According to Plastics Europe, in 2022 Europe converted 54 million tonnes of plastic into plastic products. Building and construction accounted for 23% of this usage.
European producers’ use of recycled plastic has increased by almost 25% since 2018. But, they still use fossil fuels to produce around 80% of plastics. This reliance on crude oil and natural gases led to 2.24 gigatons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from plastic production in 2019. That’s nearly three times the aviation industry’s GHG emissions, making the construction industry’s commitment to net zero carbon emissions crucial. Reducing embodied carbon is key.
The role of plastic packaging in construction
When construction products like bricks leave the manufacturer, they need to withstand transportation, storage, and on-site logistics. Its applications include:
Shrink wraps and shrink hoods that protect products during transport.
Banded strips that give strength to the product pack.
Plastic film wrap for bespoke or prefabricated products.
In 2021, Michelmersh was the first clay brick manufacturer to commit to eliminating non-essential plastics that health and safety and quality standards deem unnecessary. As part of that commitment, we’ve phased out shrink wraps and shrink hoods for the majority of wire-cut brick products across our portfolio of brands.
How Michelmersh is tackling the plastic packaging problem
We’ve now taken another big step towards eliminating plastic—by introducing sugarcane-based plastic alternatives.
Collaborating with a plastics company in Hereford, we’re adopting bioplastic packaging made with 70% sugarcane polymer. The remaining 30% is recycled plastic, due to the criteria for the UK’s Plastic Tax. But, the packaging is still fully recyclable and carbon negative.
Creating a polymer using sugarcane prevents 2.27 net tonnes of carbon emissions per tonne of plastic. This is compared to a fossil fuel polymer, which produces 3.1 net tonnes of carbon emissions per tonne of plastic.
Why sugarcane?
Sugarcane is renewable and is excellent at sequestering carbon. The crop draws in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Then, it releases the oxygen and stores the carbon that’s left over from the process.
Looking to the future
compromising product quality or health and safety. We’ve already been able to start rolling bioplastics out to Hathern Terracotta and Freshfield Lane and will look to see how soon we can bring more brands over.
The Michelmersh Group is also looking at ways we can support merchants and users to ensure more plastic is recycled on-site. This includes providing training, guidance, and notes through the Brick Development Association. Beyond plastic, we’re continuing to explore ways to decarbonise our operations. If you’d like to learn more about how we’re making clay bricks an even more sustainable choice, download our ESG Strategy Report here.
