Andy Leah, General Manager, Duraproducts
Duraproducts, a pioneer in sustainable construction since 2003, has witnessed a surge in demand for its eco-friendly solutions and offers a variety of sustainable and efficient water management solutions. Manufactured from hydraulically efficient polymer materials, Duraproducts’ combined kerbing and drainage solutions effectively protect surfaces with large useable volumes. To ensure large areas can be drained quickly and safely, the units feature multiple inputs along the kerb line.
Duraproducts’ priority is manufacturing products with a lower carbon footprint than traditional materials, fostering circularity by creating environmentally friendly products that play an active role in reducing climate change.
What are the biggest environmental and operational challenges facing the civil engineering sector today?
The civil engineering sector is grappling with dual pressures: the urgent need to decarbonise infrastructure and the operational demands of delivering projects safely, efficiently, and within budget.
Environmental challenges such as embodied carbon, resource scarcity and compliance with increasingly stringent sustainability regulations are reshaping project priorities. Operationally, the industry must address labour shortages, on-site safety risks and the push to adopt low-disruption, low-emission construction methods. Meeting these challenges requires not just innovation but collaboration across the supply chain.
How has Duraproducts’ use of recycled polymer helped reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability?
Duraproducts has embedded sustainability into its core by manufacturing its products from recycled polymer. We take pride in utilising thousands of tonnes of waste polymer in our products, which not only diverts plastic waste from landfill but also significantly reduces the embodied carbon of the products, contributing to the circular economy. For example, our flagship product, Durakerb, is made from over 88% recycled content and has been independently verified to cut CO₂e by around 50% compared to traditional kerbing solutions.
Over the past 20 years, how has Duraproducts’ product development evolved, and what major milestones stand out?
Over the past two decades, Duraproducts has evolved from a pioneering concept to a trusted leader in sustainable civil engineering materials. Key milestones include the launch of Durakerb in the early 2000s, which represented the UK’s first recycled polymer kerb system, and the subsequent expansion of our product portfolio to include complementary systems like Durachannel and Duradrain. These innovations have consistently focused on reducing weight, simplifying installation and lowering carbon footprints. In 2023, we released EPDs and have completed over 600,000 successful unit installations to date.
How do Duraproducts’ solutions help reduce on-site risks, improve safety and minimise dust pollution for a healthier work environment?
Our products are designed with on-site health and safety in mind. Duraproducts’ systems are significantly lighter than traditional alternatives; Durakerb for instance, weighs just one-tenth of a traditional kerb, which reduces manual handling risks and eliminates the need for heavy lifting equipment. This not only improves safety for workers but also speeds up installation. Additionally, using polymer-based materials eliminates cutting-related silica dust, thereby lowering pollution and contributing to cleaner air on site, which supports compliance with occupational health standards.
Can you share insights into the independent study showing Durakerb reduces CO₂e by 50% compared to traditional kerbing?
In 2023, an independent study by a leading British Construction & Regeneration Group found that using Durakerb will on average reduce CO2e by 50% when compared with traditional kerbing.
What are Duraproducts’ key priorities and innovations on the path to a net-zero future over the next 20 years?
Duraproducts is committed to continuing to lead the transition towards net-zero infrastructure over the next two decades. For 20 years we have given the industry an efficient, low carbon, low risk and environmentally friendly option to kerbing. We will continue to innovate and deliver solutions to our communities to help shape a healthier, safer and more sustainable world.
To achieve this, our key priorities will include increasing the use of post-consumer waste in our products, further lowering embodied carbon through process efficiencies, and growing our business to address more areas of civil engineering.
As we now strive to meet our commitment to a net zero future, we invite all stakeholders in government, infrastructure and within the wider construction sector to work with us so we can make a much bigger impact in the next 20 years. Our vision is to provide not just low-carbon products, but fully circular, climate-positive solutions that contribute meaningfully to national and global net-zero goals.
By being an industry leader and promoting sustainable construction, Duraproducts sets a precedent for the standards companies should strive to provide, demonstrating that environmentally friendly practices can be successfully incorporated into the entire product lifecycle.
Read more here: https://www.duraproducts.co.uk/
