Why we do what we do...

The future starts here – and it doesn’t cost the earth

"Rubber is one of the most useful materials of the modern era and helped spawn the industrial revolution. It is prized in industry for its strength, elasticity, and wear-resistance. Unfortunately, rubber also represents one of the most difficult recycling problems ever encountered. One of the biggest pollution problems in this country is scrap tires. Although it’s easy to collect, it’s difficult to recycle. It’s chemically cross-linked, and those links will not melt and will not dissolve"

Professor Richard Farris of the University of Massachusetts

For many years now recycling sites have existed that can handle pneumatic tyres by chopping them into pieces but as they will contain metals and fibres they are sold for a variety of scrap uses including equine arenas and landfill engineering. However, until now the solid rubber tyres (without metals or fibres), such as those found on fork lift trucks etc., have presented a problem as the rubber is too expensive to recover for scrap use.

The Government has rightly outlawed sending this solid rubber to land fill and instead provides support and funding for routes to market through their WRAP organisation. Some of this funding has enabled EcoScape U.K Ltd to fully develop a unique and cost-effective manufacturing process to deal with the ever increasing mountain of solid rubber which threatens the living conditions of future generations.

Investment in efficient technology has not only given us the capacity to manage all the targeted waste available in the UK but ensures that there is nothing resulting from our production plant which needs to be removed for landfill. Large shreds are used to produce the Ecoscape mulch; smaller fractions are graded and used to create the mats, kerbstones, tree rings and lawn edging projects or sold on for other purposes; any residual material including wheel casings are then able to enter existing recycling procedures.

To manage post production road miles efficiently we will, wherever possible, send consolidated shipments through partners such as aggregate industries who can manage multiple product lines, thus reducing the number of vehicles arriving into individual stores. Where we are delivering to an individual property we consolidate shipments through the Pallet Force network.

The process which is used in the production of the Ecoscape mulch involves shredding rather than chopping. It is then organically pigmented to form a natural looking groundcover and safety surface for playgrounds which can be laid directly over existing surfacing in a loose form, or mixed with a binder on site to provide a SoftBond™ fixed surface of its own. It obviates the need for unsustainable products such as wood, virgin EPDM rubber, quarried slate or stone, thus recycled rubber is high on the agenda for protecting the environment .

You may also wish to consider that the reduction in ground works during installation will normally mean no mechanical diggers on site; no need to dispose of skipfulls of dug out material; and once installed the ‘maintenance free’ aspect will result in less travelling to site in the future.

Since the finished product is intended for use in childrens areas much attention has been devoted to safety and quality of the play experience and therefore the EcoScape brand carries some unique guarantees to ensure it is effective and safe for use in sensitive areas:

• The shreds are comfortable to walk on and ADA approved for wheelchair access
• 100% Non toxic; ingestion tested and with a ‘toy safety’ rating
• Testing to BSEN1177 at 50mm depth for playground use recorded a best ever CFH of over 3m
• Flammability tested (including BS5852) and classified as non-flammable

These standards have benefited many private homes, councils and hotels; and has been specified in sensitive applications including those organised by the 'Watch us grow' and 'Disability challenge' campaigns, and we have cooperated on community good will projects with corporations such as AXA and Barclays. Ecoscape is also an active member of ROSPA and additionally EcoScape has been recognised by the Green Flag Schools programme and the use of our products has helped schools achieve their gold flag status.

To highlight some of the technical benefits of the product we are registered with the HTA and are active members of GIMA.

As a responsible supplier we also consider the small daily things that may make a difference; the provision of showers in our offices to encourage staff to cycle to work; careful selection of the type of paper we use and the utilisation of modern technology to reduce our travel wherever possible. However if we are to continue our work we need to ensure that our business is sustainable; According to SEEDA:

"A Sustainable Business is a successful and profitable business. It is one that continuously improves its productivity by taking action on the economic, social and environmental impacts of its business.

That means a Sustainable Business takes a sustainable approach to what it produces, how it buys and sells, how it affects the environment, where it invests, how it recruits, trains and develops its own people, how it engages with the community in which it operates and how it respects the rights of people."

We invite you to call our helpline facility for advice on your specific requirements. We are often able to offer cost saving options to ensure that EcoScape has the right solution for you. As social responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint increases , so does interest in our unique product and you can trust that, should you choose to place your business with us, we will do everything possible to exceed your expectations.

Please just let us know how else we can help.

Kindest regards,
 

Nigel K. Walton
Director
EcoScape UK Ltd.

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