To provide planners with all the necessary information for sustainable planning, egeplast has published its first Environmental Product Declarations. The following products have received an EPD: the egeplast 90 10®, the egeplast SLM® 3.0, the egeplast SLA® Barrier Pipe, and the egeplast Microduct Green Line, which consists of 100% high-quality recycled material. PE pipes show a very good overall environmental balance – especially compared to other materials.
In times of increasing environmental requirements and more demanding sustainability goals, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) play an increasingly important role in the construction and infrastructure industry. An EPD is an environmental product declaration based on standardized life cycle assessments (Life Cycle Assessment, LCA). It provides transparent, reliable, and comparable environmental information about a product – from raw material extraction, manufacturing, and use to disposal or recycling.
Why are EPDs Important for the Selection of Polyethylene Pipes?
Objective Environmental Assessment
EPDs offer a scientifically sound basis for assessing the environmental impacts of polyethylene pipes (PE pipes) compared to other pipe materials such as concrete, cast iron, or PVC. This facilitates sustainable decision-making in construction projects.
Support for Certifications
For sustainable construction projects and environmental certifications, transparent environmental information is essential. EPDs help improve the environmental footprint of projects.
Comparability and Transparency
Since EPDs are created according to international standards (e.g., ISO 14025, EN 15804), they enable a fair and manufacturer-independent comparison of different pipe systems. This allows Design Engineers, engineers, and construction companies to make fact-based decisions.
Resource Conservation and Circular Economy
Polyethylene pipes are durable, corrosion-resistant, and highly recyclable. EPDs precisely show the influence of material selection on a product’s entire life cycle and thus promote sustainable solutions in pipe infrastructure.
Reducing the CO2 Footprint
By analyzing raw material extraction, transport, manufacturing, and disposal, EPDs identify potentials for saving CO2 emissions. Polyethylene pipes often perform positively here because they are lighter than metal pipes and therefore consume less energy during transport and installation.
When comparing EPD data, PE pipes demonstrate a very good overall environmental footprint due to their energy-efficient production, low CO2 emissions, long service life, recyclability, and low operating costs, especially compared to other materials that are manufactured very energy-intensively, such as cast iron or steel pipes. Since PE pipes are lighter than cast iron or steel pipes, CO2 emissions during transport are also significantly reduced. The smooth inner surface of PE pipes reduces hydraulic resistance, meaning less pumping energy is required. This makes them a more sustainable choice for many applications, particularly in water and gas supply and industrial pipeline construction.
Conclusion
EPDs are a valuable tool for anyone looking to make environmentally friendly and sustainable decisions in pipeline construction. They enable a transparent assessment of the environmental performance of polyethylene pipes and contribute to optimizing the ecological sustainability of construction projects. After an intensive phase of data collection, egeplast has now received its first product declarations, which are publicly available (www.environdec.com/library). In addition to the important supply products egeplast 90 10®, egeplast SLM® 3.0, and the egeplast SLA® Barrier Pipe, an EPD was also published for the egeplast Microduct Green Line, which consists solely of recycled material. Further products will follow, so that we can simplify sustainable planning with our products for planners in the future.
