FSi increases use of recycled content in sealant packaging by up to 50%

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, while buckets up to 10 kilograms and the StopSeal Batt film now contain 30% recycled content.

This is a significant step in the right direction as recycled content is still not widely used within the fire protection sector, at least in part due to the fact that robust packaging is still needed to maintain the integrity of products and safeguard the likes of sealants and coatings from water damage.

Emma Taylor, marketing manager at FSi, informed Fire Safety Matters: “Recycling is a recognised issue in the construction sector and it’s widely accepted that change is needed. It’s important that manufacturers play their part in helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry.”

Taylor went on to state: “However, the complex nature of some of the products used means this isn’t a simple task. Separating sealant and silicone from plastic packaging is a major issue. Research continues to find a viable solution. The one step that we can take now 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, and notably so when talk turns towards life-critical products such as ours.”

Working in partnership

Taylor is delighted that partnership working with FSi’s packaging suppliers has led to the business being able to use a greater proportion of recycled post-consumer recyclate plastic. This helps in preventing more and more virgin plastic going to landfill.

“Sealant foils are recognised as drastically reducing the waste generated from sealant packaging,” observed Taylor. “FSi does offer these in its Pyrocoustic and Pyrolastic products. However, the slight change to the way in which the product is applied compared to the traditional plastic cartridge has hindered their popularity. It’s of vital importance that we take steps to reduce virgin plastic within our most popular products’ packaging in order to assist our customers who are reluctant to change their application method.”

In conclusion, Taylor explained: “While we are very pleased to be able to offer more sustainable packaging, we know that the industry still has some way to go. We’ll continue to work with our partners on introducing more sustainable solutions wherever possible across the business, balancing this with the need to ensure safety and the adequate protection of products such that they can maintain their crucial performance levels.”

*Further information is available online at www.fsiltd.com