Wood plastics composites (WPCs) are mixtures of wood fibre and
synthetic resin, virgin or recycled. They have been hugely successful
in North America in construction, decking and other applications. In
10 years, the market has grown to over 700,000 tonnes annually,
with sales growth continuing at double-digit rates year on year.
WPCs have excellent environmental status and there is enormous
scope for further growth.
WPCs offer many of the advantages of wood combined with the processability of
plastic materials. However, WPCs are not merely wood substitutes. They can be
sawn, nailed, screwed and worked like wood, yet also extruded and moulded like
plastics; they offer greater durability and moisture resistance than softwood.