About Jen
The environmental impact from both raw material acquisition and the processes involved in making final products has lasting repercussions for everything on our planet. Plastic dominates our waste materials, so much so that as a result we have accumulated a Pacific island trash patch approximately the size of the continental United States. A myriad of products can be made for the building industry from recycling this floating debris. Photo-voltaic cells created from this material and retrofitted to structures in the form of solar collector/reflectors,accompanied with an economic incentive given to those invent or employ their use may provoke a new green technology boon. Roof tiles made of 80% rubber and plastic, insulate keeping solar heat out, while similar items (siding, shakes and decking products) can be used to complete an exterior. Water bottles filled with mud have been used as in-fill for wall construction, these plastic bricks offer structural support in both earthquake and flood zones. Mining this Pacific floating mass resource for reuse, may offer benefits in re-setting the Earth’s atmospheric and Oceanic temperatures, as the enormity of this island patch has certainly disrupted heat absorption levels and circulation paths for both.
Featured articles and news
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”




















