FSi increases the use of recycled content in sealant packaging by up to 50%
Passive fire protection specialist FSi has introduced a range of packaging for its best-selling fire-stopping products that use recycled plastic content without compromising the integrity of its products.
Committed to reducing the amount of virgin plastic waste sent to landfill, FSi has sourced packaging that has a recycled plastic content of up to 50% for its cartridge products (including best-selling Pyrocoustic, Pyrolastic and PyroPro HPE), while buckets up to 10 kilograms (used for Flexi Coat, PS Coating and StopSeal Coating), and even the StopSeal Batt film now contain 30% recycled content too.
It is a significant step in the right direction as recycled content is still not widely used within the fire protection industry – in part, robust packaging is still needed to maintain the integrity of products and protect the likes of sealants and coatings from water damage.
Emma Taylor – Marketing Manager at FSi, said: “Recycling is a recognized issue in construction, and it is widely accepted that change is needed. Manufacturers must play their role in helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry.
“However, the complex nature of some products means this is not a simple task. Separating sealant and silicone from plastic packaging is a significant issue, and research continues to find a viable solution. The one step we can currently take is to use recycled plastic packaging where possible, but this can only be done where we have reassurances on the stability of the packaging from a product performance point of view – especially when it is a life-critical product like ours.
“We’re delighted that work with our packaging suppliers has led us to use a more significant proportion of recycled post-consumer recyclate (PCR) plastic and help prevent more virgin plastic from going to landfills.
“Sealant foils are recognized as drastically reducing the waste generated from sealant packaging, and FSi does offer these in our Pyrocoustic and Pyrolastic products. However, the slight change in how the product is applied compared to the traditional plastic cartridge has hindered its popularity. We must reduce virgin plastic within our most popular products’ packaging to help our customers who are reluctant to change their application method.
Emma concludes: “While we are very pleased to offer this more sustainable packaging, we know the industry still has further to go. We’ll continue to work with our partners to introduce more sustainable solutions wherever possible across the business, balancing this with the need to ensure safety and adequately protect the products to maintain their crucial performance.”
