You might have wondered if all the effort we have expended over the years sorting and saving plastic, paper and cans has been worthwhile. The plastic milk jugs, soft-drink bottles, water bottles, etc. have been utilized for many years now in various products that have been a replacement for wood used in outdoor areas. The plastic is mostly the conventional HDPE (high density polyethylene) which for many years was a problem for landfills as it does not biodegrade over time. Recycling is a great way to protect the environment and at the same time utilize an otherwise wasted resource.
The recycled plastic products are sorted, ground up and cleaned in a decontamination process to a high purity level. The end product does not contain any toxic chemicals, heavy metals, or arson that could bleed or leach into the soil. The product is therefore non-toxic and not harmful to humans plants, or animals. After all, it is the same material used to package products we all drink so it is no more harmful as a wood substitute than a soft-drink bottle.
The first applications for poly-lumber was in commercial construction replacing wood for such applications as railroad cross-ties, boardwalks, decks, fences, and structural members such as beams, joists and posts used in building construction. Applications that were desirable for poly-lumber were locations exposed to weather where wood eventually decays and loses its strength.
Poly-lumber has these important and desirable characteristics: Doesn’t splinter, will not warp, resistant to mildew, unaffected by insects such as termites, or rodents and other biological pests. It is not affected by heat, cold, moisture, ocean salt, and sun exposure. Poly-lumber is generally stronger and more resilient than real wood. Most importantly, it does not rot or corrode and this is what makes this amazing material so popular for use in the manufacturing of outdoor furniture. This purified recycled plastic is formulated with Ultra-Violet (UV) stabilizers, filled with the color pigments, and then formed into various shapes and profiles used to create the environmentally-friendly, maintenance-free products. Our poly-lumber has a wood-like grain and look and it is solid plastic all the way through with no wood fillers.
In the manufacturing process, the color pigment can be added directly to the liquid mixture and completely mixed thus the finished poly-lumber is not painted, but the color is imbedded through out the material and therefore never needs painting. A pressure washer may be used to clean the furniture or regular household cleaner with some bleach and water will do as well. Poly-lumber furniture can be left outdoors the year around in any climate, and is not affected by the elements.
