Using sustainable plastic solutions for construction safety

By Oxford Plastics

Plastic materials are usually necessary in order for a construction site to be compliant and meet health and safety standards. In this field the qualities of plastic make it an ideal choice in terms of performance, design flexibility, weather-resistance and maintenance. But how can companies ensure that the materials they use are high-quality, sustainable and get the job done well? In industries with a large amount of temporary materials by nature, finding ways to be sustainable can be a challenge – but with hard-wearing, quality solutions available, there’s no need to compromise on environmental policy.

The rise of cheap materials

Construction site safety is a hot topic and rightly so. A range of products are available to make sites safe for both the public and site workforce, but not all are made to the same quality. A rise in cheaper materials means that not only is safety compromised but more single-use plastics are sent to landfill, rather than sustainable solutions being utilised.

Unlike quality solutions, cheap materials don’t go through a rigorous testing process, meaning trench covers are more likely to break, barriers won’t be effective, and the products relied on for a safe, efficient site fail – a health and safety nightmare.

The benefits of hard-wearing, sustainable solutions

As well as going through rigorous testing to ensure they can handle any scenario, quality materials and solutions can be used again and again, reducing the need for landfill. You only need to look at a comparison between cheap materials and quality ones to realise why it’s so important to invest!

A trench cover sourced from China, compared to a LowPro 15/10 Driveway Board

Not only do quality products last longer, but they are also often 100% recyclable – so when you do need to dispose of them, you can do so responsibly. Hard-wearing products naturally make sites more efficient, avoiding any delay in work through insufficient products, breakages or health and safety concerns.

With businesses and individuals alike looking at ways to be more sustainable across all areas, hard-wearing solutions that promote a ‘circular economy’ (reusable materials that can eventually be recycled) are the best way to meet environmental goals without compromising on quality or safety.

Oxford Plastics are a leading, British manufacturer of site safety products. With award-winning ranges built for durability and compliance, customers can be sure of safe, sustainable work sites.