Sustainability, carbon footprints and recycling… You are hearing these terms more and more. But how do these terms relate to plastics? Are recycled plastics actually that sustainable? And by choosing recycled plastics instead of sheets from ‘virgin’ raw materials, do you really reduce your carbon footprint?
These Greencast® plastic sheets are made from recycled cast acrylic sheets. The latter have been made from acetone, methanol, hydrogen cyanide and sulphuric acid. These substances are harmless and offer safe sheets with particularly advantageous properties.
There are many advantages to recycled plastics over ‘new’ plastics. Plastic waste is used to produce recycled plastics, so first of all you don’t need to use ‘new’ raw materials. The sheet that is then created also retains all the benefits you know from standard sheets. Here are some of the benefits of recycled plastic for you.
Recycled plastic sheets are made from waste plastics. This waste can be either industrial waste or consumer-generated waste. As a result, recycled plastic helps to drastically reduce the amount of plastic waste that would otherwise be destroyed in landfills or end up in nature. This reduces the ‘carbon footprint’ of any project, where a lot of recycled plastic is used.
Like standard plastics, recycled plastic sheets are extremely durable and have a very long lifespan. Recycled plastic sheets are also resistant to moisture, rot, insects and UV radiation. As a result, recycled plastic sheets, like standard plastics, have a long lifespan for both indoor and outdoor use.
Recycled plastic sheets are very easy to maintain, just like other plastics. These sheets are easy to clean with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. Do not use aggressive agents, rough brushes or abrasive sponges. These can make the sheet dull. Any scratches can easily be removed with our polishes.
Even in outdoor use, recycled plastic does not warp, crack or split in very hot or cold weather. Recycled plastics are also resistant to moisture and corrosion. This makes these sheets ideal for use in humid environments, or areas where extreme weather conditions occur.
As you would expect from plastics, recycled plastics are also very versatile. Thanks to the wide range of colours, and good machinability, you can give free rein to your creativity.
We want to contribute to a more sustainable future. That is why we think it is important to find solutions to the current unsustainable processes. Sheet recycling is a good example of this. In this way, we do not have to obtain new raw materials, but use materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
Because of their wide suitability, combined with their lower carbon footprint, you see recycled plastics increasingly used in many applications. Below, we give examples of sectors and places where recycled plastic is often seen.
The construction industry is also concerned with sustainability. It is therefore logical that recycled materials such as recycled plastic are increasingly chosen here. Here are some examples of applications of recycled plastic in the construction sector:
In the world of agriculture and horticulture, recycled plastics have become indispensable thanks to their UV and weather resistance. Here are some examples of recycled plastics in agriculture and horticulture:
In the furniture industry, recycled plastics are used for many different products. Because you can easily clean these recycled plastics, and because they are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, these plastics are a popular choice. For specific applications of recycled plastics in the furniture industry, some examples are:
The production process of recycled plastic starts with collecting plastic waste. This is then sorted and cleaned. This plastic waste is then shredded into small pieces and melted into liquid form. In the liquid form, the resulting colour is extracted. To make the plastic even purer, the recycler can choose to break down the polymers from existing plastics into the building blocks of the material. This makes the sheets like new again.
Recycled plastic sheets are a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional materials from ‘virgin’ raw materials. This is because they help reduce waste. The material that would otherwise have become landfill is now used to make new sheets. This immediately saves on the use of fossil raw materials.
Lower CO2 emissions are produced, because the production of recycled plastics requires significantly less energy, than in the production of new plastics. Reusing existing materials promotes a circular economy.
In short, sheets of recycled plastics are a more environmentally friendly alternative to ‘new’ plastics. This significantly reduces a project’s carbon footprint and promotes a circular economy. Moreover, the plastic itself retains the same properties as ‘new’ sheets.
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