Advocating its environmentally responsible credentials, DekBoard, the British decking and balustrade manufacturer, is encouraging holiday park proprietors to consider the long-life and recyclable attributes of its outdoor space creating systems.
The company designs and manufactures 100 percent recyclable PVC-U decking products, which offer a strong, highly resistant, non-slip surface to effectively surround caravan and park home exteriors and create innovative outdoor living spaces.
With the carbon footprint of treated timber attracting more careful consideration – owing to associated wood import emissions and the non-recyclability of varnished and painted products – the benefits of fully recyclable PVC-U options are increasingly coming to the fore.
Not only is the DekBoard decking and balustrade system a durable, low-maintenance alternative to timber decking, but the product range is manufactured with responsibly sourced materials. The warp-resistant surfaces are made using an element of recycled polymers, some of which are reground on-site in DekBoard’s Scunthorpe factory – a practice which actively reduces the unnecessary shipping of materials and enables close monitoring and minimisation of emissions and associated environmental impact.
Once installed, varnish or paint products are not required to maintain DekBoard surfaces, which allows the decking to remain fully recyclable and prevents additional toxic substances from potentially seeping into the ground and ultimately entering landfill.
Instead, and as part of the company’s commitment to its Recovinyl membership – a European value-chain initiative aimed at facilitating PVC-U waste collection – DekBoard collects and recycles all post-consumer products and re-uses or redistributes the waste produced at its factory.
“Historically timber has been viewed as the most ecologically sound decking choice,” explains Nicola Kissaglis, Product Manager at DekBoard, “however broader information presents a view whereby the transportation of material used in wooden decking contributes significantly to its carbon footprint.
“Forestresearch.gov.uk tells us that 7.9 million cubic metres of sawn wood was imported into the UK in 2017. In addition to the transport emissions, the decking needs to be treated throughout its lifetime to make it durable and weather resilient. As the paints and varnishes used have toxic components, the wood cannot subsequently be burned or recycled safely, so must be disposed of in landfill.
“Of course, there are concerns around certain plastics, which makes the rise in UK wood imports unsurprising, however PVC-U used in building products is not a single-use material. PVC-U is made from salt and crude oil and is one of the most widely used long-lasting plastics in the world. When manufactured correctly and recycled responsibly, the material can be extremely sustainable, and can deliver in terms of longevity and safety.
“It’s our belief that there is no need for any product manufactured by DekBoard to be taken to landfill once its current useful purpose is complete. The only place it should go is our re-grinder, ready to be made into something else.”
Nicola goes on to explain that DekBoard’s manufacturing process is carried out under ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management – a standard which helps businesses improve environmental performance and impact through a more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste.
“The DekBoard systems are worth careful consideration; not only for recyclable reasons, but as a low maintenance, non-slip, rot resistant and splinter free surface that presents an attractive, long-lasting decking and balustrade solution.”
For more information telephone 01724 848500, visit www.dekboard.co.uk or email info@dekboard.co.uk.
