2017 Sustainable Building Awards

12 BUILD / Sustainable Building Awards 2017 , Best Composite Decking Manufacturer 2017 - UK Ecodek, part of the Epwin Group of companies, manufactures an innovative board systemmade entirely from ethically sourced hardwood waste and recycled high density polyethylene. We profile the firm to learnmore and examine the secrets behind its success. Established in 2002, Ecodek have been manufacturing composite decking and fencing since 2004. As the UK’s market leader in WPC decking materials, the firm manufactured approximately 1 million linear metres of decking in 2016, consuming 3200 tonnes of recycled wood and plastic. In addition, Ecodek have achieved “carbon negative” status for the production of its composite decking system. A life-cycle assessment programme, undertaken by the BioComposites Centre of Bangor University, considered production of the decking on a cradle to factory gate basis, accounting for all significant materials, transport, energy use and packaging inputs. Results showed that production of ecodek ® actually had a net effect of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere rather than adding to it – hence carbon negative - a huge achievement in modern manufacturing and one that clearly illustrates the company’s environmental credentials. This important achievement, believed to be a first for a UK based polymer company, and follows years of painstaking development of its design, manufacturing and distribution processes. The company works with a wide range of clients including house builders such as Barratt Homes, Telford Homes, Redrow PLC; leisure parks such as Butlins and Centreparks, and many schools across the UK. As suppliers to the Construction Sector, delivering a supply solution is the firm’s aim. Their USPs include bespoke lengths, a quick response to customer demand and solid technical advise. The Ecodek Technical Team have direct input with architects and specifiers, who need support and solutions to problems. Thanks to its vast range of products and client focused approach, Ecodek is the market choice for high end residential developments in London where the majority of apartments feature a balcony. ecodek ® material can be found across much of the redevelopment zones in London such as Greenwich Peninsula, Elephant and Castle, Nine Elms and Fulham Wharf. Offering ecodek ® in bespoke lengths to suit each project, the company can ensure that waste is kept to a minimum on site. Any material that is redundant on site can be bought back by Ecodek to be ground up and fed straight back into new material as ecodek ® is 100% recyclable. The boards are fast to install as they are supplied straight and true with no knots. The material requires only very minimum maintenance and no staining, so no risk of dripping through to balconies below, plus nothing the leach onto rendered walls, as is common with timber balconies. Recently, ecodek ® was specified for the roof terrace at the luxurious redevelopment of Southbank Tower. Situated in the vibrant heart of London’s South Bank, it epitomises high-end residential and office spaces in the city. As a prime residential development it comprises 173 luxury apartments and 11 additional storeys, was developed by CIT and designed in collaboration with Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, with landscaping by Frosts Landscape Construction Ltd. As testimony to the firm’s excellent reputation, ecodek ® was primarily specified on this project as the client required a low maintenance, hard wearing product that had to be tough enough to withstand the massive SU170008 point loads of a BMU (Building Maintenance Unit) being regularly driven over it whilst also maintain good slip resistance properties. Due to the extreme loading from the BMU – the Ecodek Technical Team carried out load and indentation tests to ensure the decking would not mark or deform in use. This testing was carried out at the extensive in house laboratory facilities at the Ecodek site in North Wales. The successful project features a roof terrace garden at the top of the tower, designed to a very modern and high-end specification, and the materials chosen needed to be in keeping with this. ecodek ® blends in beautifully with hardwood furniture, aluminium, stainless steel and glass structures. Based in North Wales on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, Ecodek is at the heart of a thriving hub of industry where things seem to be booming. There is a good variety of engineering other ancillary services on the doorstep. The firm attracts the very best talent on the market, helping it to ensure that clients receive the very highest standard of customer service.