Construction World November 2022

oceans. Recycling of just one ton of plastic results in CO 2 savings of 0,73 tons, which is the same as preventing 4 000 km of travel in a car. To date, we have prevented millions of tons of plastics from reaching and spoiling the natural environment,” Minne adds. Recycled plastics in conjunction with bamboo fibres can be processed to create products that are not only holistically sustainable but immensely durable and strong. “To do this, we have powered what is an energy-intensive process through solar energy, installing nearly 90 000 m 2 of solar panels at our manufacturing facility since 2017. This means we are saving 2 000 tons of CO 2 from entering the atmosphere every single day,” says Minne. Eva-Last has been operating with an environmentally conscious mindset since 2006, from the choices of sustainable raw materials to ensuring that renewable energy is harnessed to create sustainable building products. “Eva-Last has been internationally recognised for our commitment to environmental sustainability and we’re proud of the work we do to promote timber alternatives that are gentle on the Earth. We don’t cut down any trees, we use no toxic chemicals in either manufacturing or maintenance of our products and we have reduced our waste impact to almost zero, ensuring our carbon footprint is minimal,” says Minne. “We believe that as people around the world become increasingly concerned with environmental sustainability, our eco-friendly credentials will be as important as the incredible technical engineering that goes into creating beautiful, durable high-performance products that enhance our living spaces,” he adds. 

are reducing environmental impact while recreating the beauty and elegance of natural wood. Eva-Last CEO and Co-founder, Marc Minne says the company substitutes 180 m 3 of composite materials for hardwoods every year in the production of its decking and cladding products. “That equates to approximately 120 000 trees that are saved annually. To provide a more practical picture, a 200 m 2 hardwood deck would require nearly 13 trees to be cut down for planed logs. Hardwood decks typically need to be replaced every ten years through exposure to the elements and weathering.” The potential impact of decking on the environment is immense. However, Eva-Last’s composite building materials makes use of bamboo as a raw material, which grows up to 50 times faster than hardwood timber and releases 35% more oxygen into the air. “Planed logs for decking produce a massive amount of wastage – sometimes up to 80% of the tree – but with bamboo fibres we can bring wastage down to as little as 2%. Bamboo resources are widely available, easily replenished and naturally antibacterial,” says Minne. In a co-extrusion process, the bamboo fibres are blended with recycled plastics to create the core of the board. Depending on the technology, various manufacturing processes add the natural timber look, in a selection of colours and textures to match any architectural design while providing the durable benefits of composite materials from the elements to pests and being exceptionally low-maintenance. “Every year Eva-Last recycles more than 26 000 tons of plastic that would have gone to landfills or ended up in the

37 CONSTRUCTION WORLD NOVEMBER 2022