The building industry uses countless cable ties for short-term fixes. Construction company Naylor Love was concerned about the amount of plastic waste from used cable ties. One project alone revealed 10kgs of plastic waste from cable ties. As a featherweight product that’s a big pile. Multiply that across building sites around the country and it’s easy to see the size of the problem.
Simple solution, big impact
Naylor Love went looking for a solution and found reusable cable ties. They then teamed up with Mitre 10 to have them as an off-the-shelf product.
The collaboration yielded impressive results. Working with its overseas suppliers Mitre 10 sourced reusable cable ties that could be used multiple times and met rigorous construction site quality standards. Naylor Love then tested them to make sure they were suitable for New Zealand conditions.
The product was given the green light and reusable cable ties are being introduced into the Mitre 10 supply chain and will be available from June 2024. While addressing Naylor Love's specific challenge, reusable cable ties will provide a more sustainable option for all Mitre 10 customers.
Naylor Love has successfully promoted reusable cable ties on its building sites throughout the country and has gained approval from service engineers to use on one project to date. As a result, it is committed to seeing this solution implemented more widely.
"Our hope is that cable ties everywhere will be changed to reusable cable ties,” says Group Environmental Manager Annie Day.
“We want them retailed at the same price as standard cable ties and readily available off-the-shelf. We'd also like to see a Masterspec construction specification written for cable ties and service engineers writing the use of reusable cable ties into their specifications."
Broader commitment
The impact of the collaboration between the two companies continues. Mitre 10 and Naylor Love are engaged in industry forums and working groups. Their combined voice promotes waste reduction, recycling, and responsible product stewardship across the construction sector.
As Julie Roberts, Head of Sustainability at Mitre 10, emphasises, "Partnering is the way forward. We need to work together to find solutions that protect our precious natural resources and landscapes while delivering more equitable outcomes for our communities across the motu.”
Use Challenge Hub
Inspired by the Mitre 10 and Naylor Love collaboration and looking for ways to reduce waste within your organisation or industry? SBN's Challenge Hub is a great place to start. Turn your sustainability challenges into opportunities. Challenge Hub can connect you with other businesses and organisations that share your commitment to environmental progress. Together, you can create solutions that eliminate waste and build a more sustainable future.
Contact Annie at challengehub@sustainable.org.nz to submit a challenge.