IZOXECO – A Ray of Sunshine in the Battle Against the Worst Plastic Waste

With the ever increasing problem of plastic waste pollution, our oceans are under a huge threat from micro plastics entering the marine ecosystems.  A ray of sunshine is on the horizon as Josip and Monika Šincek have developed international award winning technology that turns unrecyclable plastic into building materials for innovative products like their floating pontoons.

Beginning with a plastic recycling facility in Varaždin, they soon realized that a large portion of recovered plastics are not recyclable. Through their company Tipos Resurs they used their backgrounds in construction and environmental science to develop a method to convert problematic unrecyclable waste into useful building materials.  They began with acoustic barriers for roads, and then moved onto products such as prefabricated walls for buildings, crypts for graveyards, and high performance floating pontoons under their brand IZOX ECO.

They then scaled up production by building a cca 50000 m2 production facility in Gospić, as well as a network of suppliers of unrecyclable plastic waste, which includes recycling facilities from Italy, Austria and Slovenia. They have gone on to win more than a dozen international awards for their innovations, and soon plan to license their technology worldwide.

Worldwide Problem of Recycling Fiberglass Vessels – Throughout the world, no viable method has been found to recycle fiberglass vessels, with the problem largely swept under the rug.  Tipos Resurs has tackled this problem head on, by processing these vessels into an input material in their production process, with the ability to swallow whole vessels up to 12m. They also can recycle ropes, fishing nets and boat fenders which pollute the seashores worldwide. They soon hope to motivate Croatian authorities and the public to develop a collection plan to eliminate this assault on our beautiful coastline.

The IZOX ECO line of products is extensive, so for our publication we focused on their pontoons and related marine projects.  They claim that their pontoons are lighter, more flexible, and can handle heavier loads than those made with traditional technologies.  They also claim they are fire retardant to C 1500 degrees, fully recyclable, and there are no micro plastic emissions from these pontoons.

When asked to provide 4 measurement parameters to back their emission claims at the leading international trade fair for ideas, inventions and innovations iENA in Nurnberg, they responded with 18 measurement parameters and set a new standard for environmental measurement.  The result at the trade fair was the Leonardo de Vinci Award for innovation, which is awarded every 12 years, with this award being the first in the Environmental category.

In addition to the environmental aspect in production, they also promote environmental installation, by boring directly into rocky seabed instead of using concrete blocks. Their floating products also include swimming platforms and even upholstered floating lounges.  They encourage clients to bring their own ideas for any use of their materials, as they are part of the Mirador Design Group which provides innovative design solutions using their products. Keep your eyes out for Josip and Monika and their IZOX ECO brand, as they have a bright and influential future.