Hot on the heels of the recent #TradesTalk discussion on excessive packaging in construction, the National Federation for Builders (NFB) has said the industry must reduce its dependence on single-use plastic.
In construction, the reliance on single-use plastic has been drastically declining, but single-use packaging makes up a third of waste. Pipes and drains are made out of recyclable plastics, while many insulation materials contain recycled materials, but the construction industry is the second largest consumer of plastic behind retail.
A proposed change in the law banning some single-use plastics will see a dramatic drop in their use, but the NFB believes the Government must see its role as stimulating investment and opportunity in material sciences and embracing new ways of recycling plastic. The construction industry is well-placed to lead this challenge, with an increasing number of projects using plastic for insulation, new roads and even bricks.
Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “From recycled-plastic roads and homes made out of recyclable materials to waste sorting and on-site recycling, the construction industry is a key player in solving the challenges plastic poses to society and the environment.
“We now need the Government to think more deeply about how, together, we can find solutions and embed them through best practice and innovative approaches.”
