Committed to Sustainability
DURA-BASE® Contributes Directly to Reductions in Tree Harvesting, Carbon Emissions and Traffic in Our Communities
As the market’s first engineered thermoplastic worksite access solution, DURA-BASE Advanced Composite Mat System continues to set the standard for safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly performance. For more than 20 years, we've manufactured our fully recyclable DURA-BASE mat contributing directly to reductions in tree harvesting, carbon emissions and traffic in our communities. Through its patented design, sealed construction and material composition, DURA-BASE has proven invaluable in diverse applications across numerous industries, including environmentally sensitive areas and extreme environments.
To learn more about all of our sustainability initiatives please click the brochure to the right.
450,000+
Total Trees Avoided YTD 2023
18,800+ TONS
CO2 Emissions Avoided in 2023
10.4+ MILLION
Miles Avoided in 2023
*Based on internal estimates verified by Kambio Solutions, a third party firm specializing in corporate sustainability strategy
TREES SAVED
Our fully recyclable DURA-BASE mat allows customers to eliminate tree harvesting needed to construct alternative wood mat products. 450,000 trees and counting have been avoided by Newpark's manufacturing and recycling of DURA-BASE through 2023.
According to the Texas Forestry Commission, it takes 60 years to grow a milling size tree for a wood mat that is typically incinerated or disposed of in landfills after an average life of 3 years. DURA-BASE mats are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resin, which can be cleaned, reused, and 100% recycled – reducing the need to cut any trees. The average life of a new DURA-BASE mat is 12 years, but this life could be considered infinite since the mat is 100% recyclable. There is zero degradation in any product characteristics during the recycling process, meaning your damaged and used DURA-BASE mats can be made new again. Additionally, any excess, shavings, or other raw material waste used in the manufacturing process is reintroduced into production.
CO2 EMISSIONS SAVED
DURA-BASE mats are up to three times lighter than alternative solutions, requiring fewer trucks to transport the same usable surface area, thereby saving CO2 emissions with every load eliminated. 18.8+ thousand tons of CO2 has been avoided in 2023 through transportation using DURA-BASE when compared to trucking usage of wood alternatives. Also, over time wood mats can retain moisture, which increases their weight and decreases mat per load, requiring even more trucks and increased overall transportation costs.
MILES SAVED
We believe safety is central to everything we do. We believe in protecting each other like family while sustaining the environment in which we work. In addition to CO2 emissions saved, the reduced volume of trucks require when transporting DURA-BASE has avoided over 10.4 million miles driven in 2023. Less trucks on the road and miles driven mean safer conditions and less nuisance for the community as a whole.
How do saved miles translate to a safer community?
| Public Safety | According to the US Department of Transportation there are over 38,000 fatalities per year from vehicle accidents, one of the leading causes of death in America. |
| Air Quality and Health | Air pollution from CO₂, CO, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions, as well as other particulate matter discharged from vehicle engines contribute to a host of respiratory problems. |
| Water and Land Pollution | Vehicular toxins from exhaust, engine particulates, trash, and other debris get blown or washed into the right-of-way. |
| Noise, Dust and Disruption | Traffic noise can interfere with sleep, conversations, and other activities. While dust can cover everything, effect vegetation and pollute our lungs. |
| Road Damage | Community roads were not built to sustain the sheer mass of semi-trailers, the more rigs driving through means the more potential for damage and ultimately cost to the community. |
Positive Impacts on the Environment
NATIONAL OCEAN INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION
At Newpark, our commitment to environmental sustainability is clearly demonstrated through the products we provide across multiple industries. We are also proud advocates of broad-based industry efforts aimed at providing solutions that support communities and protect our workers, the public and our environment. One example is through the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), a trade organization that serves the offshore oil, natural gas and wind industries. Newpark’s leadership is actively involved in the NOIA ESG Network, which provides a platform to help drive enhancements to environmental sustainability.
Learn more about the NOIA ESG Network, Objectives, and Newpark’s role by clicking on their brochure.
AIR LIQUIDE
"The use of advanced composite mats provides many benefits to Air Liquide, those benefits include the ability to carry up to 48 mats on a single truck, the ability to cover 8 linear feet instead of 4 linear feet per mat laid, the ability to remove greater than 30% of our carbon emission by reducing the number of trucks that we need to bring to the site. We also reduce the amount of equipment needed to set the mats, we reduce the amount of time it takes to set the mats reducing machinery costs, machinery emissions, crew costs and time on the right of way."
Robbie Hoff
Sr. Project Manager
Pipeline Engineering & Construction
As aired on CNBC's Advancements, a TV series hosted by Ted Danson
Check out the video to hear everything Air Liquide had to say
NEBRASKA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT
"By using composite mats, NPPD was able to reduce the time required to set and remove the mats compared to the use of wooden mats. In addition, NPPD was able to significantly reduce the impact to the land, and as a result, the utility had less damage settlements than on past projects. Through the rental of composite matting, collaborating with landowners, working around weather conditions and making a concerted effort to minimize damages, NPPD’s construction crews were able to minimize the impact to landowners."
Mike Hasenkamp
Sr. Project Manager
Click here to read the entire article as published in T&D World
