Closing the Scaffold Net: Collaborating on Circular Construction Products.

Every year, hundreds of tons of single-use plastic scaffolding nets are imported into the Netherlands. These nets are used only once and then often end up in landfills or are burned, leading to material loss and CO2 emissions. The Dutch organization Brokkenmákers that strives for a future-proof economy has started a project to turn these scaffolding nets into a circular product. Together with several organization from the chain they are going for it.  

Project 'Closing the scaffolding net' 

The founders of Brokkenmákers, Hylke Faber and Mirjam Schmull, are real doers who are eager to do their bit to close the 'lumps' in our economy. By starting all kinds of projects together with other long-term thinkers, they try to work on a future-proof economy and world. Together they try to find the right solution to the difficult issues.  
 
Similarly this time, the Brokkenmákers have taken up the challenge to take a step towards a circular economy. On their own initiative, they started a project to tackle the single-use of scaffolding nets and turn them into a circular product. In fact, after asking questions, they found out that this product is often used only once and then burned or landfilled. The reason they were given for the one-time use was that it is often contaminated and the material's rough formula often causes the recyclers to jam. No recycler wants to burn their hands on it.  
 
So the Brokkenmákers started looking for alternatives and partners in the chain who also believe that things can be done better and differently. So the project started by collecting scaffolding nets for recycling. The next step is to turn the resulting recyclate (raw materials) into new building products. 

Collaboration  

For the project, the Brokkenmákers went looking for motivated leaders in the chain. That's how they ended up with us. As a supplier of scaffolding nets, we also have a major contribution to make. We always strive to come up with smarter and efficient solutions to all packaging and protection problems. When we heard about Brokkenmákers' project 'closing the scaffolding net' we were keen to do our bit too.  

Not only have we entered into this great partnership with Brokkenmákers, but so have other motivated leaders. These chain partners are, supplier Bingham, equipment services MDB and BAM Materieel, builder Van Wijnen and various scaffolding builders, collector Kras Recycling and recycler Plastix A/S and producers JPI Polymers and Pretty Plastics. Together we will investigate whether we can collect all scaffolding nets in the Netherlands and make circular building products from the extracted recyclate. 

Overshoot day 

Every year there is a day in the world when we as humanity have consumed our annual resources. This day is also called Overshoot Day and this year it was on April 12 in the Netherlands. In order to push this day back a little bit, we entered into the above collaboration. By providing circular building products, we are making strides to create a more sustainable world.  
 
With the support of GreenWavePlastics and the City of Amsterdam, the Brokkenmakers project was launched and already 10,000 kilos of nets have been collected, equivalent to almost 22 soccer fields. The goal is to eventually collect all scaffolding nets in the Netherlands and recycle them into circular building products.

This collaboration is an important step toward a more sustainable construction sector and economy. The project is still in its early stages, but the first results will start to be expected soon.  
 
If you want more information on the next steps of the project, keep an eye on our social media channels and website or sign up for their newsletter via the Brokkenmákers website.