Spotlight on Proludic’s Sustainable Development

Now more than ever it is important to deliver play and sports areas sustainably! Protecting the environment is at the heart of most businesses’ modern-day conversations and at Proludic this is no different.

It has always been important to deliver play and sports that do not negatively impact the natural environment and Proludic has been proud to champion this important cause for some time now. Additionally, we are very conscious of our responsibility to contribute to a long-lasting legacy towards improving children’s well-being and protecting the resources of the planet for future generations to enjoy! Therefore, we are 100% committed to continuing to use a sustainable approach as part of our environmental policy to protect natural resources, ensuring that children grow up in a world that has been preserved for them.

This article shines a spotlight on the ways you can incorporate sustainable development practices and features into your play or sports area and highlights what steps Proludic has taken towards being more sustainable. We also hope this article will inspire you to take steps toward implementing more sustainable practices in your play or sports environment.

What is Proludic doing to improve sustainability in our practices?
Proludic is committed to the sustainable development of all our materials choices and supply chain processes. As an ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems) certified business since 2006, we strive to be the best example of a green manufacturer and installer that we can be within the sector we operate within. So far Proludic has reduced its carbon footprint by 30% over the last decade*. We also have committed to exclusively using 100% recyclable metal, compact, plastic and wood materials.

Speaking of wood − Proludic is aware of the devastating impacts of deforestation on the natural ecosystem and has decided not to contribute any more of this harmful practice. Instead, we are certified by PEFC (the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) meaning that we only source and use wood from eco-managed forests and any wood we use is replaced under this scheme.

Aside from this, we have incorporated additional practices into our business that help set us apart from the crowd as we strive to be trailblazers of sustainable development in our industry. Some of these include only using water-based, lead-free paints, reusing and converting 70% of our waste into energy, and recycling 50% of our cardboard and packaging from our sub-contractors for use in our packaging. At our UK Headquarters, we source electricity from 100% renewable sources and are in the process of greening the fleet to electric or hybrid vehicles.

Whilst some of our sustainability measures are targeted for a larger organisation, there are plenty of smaller changes that can be made at a local level that will have a positive impact on the environment. Read on for some of our advice on small changes you can implement that will have a big impact:

What can I do to improve my playground’s sustainability?
It’s great that you want to take action! Keeping sustainability at the heart of your decision-making is crucial when considering how we can all have a lesser impact on the planet and Proludic have some ideas that you can implement to play your part.

Recycling
If your playground or sports area doesn’t have recycling, why not consider introducing this? It makes a huge difference in eliminating so much of our daily waste and can be easily done by implementing recycling bins in your outdoor spaces. If you don’t already have recycling in place, try contacting your local council or authority to see if you can access a recycling bin.

You can also investigate recycled safety surfacing to reduce your carbon footprint. Increasingly, there are lots of recycled surfacing options available; just search sustainable surfacing online and you’ll find a plethora of recycled materials, like rubber or cork, being transformed into safety surfacing options. Please ask us for more information about this during the consultation stage of a project!

Responsible Sourcing
Have you ever considered where your playground equipment comes from? Materials can be harvested or produced in unethical or non-sustainable ways, placing a further strain on our environment. Instead, you can commit to using responsibly sourced materials, which can be found through research by looking for a company’s sustainability pledge on its website. Look out for companies that pledge to use non-toxic paints, recycled metal, wood, rubber and so on and sourced from eco-managed sites.

Regular Maintenance
Keeping on top of your playground’s maintenance may seem like a given; after all, that’s what every playground company advises as standard. But did you know that regularly maintaining your playground helps when it comes to sustainability? Managing little details means you can catch small issues before they develop into larger problems. Frequent and detailed inspections can be the difference between repairing and replacing! This, in turn, prevents the waste of materials and equipment.

Environmental Focus
Whilst it might not be immediately obvious, there should be a fair amount of scope for you to focus on giving back to the environment your playground is set in. Of course, this depends on the environment itself, but Proludic has plenty of ideas! If your play or sports area has grass or planted areas, why not consider creating a space for insects to thrive while using natural fertilisers rather than harsh chemicals that can negatively impact the natural habitat of various insects and birds? Or, if you don’t have a green space, why not consider planting one?

There are so many benefits − you can attract wildlife to your space, improve pollination, control weeds, etc. Green spaces are also a popular educational tool with children, where they can get their hands stuck into some gardening or watering whilst learning about the great effects this has on the environment.

Sounds great − how do I get in touch?
We’re glad you’re on board − sustainable development of outdoor play equipment is needed now more than ever. If you’d like to discuss upgrading an existing play or sports area or want our help turning your vision for a play or sports area into reality, we’re just one step away!