Specialist recycling company i-plas (Halifax / UK; www.intruplas.com) has developed a material made from recycled polymers that it claims can replace wood and concrete in construction applications. The compound, which contains at least five thermoplastics, but not PVC, has been developed in conjunction with the University of Sheffield (www.Sheffield.ac.uk). It is produced to a specific formulation using scrap plastics obtained from industrial sources. After granulation, blending and extrusion, the i-plas material is sold in profile form. It is said to have many similar characteristics to wood and early applications have included picnic tables and park benches.