720549Novel 100% Recycled Plastic Panel for the Construction IndustryClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKThe UK sends ~70% (27k kilotonnes) of plastic waste to landfill, placing it in the bottom 7 of the EU27 for diversion from landfill, & at risk of reaching landfill capacity by 2018. According to WRAP, a major opportunity exists for using plastic waste in the construction sector (the largest consumer of materials in the UK); recycled materials can potentially supply ~90% of the EU’s construction needs yet currently provide only 30%. Although methods exist for recycling plastic waste into construction material, it is underexploited due to limitations assoc. with current manufacturing techniques: stringent screening required, restricted to certain plastics, cannot be coloured, warped final product, cannot manufacture curved sheets or sheets >18mm thick. To address this mkt need, the 100% Recycled Panel Company has developed, patented & demonstrated at bench top scale the RECHIP Moulding Process (RMP). This plastic waste moulding technique manufactures a multi-purpose construction material, ‘RECHIP’, made from 100% recycled material. The RMP overcomes the limitations above: can be any colour, does not require stringent screening, can make curved sheets & sheets >40mm thick, durable & reliable final product, can recycle the majority of plastic types. Through mkt research & end user consultation, 100rpc have identified 2 key apps for RECHIP: replacement plasterboard panel & exterior wall cladding. RECHIP advantages over plasterboard: waterproof, improved thermal & acoustic insulation, closed loop recycling, less vulnerable to breaking, no painting required, quicker installation & reduced wall thickness =>saves space in construction. The project will result in a prototype RMP machine & 6 RECHIP prototypes to trial different material mixes for initial apps. With the UK mkt volume 104M 84x4ft boards p.a. & significant policy drivers for recycled construction materials, the development of the RMP represents a major business opportunity. Expected mkt entry Q4 2015.