by Shane Henson — January 8, 2014—The European Association of Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organisations (EPRO) recently announced the winners of its Best Recycled Plastic Product 2013 contest, an initiative started in 2009 to raise awareness of the value and versatility of used plastics.
All entries had to meet a couple of criteria, including containing a substantial percentage of post-consumer/post-industrial plastics (50 percent and over), being a marketable product or a product that entered the market in 2010 or later, being sustainable, and having been produced in Europe.
The uBin recycling bin won the first place award. Designed and manufactured by Green Warehouse Ltd. in Bristol in the U.K., this new, sustainable product connects 100 percent recycled polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with a high-quality and maintenance-free surface.
“Our stylish uBin is dedicated to encourage responsible recycling of rubbish in offices, schools, universities, hospitals and other typical working environments,” said Will Hayes, owner and managing director of Green Warehouse. “That in itself is commendable enough, but the uBin is actually made from U.K.-sourced post-consumer plastic, such as used water bottles, yoghurt pots, coffee cups, etc.”
The vinyPlus product came in second place. Produced by Vinylit Fassaden GmbH of Kassel, Germany, the product is a combination of recycling material and PVC foil that creates a façade profile that doesn’t require maintenance and/or painting. The profiles can be installed by carpenters, roofers and façade builders without the necessity for any further tools. The product is available in many attractive colors, and associated accessories are also offered.
Eco-core, a sustainable polyester staple fiber manufactured from post-consumer PET bottles, took third place. Developed by Wellman International, Eco-core fiber is suitable for a multitude of uses, including the filling of home furnishings, upholstery and bedding applications. It is also used in more technical applications such as automotive, geotextile and hygiene products.
EPRO’s Co-Chairman Géraud Delorme was pleased to see so many products entered into this year’s competition and believes the contest is a great tool for promoting sustainability in plastics.
“Plastic packaging design, improved collection schemes, advances in sorting technology together with a greater range of reprocessing opportunities and applications means that the need to send many plastics to landfill is gradually decreasing. Therefore, it’s key that we ensure that the consumers and industry recognize this progression and continue to sort and collect this material for recycling,” said Delorme.
“One of the most important ways of doing this is to raise the awareness of the products made from recycled plastics, in turn showcasing a wide range of recycled products, thus creating a demand and maybe an appetite for new companies to start to design and manufacture more products made from recycled plastic—promoting the cycle of plastics. This competition also enables the industry to further demonstrate their commitment and work in the area of corporate social responsibility, and for the consumer to more fully understand the scope of their environmentally friendly actions.”
