Embodied Carbon Statement – 2026 Update

Cradle-to-Gate (A1–A3) Assessment

British Recycled Plastic products are manufactured in the UK using high recycled-content polymer and renewable electricity.

Based on aggregated data from our UK manufacturing partners, the cradle-to-gate embodied carbon of our recycled polymer sections is approximately:

0.38 kg CO₂e per kg of British Recycled Plastic

This includes:

  • A1 – Raw material supply

  • A2 – Transport to manufacturing facility

  • A3 – Manufacturing and extrusion

Data Harmonisation

Data has been aggregated across UK manufacturing partners operating under EN15804-aligned methodology. Results are weighted according to annual material throughput.

What This Means in Practice

A standard Denholme picnic table weighs approximately 106 kg.

Its cradle-to-gate embodied carbon is therefore:

~40 kg CO₂e per table

Based on our 25-year guarantee, this equates to:

~1.6 kg CO₂e per year of guaranteed service life

Lifetime Comparison with Softwood Timber

A typical softwood picnic table:

  • Weighs approximately 50–60 kg

  • Has an expected outdoor service life of 5–7 years

  • Typically requires multiple replacements over a 25-year period

Using conservative assumptions for cradle-to-gate softwood carbon intensity and a 6-year average lifespan:

Over 25 years, approximately four timber tables would be required.

This results in an estimated embodied carbon of:

~115 kg CO₂e over 25 years

Or:

~4.6 kg CO₂e per year

The Result

Over a 25-year period, (although likely to be considerably longer):

  • A Denholme recycled plastic table produces approximately
    one third of the embodied carbon of a typical softwood equivalent.

And this comparison does not include:

  • Repainting or retreatment

  • Additional transport emissions

  • Waste handling impacts

  • Maintenance labour

When durability is factored in, long-life materials significantly reduce lifetime carbon intensity.

Manufacturing Energy

All primary UK extrusion facilities supplying British Recycled Plastic operate using renewable electricity, significantly reducing manufacturing emissions compared to fossil-fuel-based energy mixes.

System Boundary Transparency

This published figure:

  • Covers A1–A3 (cradle-to-gate) only

  • Excludes transport to end customer

  • Excludes installation, use phase and end-of-life

This ensures comparability with EN 15804 methodology.

Continuous Improvement

We remain committed to:

  • Reducing embodied carbon

  • Increasing recycled content

  • Publishing transparent data

  • Updating figures as further verified information becomes available

 

Authorised by:
Jason Elliott
Managing Director
Low Carbon Products Ltd t/a British Recycled Plastic
16 February 2026

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