WPC Questionnaire

This questionnaire relates to newly developed wood-plastic composites, known as enhanced wood-plastic composites (eWPCs), being developed by the EU funded research project "BioStruct". BioStruct is a large-scale collaborative project funded by the European Commission under the FP7 Programme (FP7 2007 - 2013). The project aims to develop the next generation of wood and cellulose-reinforced composites - so-called „enhanced wood-plastic composites" or eWPCs - for complex structural and multifunctional components. 

Please take a few moments to answer the questions below and provide, as far as possible, detailed opinions. Please return completed questionnaires to Padraig.Nolan@eupc.org at your earliest convenience before August 7^th 2012.

***All information supplied shall remain company confidential***

Company name:
Address:
Owner:
Managing Director (name):
Tel:
Fax:
e-mail:
Website:

1.	Does your company use WPCs as a material in the manufacturing of products? (Please tick the relevant box below)
	YES	NO
	If YES, please list the products being made using WPCs:
2.	In your opinion are WPCs a economically viable/cost effective material for manufacturing the products your company currently produces? (Please tick the relevant box below)
	YES	NO
	Please give a short explaination for your answer:
3.	Would you foresee a price difference (for consumer) for products made from WPCs over traditional materials?
	YES	NO
	If so please tick which of the two you foresee as being more expensive:
		WPCs
		Traditional materials
	Please give short reasons for your answer.
4.	Would you use WPCs even if they were more expensive to traditional materials?
	YES	NO
	If yes, please tick the relevant box(es) belows for the resaons:
		Environmental superiority of WPCs
		WPCs are more sustainable
		WPcs being readily available and reduces reliance on virgin raw materials
		Better properties of WPCs (e.g. thermometric properties, sound insulation)
		Recyclability
		Other reasons
	If other reasons are selected please list these reasons.
5.	What do you consider to be the major strength of WPCs?
6.	Would do you consider to be the major weakness of WPCs?
7.	Please mention any aspects related to bio-composites not mentioned above which you feel should be addressed:
	Subsection on end-products foreseen for enhanced wood-plastic composites
8.	What products do you foresee being manufactured from enhanced Wood-Plastic Composites?
9.	Do you think your customers would react in a more positive way towards "greener" products made from eWPCs instead of traditonal materials?
	YES	NO
10.	In which Sectors do you foresee the highest potential for eWPCs? (Please rank with the numbers 1, 2, 3 or 4, 1 being the highest potential and 4 the lowest:
		Building/Construction
		Household
		Electronic
		- Automotive
	If other, please list sectors here:
11.	Are products made from eWPCs easily recyclable, in your opinion?
	YES	NO

Thank you for taking the time to complete the questionnaire.
A briefing note on economic issues and Bio-composites will be provided to all respondents in September 2012. For additional information about the BioStruct project please visit www.biostructproject.eu