A lot of words get thrown around these days to talk about old materials being used again: reclaimed, recycled, vintage, repurposed. Is there a difference, and if so, what? Cawarden is here to clear up the confusion between these terms and to discuss the benefits of using reclaimed vs. recycled materials.
Cawarden Reclaimed Tall Pine Shelf Unit With Cupboard
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Here’s a glossary for the most commonly used terms for the materials you’re considering:
RECYCLED
The process for something to be classified as “recycled” involves several steps. First, an item is identified as “waste,” meaning it won’t be used for its original purpose again. It is then processed to revert it to a previous state in its cycle. For instance, a plastic bottle is transformed back into moldable plastic. This plastic can then be used to create something new, possibly even a new plastic bottle. The item is reverted to a prior state to be used as a material for making a new product.
RECLAIMED
If something is reclaimed, it means it has not been altered since its final ‘state’. If you have recycled wood, a wooden item will have been processed into wood mulch and then reconstructed. Reclaimed wood, however, is not altered. It may be used for a different purpose—a tabletop may become a sliding door—but the actual material is not processed or changed in any way before being “reclaimed” for a new purpose. Interestingly, this means that what we know as “recycled” water is reclaimed water; water is not altered and therefore cannot revert. However, the term “recycled” was purposefully chosen because it had gained popularity at the time. People liked to think of things as recycled, so the wrong term was given.
Established over 30 years ago, Cawarden Brick and Tile Company Ltd is the UK’s leading supplier of reclaimed building materials and period building products.
WHICH IS BETTER?
Reclaimed vs Recycled is largely a case of personal preference, but there are some points to consider for both. Environmentally, either recycled or reclaimed will always be preferential to a newly made item or material. Reclaimed is arguably a little bit better than recycled, as no extra machine power is needed to process the material. That works for items such as wood, but for plastic, you really need to recycle it to get much usability. The other thing is that you’re more likely to have an FSC certificate for recycled material, as the process for giving one to reclaimed materials is long and complex, requiring many steps and resources. Realistically, in the fight of reclaimed vs recycled, both are a good decision.
Whether reclaimed materials or recycled materials are best for you and the project you’re undertaking, be proud of the fact that you’re researching sustainable resources and are reusing the materials that are already available to you.
Should you need reclaimed materials for your project, be it reclaimed bricks, reclaimed roof tiles, or paving bricks, you can find them in our reclamation yard.
If you require help or guidance for your project, contact the expert team at Cawarden on 01889 574066.