Plastics are contender in London 2012 Olympics

The British Plastics Federation has had feedback from several of its member companies which have secured contracts to supply Olympic venues with items based on HDPE, PVC and masterbatch products among others.

Philip Law, BPF's public and industrial affairs director, said: "London 2012 lays down rigorous requirements for materials and the extensive use of plastics is an endorsement that they can offer sustainable solutions in construction such as, durability, recyclability, energy savings and safety."

BPF member company Polypipe Terrain is supplying Terrain Fuze (HDPE), Terrain PVC soil and waste systems, and Rainstream rainwater harvesting and underfloor heating to all the major Olympic Park venues, particularly the Athletes Village, the Olympic stadium and the Velodrome.

Adam Turk, Polypipe Terrain's sales and marketing director, said: “We ensured that our PVC system met all of the Olympic Delivery Authority requirements, and progressed other sustainability benefits generally in order to be in a stronger position to compete for the Olympic work. This included achieving the Carbon Trust standard last September."

Another BPF member company supplying PVC products to the Olympic Games is Hunter Plastics which will be supplying goods such as Multikwik WC Connectors and Multiwik traps for the temporary buildings.

Innovation in plastics is further reinforced as a headline theme for the London 2012 Olympics as the 2008 BPF's Horners' Award winner, The Durakerb Group, has confirmed that it will be supplying both the North and the South Park with its recycled plastic kerbing system. Durakerb is made from recycled PP and HDPE and a recent study has indicated a near 20% carbon reduction using Durakerb compared to traditional precast concrete kerbs.

The BPF said it also understands that PVC will be used in some iconic stadia at the Games such as a PVC wrap on the two temporary seating wings in the Aquatics Centre where up to 17,500 sq metres will be needed.

This follows the publication by the London 2012 organisers last May of a strategy document covering the use of PVC in the Games. This laid down various criteria such as the requirement for PVC to be manufactured in accordance with the ECVM Industry Charter for the Production of VCM and PVC.

The use of plastics in the London 2012 Olympic Games extends to other areas than construction. Hornby, the models and collectibles group, has also secured a licence to provide official London 2012 merchandise across its Corgi, Hornby, Scalextric and Airfix brands, which rely heavily on the use of plastics in their designs.

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