PROJECT HISTORY
The challenge
Resiloop aims to boost PVC recycling in Australia, especially from resilient flooring waste, addressing the challenge of low recycling rates.
Resiloop product stewardship scheme
Closing the loop on vinyl flooring waste with Resiloop
The solution
Arcadis reviewed PVC and vinyl recycling technologies and ran a recycling trial with local businesses to enhance sustainability practices.
The Impact
This product stewardship scheme may ultimately support the diversion of 60,000 tonnes of waste from landfill.
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Prior to this product stewardship scheme, the recycling rate for resilient flooring was very low.
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‘Manufacture ready’ input materials from recycled flooring waste
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Products ready for retail from recycled flooring waste
The challenge
Resiloop is a world-first product stewardship scheme with significant industry buy-in that is increasing the recycling rate for resilient flooring waste (including vinyl, rubber, cork and linoleum).
As a critical enabler of the scheme, Arcadis was commissioned by the Australian Resilient Flooring Association (ARFA) to identify difficulties and overcome obstacles preventing resilient flooring from being recycled, such as high recycling costs and limited domestic manufacturing capacity, while exploring the opportunities to create a sustainable recycling loop within Australia. The project included facilitation of recycling trials with local businesses specialising in micronising, compounding, extruding and moulding plastic.
The solution
In Australia, resilient flooring (like vinyl or linoleum) significantly contributes to material waste. Every year, 60,000 tonnes of this flooring ends up in landfill, including 9,000 tonnes of offcuts that are brand new or never used. With this, Arcadis assessed and engaged nationwide stakeholders to identify applications for resilient flooring waste. This saw Arcadis collaborate with innovative and resourceful manufacturers of plastic products.
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Arcadis partnered with the Australian Resilient Flooring Association (ARFA) and scouted participants to develop manufacturing trials for recyclable material, replacing virgin PVC in flooring accessories and other PVC products. Through trials, the Arcadis team compared the material's suitability for various products subjected to extrusion and molding processes. The goal was to characterise the material and showcase its potential to manufacturers as a partial or full substitute for virgin materials, and validate its viability by comparing it to equivalent virgin products.
The team effectively engaged stakeholders by conducting trials and focusing on products like flooring profiles, garden edging and fencing posts. These products traditionally rely on virgin HPPE; by increasing the use of recycled materials, the project promotes sustainability and reduces environmental impact.
Transitioning from a linear economy to a circular economy is not something that can be achieved overnight. It requires major changes across the entire supply chain and will need every human on the planet to change how they consume resources. Rather than be intimidated by the challenge, we need to break it down into discrete tasks that can be delivered over time. Arcadis applauds the Australian Resilient Flooring Association’s efforts to increase circularity within their sector and encourages all peak bodies, organisations and governments to do the same.
The impact
Through various trials and investigations, the project demonstrated that recycled vinyl can be effectively combined with virgin PVC or other rigid PVC waste streams to create high-quality products like flooring profiles, garden edging, fencing posts, and moulded trays. Traditionally, these products use virgin PVC and other polymers, but they can now be made with recycled materials to promote environmental responsibility. This aligns with industry standards and lifecycle assessments, ensuring the products meet high-quality benchmarks.
ARFA aims to reduce costs by involving installers or retailers in the collection process and exploring transport efficiencies. This will bring economic benefits by reducing waste costs and material costs, as well as enhancing the appeal of recycled content products, which are increasingly in demand due to sustainable procurement commitments from both government and private sectors.
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The following impact and support have been made:
Partnership: 50+ Industry Partners support the Product Stewardship Scheme by signing the Collective Action Statement.
Availability: Through this Recycling Trial, Arcadis demonstrated viability in converting resilient flooring waste into three ‘manufacture ready’ input materials and four products ready for retail.
Recycling and diversion of waste from landfill: In the medium-term, the product stewardship scheme may divert 6,000 tonnes of waste per annum from landfills. In the longer term, the product stewardship scheme may divert up to 60,000 tonnes per annum from landfill.
Circularity: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has approved the project's Product Stewardship Scheme, and the recycled products created through Resiloop are stocked on the shelves of Bunnings in Victoria.
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