The Time Is Now To Mold A Sustainable Plastic Lumber Industry

By Bill Walsh, National Coordinator of the Healthy Building Network
June 29th, 2005
Source: Healthy Building News

The Healthy Building Network released today the first study to rate plastic lumber strictly on environmental and public health priorities. [1] We found huge disparities in environmental quality, including recycled content that ranges from 0 to 100%. The good news is that the most environmentally preferable products are poised to become the industry standard, with our support.

In response to an HBN survey, over 30 companies provided us with information about their plastic lumber products. We compared the products based upon the materials used, the post-consumer recycled content, and the potential for recycling the product after its service life.

Of the 38 products reviewed, more than a third earned our "Most Environmentally Preferable" rating. These products are manufactured from up to 100% post-consumer recycled polyethylene. Virgin polyethylene has fewer toxic inputs and associated environmental impacts than the PVC and polystyrene used in competing plastic lumber products. Since polyethylene is already one of the most recycled plastics, the prospects of actually recycling polyethylene lumber after its service life are realistic.

The most recognized national brands such as Weyerhauser's Choicedeck (sold at Lowe's), Veranda (sold at Home Depot) and Trex (sold nationally through lumber yards) earned a "Less Environmentally Preferable" rating for two reasons. As a general principle we believe that the mixing of synthetic and biodegradable materials should be avoided. The plastic/wood mixture appears to be a cost-cutting measure that offers no environmental or performance advantages over all-plastic lumber products. From a practical standpoint, this mixture renders the product far less likely to be recycled after its service life absent the creation of a dedicated infrastructure to return the product to the manufacturer. None exists. Products that combined various synthetic materials, such as using fiberglass or polystyrene for added strength, earned a lower rating for the same reason.

The one exception to our general preference for polyethylene-only products are those developed for demanding, heavy load-bearing applications. At this time, there are no polyethylene-only products suitable for such uses. Since these uses often involve chemically-treated wood in direct contact with the ground, the mixed plastics may well be a preferable alternative.

And then there are the environmental nightmares — Certainteed's virgin PVC Boardwalk line and the virgin polystyrene Eon brand — textbook examples of greenwash marketing for completely unsustainable products that have no place in a green building, or in the green building movement.

Materials matter. Imagine what a different world it would be if McDonalds had never replaced paper wrappers with the Styrofoam "clamshell" package for Big Macs; or if Henry Ford had had his way, manufacturing cars made from soy derived plastics running on what he called "farm fuel," plant-based ethanol. [2] The plastic lumber industry is at a pivotal point. It is experiencing dramatic net growth as it consolidates from numerous regional operations into national brands. Green building leaders are in a position to steer this industry away from environmental nightmares and toward the many brands that feature up to 100% post consumer recycled plastic content. This is a test for our generation. Have we learned? Are we different? Can we get it right?