re-structure

The Glasgow School of Art

Angjin Li/Jie Zeng/Yafang Wang

Re.Structure Cutting-edge sustainable materials and production: Using wood plastic composite material in product system service design to slow wood resources waste and benefit woodland-adjacent communities.

Problem: How might we use small and unmanaged trees to prevent the resources being wasted quickly through ending up in products with short lifespans?

How might we cultivate connection between different sectors of the industry to encourage more efficient and sustainable production?

How might woodlands and nearby communities benefit each other?

Process: We used ethnographic and participatory research methods. We interviewed experts with different backgrounds, such as forestry, sustainable development, and sustainable materials, to learn about new environmentally-friendly materials. We also visited a factory to understand the production process.

At the same time, engaging with community groups helped us understand the relationship between them and nearby woodland, which revealed opportunities for our project.

Proposal Wood-plastic composite material (WPC) can effectively solve the problem of small trees and unmanaged wood resources which would otherwise be wasted or used for poor quality, short lifespan products. WPC is made from sawdust and recycled plastic.

Because people want to be involved in more sustainable activities and interact better with nature, we propose using WPC materials to design an outdoor facility and service system to facilitate this.

1

we focus on

The Six Main types of Scotland

UK has heavily relied on imports to meet its timber needs.

The UK imports wood mainly from Finland and Sweden, North America and the tropics.

Scotland is rich in woodland resources, but it is not self-sufficient at present, and the UK is one of the world’s largest net importers of wood, along with the USA, China and Japan.

Native pinewoods

87.6(28%)

Upland oakwoods

19.5( 6%)

Wet woodland

44.7(14%)

Upland birchwoods

91.2(29%)

Lowland mixed deciduous woodland

23.2( 8%)

Upland mixed ashwoods

12.4( 4%) Sourece：Forestry Commission Scotland

The main wood resources in Scotland are hardwood.

Ashwood, ockwood, birchwood and pinewood, which have good physical properties.

Sourece：Scottish Sawmilling Services

Forest area (% land area) Forest area (ha per person)

37% 12% 17% 0.31 0.05 0.26 Source: FAO State of the World’s Forests 2003 and FC statistics

The total value of the UK’s net imports was

$6,9billion In 2001 According to rough estimates, the annual production of wood in Scotland can meet about

73% of its demand Source: Scotland Forest Industries Cluter Scotland’s Forest Industries

Scottish woodland in development With the support and scientific management of the Scottish government, woodland is developing.

Environmental perspective

Increasing woodland coverage

Sourece：Scottish Environment Protection Agency Forestry and Wood Processing Sector Plan

Delievering increased ecosystem services

Economic perspective

Addressing climate change via increased carbon storage

Social perspective

Encouraging consumer to choose locally resourced products

Increase employment opportunities

Innovation Circular Economy

Creating health and wellbeing benefits

Strengthen inter-industry cooperation

Recognizing enviromental excellence

Some insight by local people and experts John Thron

Anonymous local

In this 33 minute interview, John gave us a lot of information about the sustainable use of woodlands in Scotland

In this 24 minute interview, We asked some questions about woodland and wood products.

Sustainability Coordinator

Imports rely on shipping, which will produce carbon emissions.

People should know more about woodland 1/5 of Scotland's woodland is managed.

Rewildling the land!

2

Only in the holidays will go to the forest, usually go to the park Compared with plastic, wood should be more environmentally friendly It would be better If outdoor activities could be more abundant Nature is very healing!

A green material

Wood Plastic Composite What is wood Plastic?

Wood-plastic composite (WPC) is a unique mixture of natural wood and plastic fiber. Sawdust, pulp, bamboo, peanut shell, and unused wood processing materials combine with plastic powder to form WPC.

Ways to improve wood utilization and prolong the wood product lifespan Make wood into blockboard, plywood, fiberboard, and other boards.

The application of new environmentally friendly composite materials such as wood-plastic composite materials Product plus system design to increase product lifespan

However, due to the large amount of formaldehyde-containing adhesives used in the process, it will cause great harm to the human body and the environment.

What are the advantages of WPC over wood and plastic Compared with the two traditional raw materials, mixed materials can sometimes play a better role. Wood plastic composite is such a material.

WPC

Nature texture Bouncy Skin-friendly WOOD Adjust indoor temperature and humidity

More durable Recyclable The weight can be adjusted by foaming and hollow technology Easy to process Cheap raw materials

Observation in Laboratory and Factory Wood processing waste, such as sawdust, shavings, corner waste Small trees

PE PE synthetic has high density and good physical hardness, building materials,etc.

Split

Smash Sawdust Wood flour

Modified

Branches Crop fiber such as straw, rice bran and husk

+ Extrusion molding

Moth-proof Corrosion resistance Water-proof Fire prevention Oil-proof High physical satbility

PLASTIC

Interview with the expert Dry

Small Trees Low grade Wood Wasted Wood

Figure. 01 Plywood made by bonding multiple layers of veneer wood

Granulation

3

PE PVC Recycled plastic

PVC PVC synthetic WPC has low density and lightweight, suitable as raw material for indoor products Recycled plastic In the co-extrusion process, recycled plastic can be used as the inner raw material

Hao Xiaolong Expert of WPC in South China Agricultural University In nearly an hour's interview, we got a lot of professional knowledge of wood plastic composite WPC can use recyclable plastics and any wood flour as raw materials to ensure the effective use of resources WPC has the characteristics of insect-proof, water-proof and mildew-proof WPC materials are mainly processed by injection molding WPC is mostly used for flooring, outdoor building materials, etc.

The product

Explosive View

Insight map

Rounded corner Rounded conrner design, prevent users from being hit by sharp corners, making user's safer.

Long lifespan products

Good physical Properties Empowering people

A line of products

The chair surface has a slot in the side that fits perfectly with other chair legs.

Freely combine

Offering space for communities

Reducing waste in the landfill

Can stack up

Reduce material

The hexagon shape makes the space look nice no matter placed together or apart.

Reduce material while ensuring the overall shape.

Recycled plastics

Freely disassemble Community considering Small trees the climate environfacilities ment in scotland, it better to be waterproof, fireproof, mothproof Suppliers of raw etc. materials processor Modular Products

Industry sectors Collaboration

Low grade raw material

Outdoor modular facilities community engagement

Using green material The application of new environmentally friendly composite mateNewer rials such as technologies wood-plastic composite materials

The chair surface and legs can insert and romove freely.

Rubber non-slip pads increase fiction and protect the chair legs.

Product introduction We use wood-plastic composite material to producr the chair, in order to make it stable and durable.The production method is simple and efficient, and all parts can be obtained by injection molding.

Different parts of chair can be disassembled, transported, and assembled quickly, and can be replaced at will.

WPC technology

Increase wood usage rate

Non-slip mat

Community engagement

Size 438

Recognizing the nature intelligenceAn education

250

centre

local resources and eco-friendly Ecological networks production process

Usage scenario

Local context Increase the interaction between human and nature Sustainable manufacturing Unmanaged woodland

Daily use

4

Lectures

Physical activities

The system map Wasted wood

Feeding

Production

Outdoor furniture

Low graded wood

Building material

Residents City counciler

u rc e o f Industry

use plastic

Interior furniture

Injection

Use

a pl

Industry wasted plastic

Using Scenario examples Having party in community park Wedding Rest spots for nature walk Forest worker giving talk to community Tourist outdoor engagement in woodland

Daily waste plastic

Recyclable material

Education center Community events relax and have fun Interaction with nature Making space with chair

Floor Decorate

New business models can be implemented Because of its recyclability, new business models can be implemented.

Lease the right to use instead of purchase.

Buy materials instead of products.

Products have continuous maintenance and replacement services.

Tableware (wheat straw composite)

Activity example

It is recyclable As a composite material, WPC itself can be used as raw material and can be recycled for many times. Considering this characteristic, we designed a modular structure, so that the broken parts can be replaced quickly.

Social Worker

ic

So

Compression

Melting

st

Plastic recycling plant

Cooling

Clamping

Raw Material Plastic raw material merchant

The events

Finished

d

Forest farm

Processor

Small tree

Source of w oo

Wood mill

The stakeholders

Workshop in community Lectures

Collecting WPC

Recycling

Events Curator

Business Events

Collecting used wood

Rest in the woods

Recycle

Community Activities

Residents

Collecting used plastic

Stakeholders, such as forest farm staff and sustainability experts, are invited to disseminate environmental knowledge to residents.

Environmental protection and wood knowledge.

Understand WPC material processing flow and material characteristics.

The activity aiming to Urban Park

Residents

City counciler

5

Indoor facilities

Land Owner

Promote sustainable material superiority Promote production mode Promote environmental awareness