The “eco-wood”, indicated Plastic Flamingo, does not rot, does not need maintenance and does not splinter, explained the recyclers

Plastic Flamingo, a group of recyclers in the Philippines, developed a material called “eco-wood” from bottles, single-use sachets and snack wrappers that pollute rivers and beaches.

Also known as The Plaf, Plastic Flamingo seeks to address the plastic waste crisis that worsened in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this in mind, recyclers collect the waste, shred it, and then mold it into building materials.

Sturdy posts and planks, called “eco-lumber,” can be used on fences, decks, or to build disaster relief shelters.

“It is 100% recycled material, 100% made from plastic waste materials, we also include some additives and colorants and it does not rot, does not need maintenance and does not splinter”, said Erica Reyes, president of operations of The Plaf, in remarks to Reuters.

To create eco-wood, The Plaf mixes shredded plastic into a formulation where they are extruded and molded into different shapes.

“With regard to our planks, we have also carried out exhaustive research on their constitution and have found a formula that will allow recycling and putting up to 30% of residual plastic in the mix to create the profiles,” has announced the association founded in 2019 .

The importance of recycling in the Philippines

Currently, the Philippines does not have a strategy to address the problem of plastic waste management. COVID-19 made the waste problem even more difficult in that country, which annually produces around 300 million tons of plastic waste, according to figures from the UN Environment Program.

By collecting post-consumer plastics, The Plaf aims to offset the material’s footprint by giving them a second life while educating communities on the importance of good waste management.