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In order to provide planners with all the information they need for sustainable planning, egeplast just published some initial Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). An EPD was issued for the egeplast 90 10®, the egeplast SLM® 3.0, the egeplast SLA® Barrier Pipe as well as for the egeplast Microduct Green Line which is made 100% of highquality recyclate. PE pipes generally have very good environmental credentials – even more so when comparing them to alternative materials.
„A comparison of EPD data shows that PE pipes boast a very good environmental balance owing to their energy-efficient production, low CO2 emissions, long useful life, recyclability and low operating costs, in particular compared to other materials.“
Dr.-Ing. Thorsten Späth, Head of Productmanagement egeplast
In times of increasing environmental concerns and more demanding sustainability goals, EPDs have come to play an increasingly important role. An EPD is an environment-related product declaration based on standardised life cycle analyses (Life Cycle Assessment, LCA). It provides transparent, reliable and comparable environmental information about a product – from raw materials extraction via its production and use to its disposal or recycling.
Why are EPDs important for selecting polyethylene pipes?
Objective environmental assessment
EPDs provide a scientifically sound basis to assess the ecological impact of polyethylene pipes (PE pipes) compared to other pipe materials such as concrete, cast iron or PVC, facilitating sustainable decisionmaking for construction projects.
Support with certifications
Transparent environmental information is essential for sustainable construction projects and environmental certifications. EPDs help to improve the environmental performance of a project.
Comparability and transparency
Since EPDs are created based on international standards (e.g. ISO 14025, EN 15804), they facilitate a fair and manufacturer- independent comparability of different pipe systems, thus enabling planners, engineers and construction companies to make fact-based decisions.
Conservation of resources and a circular economy
Polyethylene pipes are durable and corrosion- resistant and predominantly recyclable. EPDs provide detailed information about the impact of the selected material on the product’s entire life cycle, thus promoting sustainable solutions related to the pipeline infrastructure.
Reduzierung des CO2-Fußabdrucks
By analysing the raw materials‘ production, transportation, manufacturing and disposal, EPDs identify potential ways to reduce CO2 emissions. In this context, polyethylene pipes often perform positively since they are lighter than metal pipes. The transportation and installation is also less energyconsuming.
A comparison of EPD data shows that PE pipes boast a very good environmental balance owing to their energy-efficient production, low CO2 emissions, long useful life, recyclability and low operating costs, in particular compared to other materials which are very energy-intensive to manufacture, such as cast iron or steel pipes. The fact that PE pipes are also lighter than castiron or steel pipes greatly reduces the CO2 emissions involved in transportation. Also, the smooth internal surface found in PE pipes reduces hydraulic resistance, which results in lower levels of pumping energy required, making them a more sustainable choice for many applications, in particular in water and gas supply as well as in industrial pipeline construction.
Conclusion
EPDs are a valuable tool for everyone striving to achieve environmentally friendly and sustainable decisions in pipeline construction. They provide a basis for transparent assessment of the environmental performance provided by polyethylene pipes. In this way, they contribute to the optimization of ecologically sustainable construction projects. After an intensive period of data collection, egeplast now has received the first product declarations, and these declarations are publically available (www.environdec.com/library). In addition to the important utilities products – egeplast 90 10®, egeplast SLM® 3.0 and the egeplast SLA® Barrier Pipe – an EPD for the egeplast Microduct Green Line, which is exclusively made of recycled material, has been published now. The remaining products will follow, which will enable us to make life easier for planners in the future by providing them with the information they need for sustainable planning with our products.
Contact
Dr.-Ing. Thorsten Späth
Head of Product Management, egeplast international GmbH
E-Mail: thorsten.spaeth@egeplast.de
Tel.: +49 2575 9710 266
