First Dutch cycle path made from recycled plastic opens

The world’s first cycle path made from recycled plastic has opened in the Netherlands.

The 30-metre bike path is 100 per cent circular and is made from recycled bottles, cups and packaging.

The path is made of plastic equivalent to more than 218,000 cups and is expected to have a three time longer lifetime than an asphalt alternative.

The PlasticRoad is sustainable and has a significantly smaller carbon footprint than a traditional road.

The prefabricated production, the light weight and the modular design of the PlasticRoad has resulted in the construction time being reduced by 70 per cent, this means there is a reduction of transport movement, decreasing the environmental impact further.

The PlasticRoad is a collaboration between KWS, a VolkerWessels company, Wavin and Total.

Anne Koudstaal and Simon Jorritsma, the inventors of the PlasticRoad, said: “This first pilot is a big step towards a sustainable and future-proof road made of recycled plastic waste. When we invented the concept, we didn’t know how to build a PlasticRoad, now we know.”     

In addition to this, a second cycle path will be implemented in another Dutch city, Giethoorn, Overijssel. The plan is to extend this across the country to reduce even more plastic waste.

Recently, there has been a movement towards transforming plastic waste into useful every day products. Supermarket chain Tesco have turned their plastic waste into a car park and waste at the Volvo Ocean Race was converted into benches.

Photo Credit: PlasticRoad