This study limited the samples to only three regions: Taiwan, Japan, and Vietnam, and the potential survey was conducted with only two manufacturers in Taiwan. It should also be noted that the subjects in the evaluation survey differed from those in the attitude survey. Furthermore, the cost simulations referred or performed in this paper are based on figures in literatures, and did not take into account real cost information including freight costs, average price of products, labor costs for installation, replacement, and dismantling of WPC in the sample areas. Therefore, further research is needed on detailed cost
simulations and marketing strategies in EAP region, then hopefully the potential of massive recycling of plastic waste will rigidly be evaluated.
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Appendix 1
Questionnaire of the attitude survey
Attitude Survey of Wood-plastic composites (WPC) in East Asia & Pacific region
We are going to write a thesis on the title “ An investigation of the pervasive potential of wood-plastic composite (WPC) in the East Asia & Pacific (EAP) region". The purpose of this study is to assess the potential for the further promotion of WPC in the region. The study is being conducted through National Taiwan University.
This questionnaire asks about your personal attitude against WPC. Your responses will be anonymous and will never be linked to your personally. Your participation would be much appreciated and help us achieve results relevant for the industry and for your business.
Kind Regards,
Author of the thesis: Kenta Ikejiri Adviser: Asst. Prof. Ying-chieh Chan
Section 1: General Question
2. Gender
Property/ facility management
Property owner/ investor
Education
Other_____
5. What kind of project are you usually involved in? (multiple answers allowed)
Residential (single-family house/ apartment/ etc.)
Commercial (office/ retail/ hotel/ etc.)
Industrial (plant/ warehouse/ etc.)
Infrastructure (power plant/ waste transfer center/ etc.)
Specialty (school/ arena/ library/ station/ etc.)
Other_____
6. Private or public projects, which are you usually involved in?
Private
Public
Build–operate–transfer (BOT)
7. Are you responsible for determining the materials used for the project?
Yes
Catalog/ Newspaper/ Blog/ etc.
Other_____
10. Have you ever used WPC in your projects?
Yes
No
My company doesn’t deal with building materials
12. In which situation would you consider to use it? (multiple answers allowed)
Lower cost
Better texture
Better safety
Better maintainability
Other_____
13. Why do you frequently use it? (multiple answers allowed)
Good texture
Project’s concept
Company’s convention
Environmental constraints (humidity/ sun exposure/ etc.)
Safety reasons (fire resistance/ not using chemical ingredients/ etc.)
Others
14. Why don’t you frequently use it? (multiple answers allowed)
High cost
Not good texture
Mismatch with my projects
Other_____
Texture
Safety
Other_____
16. If you have intentionally avoided using WPC, what kind of causes can you think of? (multiple answers allowed)
High cost
Not good texture
Mismatch with my projects
I haven’t intentionally avoided using it
Other_____
17. What are the alternative materials you frequently use? (multiple answers allowed)
18. Please let us know about your overall impression against WPC.
Very good
Good
Bad
Very bad
19. What are the causes of your positive impression against WPC? (multiple answers allowed)
Environmental friendliness
Stable durability
Natural feeling of the texture
High maintainability
Safety reasons
Other_____
20. What are the causes of your negative impression against WPC? (multiple answers allowed)
High cost
Not good texture
Mismatch with your projects
Other_____
Section 3: Future consideration of use of WPC
WPC is composite material made of wood fiber/ wood flour and thermoplastic such as PE, PP, or PVC. The most distinctive feature of WPC is its wood-like texture and recyclability. The most common use of WPC is outdoor decking, but it is also used for fences, landscape timber, cladding and siding, railings or furniture. Some common advantages and disadvantages of WPC are as below.
[Advantages]
- Natural texture
- Environmentally friendliness - Low maintenance cost
- High durability [Disadvantages]
- High product’s cost (about 15% more as compared to pressure-treated lumber) - Thermal expansion
- Creep (time dependent deformation) - Difficult application of paint
(Source: https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/what-is-wood-plastic-composite.html#some-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-wpc)
21. Would you consider to use WPC in the future?
Yes
No
My company doesn’t deal with building materials
22. Why would you consider to use WPC in the future? (multiple answers allowed)
Environmental friendliness
Stable durability
Natural feeling of the texture
High maintainability
Safety reasons
Other_____
23. In which situation would you consider to use it? (multiple answers allowed)
Lower cost
Better texture
Better maintainability
Other_____
24. Please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions regarding this questionnaire or particular products.
____________________________________________________________
Appendix 2
Questionnaire of the evaluation survey
Evaluation Survey of the Improvements of Wood-plastic composites (WPC) in East Asia & Pacific region
We are going to write a thesis on the title “ An investigation of the pervasive potential of wood-plastic composite (WPC) in the East Asia & Pacific (EAP) region". The purpose of this study is to assess the potential for the further promotion of WPC in the region. The study is being conducted through National Taiwan University.
Recently we have conducted a questionnaire to ask architects and landscape designers about their attitude against WPC, and based on the obtained issues, we propose some improvements of WPC, including a new WPC distribution system.
This questionnaire asks you to evaluate the improvements. We apologize to those who cooperated in the first survey, but there are some overlapping questions such as
attributes. Your responses will be anonymous and will never be linked to your
personality. Your participation would be much appreciated and help us achieve results relevant for the industry and for your business.
Kind Regards,
Author of the thesis: Kenta Ikejiri Adviser: Asst. Prof. Ying-chieh Chan
Section 1: General Question
Property/ facility management
Property owner/ investor
Education
Other_____
5. Are you responsible for determining the materials used for the project?
Yes
My company doesn’t deal with building materials 8. How often do you use it?
Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Section 3: Introduction of the improvements
After confirming the following four improvements of WPC we propose, please go to the next section, and evaluate the improvements.
(The four improvements in the Section 4.2 of this paper are introduced.)
Section 4: Evaluation of the improvements
9. Based on the above improvements, would you start to consider using WPC, or consider using WPC more in the future?
Yes
No
Maybe
10. Please let us know why you still don’t consider using WPC.
_________________________________________________________
11. Which of the following aspects are the important deciding factors for your consideration? (Multiple answers are allowed)
Better texture
Better environmental friendliness
Lower cost
Design flexibility
Other_____
12. Please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions regarding this questionnaire or particular products.