Upcycling, a term coined by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, authors of Cradle to Cradle, is essentially, "the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value." Flex-pave is a great example of upcycling rubber waste from tires. Flex-pave is a pour-in paving material, but unlike asphalt and concrete it is flexible and therefore resists cracking and breaking. It is slip resistant and shock absorbing, and installed with a sensor based heating system eliminates the need for salting and shoveling in freezing temperatures. It is also resistant to UV rays, and as a pourous material, it reduces water run off, helping to maintain the environment. With rubber waste, aggregate rock, and a binding agent Flex-pave provides a high quality sustainable surface material that is innovative, and often better than the alternatives.


Read more at 3rings