In 2010, the Building and Construction sector consumed 9.54 million tonnes of plastics (21% of total European plastics consumption), making it the second largest plastic application after packaging. Plastic pipes, for instance, command the majority of all new pipe installations, with well over 50% of the annual tonnage. And this share is still growing.
Although plastics are not always visible in buildings, the building and construction industry uses them for a wide and growing range of applications including insulation, piping, window frames and interior design. This growth is mainly due to plastics' unique features, which include: