Goodwood Plastic

Goodwood Plastic is promoting recycling and sustainability by reusing the plastic waste obtained post manufacturing or consumption, to create products that can find application in the construction and furniture industries. 

In the absence of an effective waste management system, a large amount of single-use plastic waste ends up in landfills, or pollutes the oceans, rivers, etc. The plastic waste used has either no market or an inadequate global market, like food containers and shopping bags.

Goodwood Plastic works with communities and industries to manage, collect, and recycle plastic waste into a wood substitute that can be used for construction purposes. This artificially created wood, also known as faux-wood, can be used like regular wood, and even shaped, nailed, and fixed as required. This synthetic wood is denser and heavier than normal wood, which also makes it more durable and long-lasting. Outdoor furniture such as park benches, picnic tables and even flag posts are now being made with this faux-wood. This has helped reduce the number of trees being cut for making furniture. Goodwood Plastic is also aiming to manufacture useful products for harbour infrastructure from netting and waste rope, with the help of a grant from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.  

While the end product is a bit costlier than standard wood, the life span of the product made with this faux-wood is longer, making it cost-effective.

The effective result of this recycling technology is less plastic waste ending up in landfills and being used more productively. 80% of the plastic waste generated by the city of Halifax is today being recycled into this wood and other construction materials that are used for making roads and parking lots in the city. Some other places in Nova Scotia, like Dartmouth, are also using these products. 

Durability and robustness make the faux-wood products suitable for municipalities and wood-based furniture manufacturing companies, which are looking for environment-friendly and sustainable alternatives to wood.