Magway cuts costs with sustainable bio-composite

The growth in online shopping has exploded in the past decade and with COVID-19 as a backdrop, the one-click delivery of household goods is not only convenient, it’s also safer. However, this popularity does come with a strain on traditional supply chain and logistics infrastructure. That’s why the innovative SME Magway is looking to build an alternative system: a network of underground pipes where pods ride magnetic waves to deliver goods to their destinations.

Looking to lessen potential environmental impact of all parts of their project, Magway approached the NCC to find a more sustainable, cost-effective alternative to commonly used plastics for their subterranean pipes. The team of composites experts at our world-leading research centre showed that using renewable, biobased flax fibres offered a viable green alternative. The flax composite pipes would also cut up to 50% of the material costs and up to 70% of the manufacturing costs of the pipelines. This exciting new delivery solution shows that more sustainable manufacturing doesn’t cost the earth; in fact, it’s often the most cost-effective option for a manufacturing business.

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