Plastic building materials are widely used because they are lightweight, have high chemical corrosion resistance, are easy to process, have low thermal conductivity, have excellent decorative properties, are multifunctional and economical. They are therefore frequently used for plastic pipes and fittings, doors, windows and accessories, wallpaper and veneers, resilient floor coverings, man-made fibre carpets, thermal insulation and sound-absorbing panels, etc.
The building materials industry is an important basic industry for the development of the national economy and society, as well as a key industry in terms of energy consumption and carbon emissions in the industrial sector. In November 2022, the Chinese government released the "Implementation Plan for the Carbon Peak in the Building Materials Industry", which states: "With low-carbon technological innovation as the driving force, we will comprehensively improve the green and low-carbon development level of the building materials industry and ensure the timely achievement of the carbon peak." At this stage, the advantages of plastics and rubber in the sustainable development of building materials are even more evident.