ECO-BRICK UTILIZING BIAXIALLY ORIENTED POLYPROPYLENE (BOPP)

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Plastics are an organic polymer of natural materials with a high molecular mass of lightweight, so generally, the peoples owe for this usage. It was invented using cellulose by Alexander Parks in 1862 and kept first at a London exhibition. Plastic is the material that people use almost every day and everything which pollutes the environment. Perhaps it is the most harmful type of waste because it does not readily break down in nature. It is estimated that 8 million metric tons of plastics end up in the ocean every year, according to the research last 2015. In 2016, the world generated 242 million tons of plastic, according to the World Bank Group.

Biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) is a film used in food packaging. It replaces cellophane in applications such as snack and tobacco packaging due to its favorable properties and low cost. BOPP Films are the preferred substrate for food packaging globally because of their inherent moisture barrier seal-ability, properties, high clarity, graphic reproduction, and shelf appeal. The best possibilities of the pack are a monolayer or homogeneous structure. For food packaging, it is prominently used as the co-extruded heat-sealable reverse printable film. The demand for biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) has grown 3.5% per annum over the last five years (to the end of 2019). The industry is worth around US$14 billion, supplying around 8.3 million tons last year (Moreira, 2020).

Bricks are a widely used construction and building material around the world. A brick is a kind of block that is usually used in building walls and partitions of the building, pavements, and other masonry construction elements. The term "Bricks" usually refers to composition majorly consisting of red soil once. However, now it is made using a proportioned mix of clay-bearing soil, sand, lime, or concrete materials. They can be joined together using mortar, adhesives, or by interlocking them. Bricks are of various types categorized under several methods, usage, and place of origin. Interior walls and partitions made of bricks help adjust the room and building's temperature as they store the heat and cool air. Houses made entirely out of bricks cost less in the long run because they need less energy for heating.

The "Eco-brick" is the recycled product that mainly makes use of the wasted plastics with a proportioned mix of cement and waste plastics (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP)). The bricks make us of a wide variety of natural and artificial created resources like cement, sand and stones, dust, and fly ash. To overcome the extinction of natural-based resources and reduce plastic wastes, people have to use those harmful products in the development of commercial activities. Hence in this research, the researchers use the harmful plastics as alternative sand of the brick to retreat the effect of degradation problems.

Green Antz Builder finds a way of incorporating plastic to create their sustainable and eco-friendly brick. They encourage people around their community to collect plastic sachets and bring them to the hub. The process includes first the shredding of plastic and mixes it with cement and sand to produce eco-bricks. They proved that their eco-bricks are 5 to 6 times stronger and 15% to 30% cheaper than those typical hollow blocks. Technically they say it could be a replacement for CHB Concrete Hollow Blocks. The use of plastic waste also plays as a raw material for insulation. They have already built a daycare center, parking area, and even a park in BGC using those eco-bricks.

It is concluded that the recycling and use of plastic waste for construction are found to be effective as it will serve as a reliable source of materials for construction purposes. Recycling plastic waste will help lessen the contamination in the environment. However, it will also add value to the plastic trash by incorporating it as a partial or complete alternative for sand in creating a brick. The possible use of these construction materials will improve sustainability processes and practices of construction. The innovative and sustainable use of plastic waste in construction will provide alternative materials that will meet the construction industry's demand.

According to Dionisio (2018), Compared to the standard hollow block with only 150 PSI, or the resistance to downward force in pounds per square inch, cement eco-bricks are heavier, sturdier, and more compact. Depending on the shredded plastics mixed with them, cement eco-bricks have up to 670, 770, and 870 PSI. This means that the structures built with them are four times stronger. He added value to plastic trash when integrated into the economy from the collection of plastic wastes to cement eco-bricks' actual production; people from rural communities are provided with jobs. Cement eco-bricks are currently priced at P24, sixty percent more expensive than the regular hollow blocks. To help in marketing, Dioniso introduces cement eco-bricks to real estate companies. The private sectors have financial capacity, knowledge, and access to production to push these kinds of environment-friendly endeavors. If the proposal goes well, he is hopeful that the Philippines will soon develop its recyclable construction industry.

According to Green Antz Builders (2019), A social enterprise produces eco-friendly construction hollow blocks in the Philippines. The Ecobricks are different from ordinary building blocks and resemble lego blocks. The plastic laminates act as an insulator that locks out the heat passing through regular hollow blocks making eco-bricks more relaxed and durable. The EcoBricks are aesthetically superior, more robust, and cost-effective than standard hollow blocks, and at the same time, addressing a waste management problem.

According to Adewumi, Branko, Suvash & Vivi (2018), plastic waste is the most abundant substance present in the environment; therefore, this plastic pollutes our rivers, land, and ocean. The versatile nature of plastic-like being lightweight, flexible, firm, rigid, moisture-resistant, and cheap can be an alternative to current composite materials like concrete. Many researchers from the past years have already used plastic waste as a replacement for aggregate in concrete. The result shows that due to plastic incorporation, the mechanical properties and durability of concrete changed. Still, it meets the requirements for many engineering utilizations.

Svenmyr & Wandsö (2019) study revealed the possible use of recycled plastic as a substitute material for Columbia construction for low-income housing. The materials used in the building are assessed base on their physical properties, cost, and their effect on the structure's indoor temperature. To lessen the impact on climate by the extensive energy use, there is a need to develop an alternative way like increasing the re-use of produced products made from the organic substance.

There are several types of plastic. Each has a different life cycle, which makes it difficult for them to collect. These plastics have other properties and can be taken to create something sustainable to generate housing for vulnerable people with limited resources. Since plastic is removed from the environment, it will develop a system for sustainable construction.

Godwin (2019) found that plastic is the most significant thing that causes the production of waste. It is the material people frequently throw away. Since most plastic is singled use, people see it lays around in all areas in our surroundings and will take more years to decompose. This opens a way to explore the efficient utilization of recycled plastic waste in the construction field. Plastic bricks may be used as pavements on the side of the road, sidewalks, and even bricks used in grounds of open areas.