July 14, 2004—A new network has been set up in the UK to promote greater use of recycled material in the manufacture of construction products, and to stimulate demand for recycled building products. Recycled building products are construction products that include recycled or secondary material in the manufacturing feedstock.
Launched recently by BRE (which is owned by the Foundation for the Built Environment), the Recycled Building Products Network is timely in view of the growing pressure for the greater use of recycled material in construction—a report from the Sustainable Building Task Group, for example, recommends that UK Building Regulations should stipulate a 10% use of recycled products for building projects. The Network will:
- map the information and services currently available to develop a one-stop information service on the Network’s Web site, which is currently under development;
- act as focal point for consultation, queries, and partnership building;
- organize a series of targeted events on regional and national levels; and
- e-mail newsletter updates on new R&D, grants, and other developments.
The exact nature of the activities run by the Network will be decided by the members, and an advisory group to promote this process is now being established. Membership is open to any organization (and is currently free), but is likely to be of most benefit to:
- construction product manufacturers;
- innovators and entrepreneurs creating new recycled products;
- reprocessors and those needing markets for recyclate;
- specifiers of construction products and materials;
- support organizations promoting recycling, business enterprise, and market development of recycled products; and
- providers of technical advice, testing, and certification.
For further information, and for those wishing to join the Network (and advisory group), contact Amanda Conroy of BRE at 01923 664471.
