It Lasts forever and Looks Good Forever - No Maintenance Costs
Rising Costs of Wood
The cost of wood has been rising steadily, while high quality recycled plastic products, superior in all respects to traditional building materials, have been emerging.
Recycled Plastic 30% Annual Growth
Kedel Limited, a family business based in Colne, Lancashire, manufacture building and construction products in 100% British Recycled Plastic.
Despite launching the business at the height of a serious economic recession, turnover has been rising 30% a year for the last 5 years.
This provides solid evidence of a mushrooming interest in recycled plastic for building and construction.
Synthetic Wood
The company extrudes plastic wood made from crushed CD cases in a range of profiles from v-cladding and decking to tongue and groove.
Their heavy-duty mixed plastic profiles have been used for viewing platforms on the Orbital Tower at the London Olympics and to replace wooden fence panels on Housing Estates in South Manchester (case study video).
Designs for Outdoor Education
Kedel's experienced design team produced over 30 new products for the education market in their first year, including wonderful multi-coloured outdoor play equipment, benching, and fencing products.
Educational Funding Benefits
"There is a keen interest in recycled plastic because of its longevity - it will never rot and eliminates the maintenance budget.
And it's easier for schools to raise funds for products that have a long life, as well as being eco-friendly," says Dermot Walch, Kedel's Managing Director (case study video).
Recycled Plastic vs Wood Costs
A Cost Comparison Study undertaken by WRAP (Waste Resources Action Programme) assumed that after 2 years wood products would need annual maintenance with total replacement by year 7.
Recycled Plastic Lasts at Least 5 Times Longer than Wood
"Buying recycled plastic is like buying a car that will never ever need a service. It lasts forever and looks good forever.
Over a 35 year period, a recycled plastic product will look much the same as the day it was installed, while a wooden product will have been replaced at least 5 times," says Director, Lewis Walch.
