It’s natural for people to instinctively want to use products with a “green” aesthetic or reputation.
Materials like wood seem eco-friendly, but they aren’t always the best choice for the planet.
In this article, we explain how recycled rubber is an ideal choice for many products and uses.
How recycled rubber is better
Depending on the application, from an eco-perspective recycled rubber outperforms many traditional materials, such as wood, plastic, concrete and metal.
Durability
Recycled rubber products are extremely durable and hard-wearing. They can handle daily use in indoor and outdoor applications. Products made from recycled rubber include outdoor paving and livestock mats.
Weatherproof
Recycled rubber products are almost entirely weatherproof. They’re UV resistant and can handle the harsh South African sun. They’re frost resistant and won’t crack when the temperature drops below freezing.
Lifespan
Because they’re durable and weatherproof, products made from recycled rubber have an incredibly long lifespan. This means they need replacing less frequently, saving time and reducing consumption.
Eco-conscious
Using recycled or reused products is an excellent way to be eco-conscious because it prevents the use of virgin materials. Wood is considered eco-friendly because it doesn’t pollute at the end of its life but harvesting wood kills a tree that took a lot of water to grow.
The aim is to reduce, reuse and recycle. First, reduce usage. Then, reuse or repurpose what you can. The final step is to recycle what is used, so the reliance on virgin materials is lessened.
Waste reduction
Old tyres end up in landfills or dumps, posing a serious health risk as chemicals leech into the ground and the tyres become breeding grounds for pests.
Recycled rubber crumb often comes from recycled tyres. This reduces harmful dumps and creates jobs.
Affordable
Recycled rubber is more affordable than traditional materials. Rubber lasts longer, so there’s less need to replace products made from recycled rubber and less maintenance, which saves money.
Safety
Many recycled rubber products offer superior safety compared to traditional materials. Rubber paving, for example, is non-slip and impact-absorbing, making it safer than bricks and concrete.
Versatility
There are many products that can be made from recycled rubber. As a versatile material, new applications are introduced on a regular basis.
A recent application is using fine rubber crumb as an alternative to sand in concrete. This reduces our reliance on sand, a finite and fast-dwindling resource, as a building material.
Recycled rubber products from Van Dyck
At Van Dyck, we supply a range of rubber products made from recycled rubber crumb. Our sister company, the Mathe Group, is the largest truck tyre recycler in South Africa. It provides rubber crumb for a range of applications, including road building.
Our products are made from recycled rubber crumb that’s taken from end-of-life tyres. This reduces the number of waste tyres in dumps and landfills.
Paving
Our rubber paving is suitable for indoor and outdoor uses. Our paving tiles and bricks come in different thicknesses, shapes and colours for a range of applications. All our paving products are Global GreenTag certified.
Wet pour
Wet pour rubber can be applied to uneven ground. It comes in multiple colours and can be used to create patterns that don’t wear or fade. It’s a safe ground cover for jungle gyms, recreational areas, and outdoor gyms.
Gym mats
Our outdoor and indoor gym mats are exceptionally durable. They offer a safe, impact-absorbing surface. They’re especially popular with gyms that specialise in high-intensity workouts and need a hard-wearing floor surface.
Ballistic rubber
High-impact rubber is noise and vibration absorbing, making it ideal for ballistic products.
Our ballistic blocks are used in shooting ranges as backstops for direct, live fire. Our ballistic tiles are used for indirect fire, absorbing sound and reducing ricochet.
Acoustic treatments
Recycled rubber can be used to make sound-absorbing acoustic treatments that reduce echoes and sound transfer. We offer acoustic tiles that are ideal for studios, and flooring cradles and underlay to reduce noise transfer and absorb vibrations.
Equestrian and livestock rubber
Our rubber paving products are so tough they can be used in stables and barns. We have mats and paving options that offer a safe surface for horses and riders in stable yards. We also have livestock mats that improve hoof and joint health in cattle.
Artificial grass shockpads
Rubber shockpads are placed under artificial grass installation to provide superior comfort and shock-absorption for better player safety. They also offer good drainage and extend the life of artificial turf.
Rubber sole boards
Rubber sole boards go under the feet of scaffolding during construction. Traditionally, these boards are either wood, which rots, or plastic, which can become slippery. Rubber sole boards are the perfect alternative for safer construction sites.
Visit our online shop to browse our full range of recycled rubber products and learn more about recycled rubber applications. We offer free delivery in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
