Can We Build Without Plastic?

With Building and Construction being the 2nd largest industry of global plastic production - We have to ask: Can we build without plastic?

448 million tons of plastic are produced each year, building and construction contributing 72 million tons. Unlike natural materials, almost every single piece of plastic that has ever been produced still exists today. 

8% of oil production is used to make plastic, and that is expected to go up to 20% by 2050. In parts of industry it is becoming more and more difficult to stay away from plastic.

The advent of cheap architectural acoustic products, specifically the polyester  acoustic panels is not the solution. While companies such as LightArt,  XAL, Luxxbox have carefully and sensitively designed their acoustic lights and rely on the "recyclablility" of the panels and using "recycled" content, it is important to note the panels can not be recycled with municipal or standard commercial waste management and need to be taken specifically to a "polyester recycling and sorting facility" which is safe to say is not priority for the demolition and disposal crew when the product has come to the end of its life cycle. 

As far as the raw polyester used for manufacturing the polyester panels, given some locations the material is processed it is not traceable and there are very few companies that are able to provide a transparent report on the actual content, percentages, origins and processing location. 

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) published a fascinating and eye-opening report by David Common on the recycling industry, our perception vs. reality. 

 Facing these numbers we need to focus on the use of natural materials and choose sustainably. AALINE is a brand that is positioned to address these issues in architecture and construction industry. The lighting and acoustic systems rely on natural, local and rapidly renewable materials. Enhanced with latest LED technology and para metrically analysed for optimal performance.