Plastic fantastic for construction industry

A NEW groundbreaking building material made from recycled plastic is set to revolutionise the construction industry.

Halifax-based i-plas is hoping that the new material, which is 100% recycled and recycleable, will replace the need for concrete, steel and wood.

i-plas can also be used in applications as diverse as bridges, footpaths, walls, fences and flood prevention, as other architectural construction.

According to its creator it 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.

Moreover, i-plas is hoping to promote the material’s environmental benefits. One tonne of i-plas saves 1.66 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Howard Waghorn, managing director of i-plas, said: “i-plas is an incredible material and with properties similar to steel, concrete and wood, its applications are extensive.

“We are already seeing it replace timber in bridges, footpaths and park benches, but we believe the construction industry should now be look to use i-plas as a direct replacement for concrete in new projects.

“Not only is it a great material in its own right, the environmental benefits are huge. Why use concrete with its enormous environmental cost, when there is now an alternative that performs better and has no environmental impact?”

i-plas, which also makes outdoor furniture, matting and other products from recycled plastic, has been tackling the problem of plastic waste over the years with a number of innovative solutions.

The firm takes mixed plastic waste, which was destined for landfill and converts it into i-plas.

Established with the sole objective of recycling plastic and creating a wholly new and usable material, i-plas is already being used by building and construction companies nationwide.