In a recent piece for GreenBiz, Matthew Kendle points out that the public conversation around plastics often conflates durable plastic products like PVC pipe with single-use plastic products such as water bottles or shopping bags. In reality, sustainability is more complicated than the media sometimes presents it, especially in the construction industry. PVC pipe has a better embodied carbon profile than alternative materials like iron and concrete. Read the whole article for more:
Plastics are not all equal
Not all plastics are bad, and consumption within the industry looks set to increase, with plastic pipes, for example, already accounting for most new pipe installations.
"Contrary to popular belief, it’s important to acknowledge that plastics in construction are often a positive thing," says Allan Sandilands, principal consultant at sustainability consultancy Resource Futures. "Many are highly durable, long lasting and permanently installed, so they’re unlikely to become marine litter."
Additionally, plastics are cost-effective, strong yet light, easily formable and easy to maintain.
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From an embodied carbon perspective, plastic is far less energy intensive to produce than traditional materials such as concrete and steel, especially when recycled. It also has engineering benefits such as its high strength-to-weight ratio, durability and resistance to corrosion. Combine all those characteristics and you have an environmentally attractive proposition.
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As economies around the world grapple with how to move to a new circular plastics economy, the construction sector is well placed to become an important part of the transition.