Development of a novel solution or by-product by recycling EPDM flooring mats

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

E M Services manages more than 2000 playgrounds, many of which are currently equipped with EPDM flooring mats. Due to the wear and tear of the EPDM flooring mats, we will need to replace them when they reach their lifespan. Currently, all used flooring mats are disposed of and sent to be incinerated, which produces carbon emissions and a significant carbon footprint. At this moment, there are no solutions or approaches for us to be able to recycle our flooring mats. We are therefore looking for solutions to recycle effectively, with two potential routes to market afterwards:

1. Potentially recycling the EPDM flooring mats materials back into our own business
2. Finding novel products/solutions or use cases based on the EPDM recyclable materials (examples could include: matts or tiles for shopping malls, temperature or sound insulation for houses/roofs or pre-cast construction, running (shoes), drainage layers for roof gardens (since the material is porous)

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS / PERFORMANCE CRITERIA:

Generically the technical properties for the EPDM flooring mats are as follows:

• Estimated size of the playground: 100 sqm
• Thickness of the EPDM: 50mm
• Weight of EPDM per sqm: 47.8kg
• Estimated number of playgrounds (replacing EPDM) per year: 400
• Estimated kg of used EPDM per year: 95,600 kg.

E M Services will be evaluating the solution providers on a case-by-case basis. For the route to market where EPDM flooring materials could be re-utilised in our own business, our criteria to evaluate would include

Performance criteria:

1. Material cost
2. Cost to re-work / repurpose the materials
3. Durability of the material (an example would be to evaluate the cracking of the material after a certain number of years of sun exposure)
4. The ability to withstand tests regarding non-flammability
5. The ability to withstand the impact test of the material
6. The eventual carbon footprint, as compared to incineration of the material.

For the route to market where EPDM flooring materials will be repurposed to a novel application, the specific acceptance criteria will have to be determined by the novel end-customer.

COST TARGET

For the route to market where EPDM flooring materials could be re-utilized in our own business, EM Services will be looking at the cost in comparison to first-time use. We will be evaluating the carbon footprint reduction as part of our considerations. Ideally, EM Services would like to adopt a solution that reduces the carbon footprint whilst either keeping cost at par or decreasing cost. Individual solutions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

For the route to market where EPDM flooring materials will be repurposed to a novel application, the specific acceptance criteria will have to be determined by the novel end-customer.

TIMEFRAME FOR DEVELOPMENT

Phase 1: PoC/Trail to be conducted (2-4 months)

Phase 2: Further commercial roll-out. Timeline to be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

POTENTIAL MARKET / BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

There are two routes to market:

1. Recycling EPDM flooring mats materials back into our own business:

If the solution proves its efficacy, we are willing to consider adoption across our business:

• There are about 2,000 playgrounds in HDB estates & EM manages more than 80% of them. There are about another 2,000 playgrounds in private residential estates who are managed by others.
• There are about another 2,000 fitness corners in HDB estates but the floor coverage area of the fitness corners is about 30% of playgrounds.
• The rubber flooring of about 400 playgrounds are replaced every year. Similar number for fitness corners.
• There are about 50 to 100 playgrounds and fitness corners in HDB new developments each year which can potentially take in the recycled materials if they are fit for purpose.

Hence, EM Services believes there is great market potential for this novel solution.

1. For the route to market where EPDM flooring materials will be repurposed to a novel application, the specific market opportunity will be dependent on the novel application/use case.

RESOURCES

EM services is willing to support a PoC/Pilot by providing in-kind support which can include: project management, access to our playground sites, joint definition & testing of the materials etc.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

EM Services sees many potential applications for EPDM flooring mats such as: noise- absorbing panels or acoustic panels. Additionally, there may be completely novel applications across various industries (not directly related to EM Services business). We are open to considering all of these applications. We believe that direct sales to recycling companies and play equipment suppliers should also be possible. Currently, we believe the technology is not available in Singapore

 
Contact / source: Enterprise Singapore Sustainability Open Innovation Challenge - Sustainability Open Innovation Challenge 2022 (innovation-challenge.sg)