It is very difficult to imagine a modern, energy-efficient and affordable construction industry without the use of plastics technology.
Plastics in Construction
From window profiles to insulation materials, and from the finest floor coverings to the packaging keeping the bags of cement dry, plastics are an essential part of the whole construction supply chain, which is why EPPM is paying homage to this vast side of the plastics industry in Europe in our four-week special focus.
So let us begin Construction Month by looking at some of the big numbers concerning plastics in the modern European construction industry.
One in five tonnes of plastics for construction
According to the latest statistics from PlasticsEurope, the Building and Construction sector accounts for 19.7 per cent of a total of 49 million tonnes of plastics consumed in Europe annually - that's one tonne in every five. Within this segment, the most-consumed plastics are PVC, PE-HD, PE-MD, PS-E and PUR.
The increased adoption of plastics and new plastic technologies into construction is a major skills driver within the sector, which in itself is one of the biggest employers in the EU. Incidentally, 92 per cent of construction companies are SMEs, employing fewer than 10 people, with significant potential for job creation.
Sustainability and environmental awareness in building and construction is also on the rise, with 10 countries within the EU 28 boasting a recovery rate of up to 80 per cent of all their waste plastic from building and construction. Among the highest-performing countries are Germany, the Netherland, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland. But there is work yet to be done, with Italy and a number of Southern and Eastern European nations as yet not recording any recovery of plastic waste from building and construction.
The European Union has to play the green card across the region, however, as plastics will play a crucial role in meeting the Renovate Europe target to reduce energy demand in building stock by 80 per cent by 2050 compared to 2005 data.
Construction
Energy efficiency at its best
In insulation, plastics save over 200 times more energy in their lifetime than used for their production and if all of Europe adopted PVC window frames, the energy savings would equal the output of five large power stations, according to PlasticsEurope.
By combining thermal insulation with triple-glazed windows, householders can reduce their energy consumption by up to 80 per cent, bringing with them the advantages of easy installation and a lifetime of 50 years of efficacy, while plastic insulation saves 16 per cent more energy overall than alternatives such as mineral wool or slag.
All of these energy efficiency gains amount to a more sustainable Europe thanks to plastics technology. Buildings are responsible for some 40 per cent of the EU's energy consumption and greenhouse gas pollution and efficient insulation is one of the easiest way to prevent heat from escaping.
But what about end-of-life plastics in construction? Building and construction is a notoriously wasteful industry but Europe is turning this trend around, with recovery of plastic waste in building and construction on the increase - even if a lot of work is yet to be done. The collection of waste plastics from construction and building now stands at nearly 60 per cent, when it was 56 per cent in 2010 according to PlasticsEurope.
These rates are being pushed up thanks to initiatives such as VinylPlus, which supports the collection and recycling of PVC products, the largest volumes of which come from the building sector in the form of window profiles, pipes and cables. Currently, VinylPlus aims to recycle 800,000 tonnes of PVC per year by 2020.
