Cutting the use of ‘Single Use Plastics’ is driving sales, saving cost and waste, explains Scarlet McAleese-Banks, Marketing Director of Hilton Banks.
In 2019 the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) launched its “Spotlight on plastics and packaging” campaign to raise awareness and showcase best practice in how the construction industry can reduce, reuse and recycle plastics and packaging. Shockingly, the campaign highlighted that 23% of plastic produced in the UK is consumed by the construction industry and 25% of construction packaging waste by weight is plastic. Moreover, construction as a whole produces three times more packaging waste than all UK households combined.
For merchants, moving away from Single Use Plastics is a strategic and, ultimately, a socially responsible business decision. It can also be a decision that makes financial sense too. According to a 2019 survey from Hotwire, 47% of internet users worldwide said they had switched to a different product or service because a company violated their personal values. As society’s attitude changes, merchant suppliers will undoubtedly need to adapt their products and the packaging they come in.
Plastics are finding their way into our seas and oceans, and of those plastics that are sent to landfill, some take over a thousand years to breakdown in the soil. Pollsters recently found that 85% of adults in the UK are worried about climate change and Surfers Against Sewage findings suggest that approximately 5,000 items of plastic pollution have been found per mile of beach in the UK.
Making the change
The rise of environmentally friendly sealants and adhesives is therefore a responsible move in the right direction. Firstly, the ingredients of the sealants and adhesives are changing to more environmentally friendly advanced hybrid polymers. While this must be a priority, only a few manufacturers have made the decision to cut Single Use Plastics and move to foil versions of their hero products.
We are proud to say that Hilton Banks, owner of the HB42 brand which is exclusively for merchants, was one of the first to do this. And the good news is that we are already changing minds — we saw a 20% increase in sales of Eco Foils through merchants in 2020, and it is a trend we want to build on.
We are listening to the trade and working to tackle the pressing environmental problem of disposing of the single use plastic cartridge. In 2019 we launched our best-selling HB42 All-in-One Sealant and Adhesive in 400ml Eco Foils: easy to use and dispose of with minimal mess, moving to foils has significant advantages.
For example, the 400ml foils produce 95% less waste than the single use tubes and users get 38% more sealant than in the 290ml plastic tube. Using the latest MS Polymer technology, the product seals, sticks and fills, is flexible up to 230%, can be over-painted and works in the wet. It is low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and bonds to almost anything. It is also food safe, and fully cures in 24 hours.
Sales opportunities
We believe there is a significant sales opportunity with foils. In our own research we found that 87% of small to medium sized tradespeople said sustainability and the environmental impact of construction work is an important issue for them. Furthermore, 97% believe the industry could be less wasteful in terms of packaging and 81% would expect the cost of more sustainable packaging to be the same.
So installers are receptive to the idea of cutting waste, as long as the strength and usability of the sealant is not impacted. We have ensured that is not the case and we have also ensured that there are cost saving benefits. For every 20 skips of plastic cartridges, only one single skip of used HB42 Eco Foils goes to landfill. Over time this adds up to a significant saving.
The HB42 range was launched in 2013 to meet increased demand from builders, plumbers and decorators’ merchants to supply a high-end trade brand of sealants with clear branding and sensible pricing that offered merchants good margins. With the addition of Eco Foils, we believe it is time for merchants to begin the move away from Single Use Plastics.
For full details on HB42 in Eco Foils packs, in addition to product videos and details of merchant support, go to: https://www.hb42.co.uk/eco-foil/
