Allproof’s 100% Recycled Channel Drain ‘Closes the Loop’
Allproof manufactures a range of plumbing, drainage and passive fire protection products using 100% recycled polypropylene (PP) sourced from post-consumer roadside collections. The material supplier notes that “completely closing the loop guarantees consistent supply and integration of recycled local resin across all industry sectors.”
Roadside recycling is collected, sorted and bundled at a Material Recovery Facility (MRF). These polypropylene bundles are then processed into 100% recycled resin, ready for injection moulding. Allproof uses this material to manufacture products such as the Commercial Channel drain range, with the entire process, from kerbside recycling bin to finished product, completed in Auckland, New Zealand.
The recycling facility recently upgraded its hard plastics wash line, allowing it to increase annual processing capacity beyond 1,000 tonnes of recycled polypropylene. This upgrade further supports New Zealand’s circular economy while ensuring a reliable supply of locally sourced recycled resin.
The facility’s wash process consumes significant volumes of water, which is recycled on-site to minimise usage. As with any high-capacity industrial facility, a reliable drainage solution is critical to maintain safety and operational efficiency. The drainage system must efficiently handle spills, remove hazards and provide rapid water removal in the event of equipment malfunction.
Allproof’s 200mm clear-opening Commercial Channel was selected as the ideal drainage solution. Sixty-three metres of channel were installed around the internal perimeter, with an additional 10 metres of Heelproof Cast Iron (HCI) grate installed at the facility entrance. This area experiences forklift traffic moving large bales of unprocessed plastics and transporting bags of clean, chipped material to the next processing stage. The HCI grate is rated to Class D (AS 3996) and has a P5 slip rating (AS 4586), making it suitable for heavy-duty, wet commercial environments.
Elsewhere in the facility, Glass Filled Polypropylene (GFP) grates were selected for areas with only Class A pedestrian traffic. These lightweight grates also have a P5 slip resistance rating, improving safety, a top priority for the facility’s operators, whose corporate values place safety first.
Both the commercial channel and GFP grates are manufactured at Allproof’s bronze Enviromark® certified facility using solar energy and 100% recycled polypropylene supplied by the same facility where these drainage solutions are now installed. This represents a complete closed-loop system, delivering a sustainable, high-performing drainage solution through collaboration between two innovation-driven New Zealand companies.
