MARSHALLTUFFLEX
TAKING THE LEAD IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY British based cable management manufacturer, Marshall-Tufflex has called upon the industry to become more environmentally conscious by installing PVC-U trunking with a minimum of 50% recycled plastic. Here, Jon Chamberlain, Commercial Director at Marshall-Tufflex considers the need for change and outlines the steps the company has taken in the last year to improve its own sustainable practices.
The impact of the construction industry
For over 25 years, Marshall-Tufflex has been using recycled materials in its manufacturing
The latest figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs revealed that the construction, demolition and excavation industry is responsible for roughly 60% of waste. In the UK, around 120 million tonnes of waste is produced from the construction industry, with around 25 million tonnes ending up in landfill. As landfill sites continue to fill up, the waste capacity will shrink, creating a waste crisis. Moreover, with the latest law to reduce carbon emissions by 78% by 2035 in accordance with the Paris Agreement, it is likely not long before the construction industry is called on to introduce further measures to reduce its impact.
Recycling in practice For over 75 years, Marshall-Tufflex has delivered high quality cable management systems to customers in every sector, and for over 25 years the company has been using recycled materials in its manufacturing. Drawing on its legacy in cable management and striving for new
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innovative manufacturing techniques, the company has developed an industry-leading processing method to recycle waste PVC-U windows into high quality cable management solutions. In 2020, PVC-U cable management products from Marshall-Tufflex were manufactured using 74% recycled material. Impressively, all-white conduit, mini and maxi trunking lengths from Marshall-Tufflex are currently manufactured using 100% recycled material. Thanks to the company’s ongoing recycling commitment, PVC-U is re-used to manufacture its trunking and conduit products. This milestone is a significant achievement for the company as part of its mission to drive positive change in the industry.
Superior quality in recycled materials Contrary to what many in the industry may believe, products made from recycled plastic do not fall short on quality or appearance. Marshall-Tufflex implements a rigorous quality testing regime to ensure it manufactures safe, innovative products that meet all quality expectations and standards. For example, samples are taken from the production line every 10 to 20 minutes to check for consistency in colour and surface finish. Better still, in comparison to trunking from virgin materials, cable management products made from recycled PVC-U windows are more durable. This is due to the robust material properties of the waste PVC-U windows that were originally manufactured to withstand extreme weather conditions. This also helps to improve carbon emissions. For example, research from the University of Manchester found that a PVC-U window manufactured using recycled content has up to 20 times less embodied carbon than those manufactured from virgin plastic.
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Changes for the industry Not only is Marshall-Tufflex improving its own environmental impact, but it is also dedicated to improving the environmental impact of the construction sector as a whole, in particular, the cable management industry. By 2028 it is the vision of Marshall-Tufflex that all PVC-U cable management products are manufactured using a minimum of 50% recycled material. By encouraging specifiers and contractors to increase their use of products made from recycled materials, it is anticipated that recycling initiatives will become an industry norm. The next seven years between now and 2028 are vital for inspiring change in sustainable regulations in the construction industry. Industry standards need to improve to encourage a circular economy and reduce our impact on the environment for future generations. By supplying products made from recycled materials that are equal to, and in many cases superior to products made from virgin materials, Marshall-Tufflex hopes to encourage other manufacturers to increase their recycled content in products. Marshall-Tufflex, marshall-tufflex.com
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26/05/2021 16:07
