

The Envirotile has now been shortlisted for a Lord Stafford Award in the Innovation for Environmental Sustainability.

The awards showcase the best in collaboration between business and academia across the Midlands.

Mr Wakefield worked alongside the Caparo Innovation Centre at the University of Wolverhampton to test the Envirotile.

He said: “Halfway through my holiday on a cold, wet and windy day in March 2008, I had my Eureka moment, having watched an environmental program with the children on the subject of the effect of plastic pollution and contamination to the world’s oceans.

“The programme highlighted that ideas to this waste problem were desperately needed.

“Having been employed as a roofer for over 35 years within the roofing industry and having knowledge based on manual experience, I knew there was scope for a product that could act as a vessel for polymer waste streams in the form of a modern roof tile, and that there was at this time no effective roof tile product here in the UK that was properly designed and made entirely from recycled polymer.”

On his return he set about designing a roof tile that was made from a polymer waste.

“On conclusion of tests conducted at the Buildings Research Establishment (BRE), the inspector remarked that the Envirotile was the best roof tile system that they had ever tested at which point I knew that as a designer of an innovative roof tile I had succeeded my quest.”

Lord Stafford, Patron of the Awards, said: “This is a tremendous example of businesses and academia working together to take a product to the market.

“Roof slates have been mainstays of construction for centuries, now the Envirotile not only could change this but also as a result of reduced transportation costs and the fact that recycled materials can be used, also has a major benefit in terms of sustainability.”

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony being held at the University of Birmingham Great Hall on Thursday.