Plastic waste is ubiquitous in construction, and the consequences are becoming increasingly apparent. Dr Wendy Jones of Changing Streams spoke to Jack Wooler about what is being done to address this key industry challenge
Plastic is everywhere in construction, with a reported 23 per cent of the plastic produced in the UK consumed by the industry alone. This also makes the construction industry the second largest producer of plastic waste in the UK after packaging, generating an eye-watering 50,000 tonnes of plastic packaging waste each year. Only a small proportion of this is currently recycled.
Increasingly, however, climate-conscious individuals and firms within the industry and beyond are decrying the harmful effects this legacy is having on the environment.
Despite the many benefits plastic brings, according to Dr Wendy Jones, science engagement lead at non-profit waste campaigning group Changing Streams, the inherent dangers are just not worth the savings.
Plastic predominance
“There is no denying that plastic has its advantages,” admits Dr Jones, noting its versatility, light weight, durability and its cheapness to produce.
In terms of the environment however, she continues, “that all comes at a big cost.”
Plastic materials are largely produced from fossil fuels, and over the last 70 years human ingenuity has developed countless ranges of products, with production growing exponentially. In fact, according to Dr Jones, half of the total world production of plastic (derived from fossil fuel) has occurred in the last 15 years, and this is expected to triple by 2050.
The most common sources of plastic waste in construction include packaging (accounting for 25 per cent of packaging waste in construction), unused materials from over-ordering and off-cuts, improper storage and handling, over-specified project design, and workforce food packaging and utensils.
According to Jones, one of the main problems here is that strategies for disposal have not kept up with the rate of production, and, although some is recycled or converted to fuel sources, “the stark reality,” she says, is that less than 10 per cent of plastic worldwide is currently recycled – the majority ending up either in landfill or the world’s oceans.
The impact of dependence
It is estimated that approximately 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the oceans every year, bringing ‘immediate implications’ for wildlife, and potential dangers to humans.
“The effects have received increasing attention in programmes such as Blue Planet, where turtles have been seen entangled in plastic, birds getting caught in plastic nets, or large sea mammals having huge amounts of plastic in their stomachs,” Jones explains.
She tells me that larger land animals are also impacted, as high concentrations of plastic can inhibit the growth and reproduction of the small organisms that provide food for larger creatures both on land and in the ocean, as they are unable to distinguish between food and plastic particles.
These particles are also a danger to humans, she says, getting into rainwater and being found in fruit and vegetables as a result. ‘Microplastic’ particles are even being found in the air we breathe, says Jones.
“The long-term health implications of these findings are not yet fully understood,” she tells me, “but it is known that there’s a higher incidence of lung disease among those who work in plastic manufacturing, and there’s growing evidence of disruption of the body’s endocrine system from plastics.“
“We also know that some of the chemicals used in plastics manufacture to confer the specific valuable properties of plastics, such as flexibility, are highly toxic.”
These chemicals are released into the environment when plastic degrades, as well as during situations such as wildfires or building fires. They cause atmospheric pollution and risks to firefighters and those living nearby, beyond the devastation of the fire itself.
Alongside all this, the environmental damage to marine ecosystems as a result of plastic pollution is estimated to equate to £10.5bn per year. Related economic costs include those linked to clean-up operations, litter removal, the repair and replacement of damaged vessels and gear, reduced fishing catches, and a decline in coastal tourism and impact on related industries.
Possible solutions
It’s not all doom and gloom, however – there are some practical actions that can be taken by housebuilders and developers to begin to change the default approaches to using plastic.
Jones explains her organisation’s mission: “We want housebuilders and developers to recognise the issues, and take steps to reduce their dependence on plastic.”
She says there are many paths available to achieve this, including the reduction of single use plastics, reduction of plastic packaging, minimisation of wasteful use of plastic materials, and evaluation of sustainable alternatives.
Jones tells me that some initial practical options that companies can explore include creating a site waste management plan, providing and using sustainable materials, and avoiding single-use plastics. In addition, initial approaches include educating the workforce through workshops, and introducing circular economy principles.
Government’s role
Ultimately, however, Jones says policy change will be needed at industry and government level. Changing Streams for one hopes to develop a cross-party alliance to address this, as the political drive continues towards a low carbon economy.
She says that reducing plastic use is intrinsic to meeting the carbon goals – it is estimated that 10 per cent of fossil fuel production is used either as raw materials or energy for production of plastic.
Jones argues that as this proportion will actually increase as alternative energy sources become available, “reducing dependence on plastic will be a necessary part of the drive to zero carbon.”
Jones points out relevant law and legislation already in place to reduce plastic and packaging waste, which have been outlined in the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s Best Practice Hub.
The 25-Year Environmental Plan (‘25-YEP’), for example, outlines the Government’s ambition to minimise waste, and states that the Government are working towards a target of eliminating avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042.
Bridging the gap
Aiming to reduce this plastic use in the construction industry, Changing Streams was established in 2018, by property entrepreneur Neal Maxwell, in partnership with The University of Liverpool.
Dr Jones tells me that, following a trip to the Arctic, Neal became aware of the extent of plastic pollution even in those parts of the world which are generally regarded as pristine, “and decided he had to do something to address the problem.”
As such, the company “aims to bridge the gap between industry and academia,” hoping to create a lasting change based on in-depth research and innovation.
To achieve this, it is bringing together experts from across the construction, scientific and environmental communities to facilitate innovation, research and development programmes which will drive a reduction in plastics in buildings, and throughout the built environment supply chain.
The organisation is running a series of workshops, for example, which can be delivered online and customised to any organisation. These workshops explore the issues of plastic use and waste and help empower organisations and individuals to develop plans to address the issue head on.
“Our ultimate mission is the eradication of plastic at source, starting with the construction industry,” says Jones.
Case study
Jones cites a key example of the organisation’s work in the housebuilding sector as its partnership with Your Housing Group, which has an ongoing mission to create sustainable communities across the country. Some of the measures it has committed to over the coming years will include simple ‘swap-outs,’ such as changing fixtures and fittings, and reducing the use of plastic wrapping for building materials, such as bricks and cladding. But it’s also engaging in more complex long-term strategies to phase out materials containing plastic.
Your Housing Group is also reportedly looking to embed the Changing Streams Charter across an “ambitious” programme of new housing developments it is currently rolling out across the country, in which all new contractors will be obliged to adhere to its plastic reduction pledge before being appointed.
“This will ensure positive changes cascade throughout the supply chain, including contractors, suppliers and manufacturers, which will help drive change at every level of the construction process,” says Jones.
Long-term solutions
While Dr Jones accepts “there is a long journey ahead,” and that there may be some essential components which may not be easy to replace with non-plastic alternatives, she says there are many ‘easy’ fixes which should immediately be adopted by the industry.
“Recycling does a lot to help the problem, but is not the ultimate long-term solution,” she continues.
At present, approximately only 10 per cent of all plastic produced is recycled in any form, and even recycled material can only be recycled a limited number of times (around five). So recycling only extends the life of fossil-fuel plastic, it does not eliminate the problem of disposal.
Jones also adds that the options to convert plastic to fuel would reduce the burden of microplastic pollution, but can have the unwanted side-effect of producing carbon or carbon dioxide, and volatile compounds.
“As such,” she asserts, “a longer-term solution needs to be actioned, and that is exactly what Changing Streams aims to address.”