Environmental Footprint of Plastic Pipes and Fittings

In addition to the numerous benefits of the plastic pipe systems there is also a strong and reliable scientific evidence that, in general plastic pipe systems offer a lower product environmental footprint than the alternative materials.

Environmental footprint

Efficient pipe systems infrastructure play a vital role for meeting needs of a growing population, in terms of convenience, comfort and safety.

With the exponential growth in the use of plastic pipes both in new and in renovation projects there is a clear indication of the manifold advantages of plastic pipes and fittings. Additionally there is a strong and reliable scientific evidence, that, in general plastic pipe systems offer a lower product environmental footprint than the alternative materials.

EPD AND LCA

In collaboration with two independent research institutes TEPPFA developed voluntary Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for plastic pipe systems using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, in compliance with the International standards – ISO 14025, ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. The internationally standardized Life Cycle Assessments were conducted by the world-renowned Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), and then independently validated by the internationally respected Austrian sustainable development institute Denkstatt GmbH.

This scientific assessment of a comprehensive set of indicators concludes that throughout the life-cycle, from cradle to grave, the environmental impact of the plastic pipe systems is lower for most applications and along the majority of criteria, compared to the alternative materials. There is a wide number of companies and institutes that contributed to the work of this study, including Plastics Europe, TNO, PVC4pipes Association and TEPPFA Member Companies. In total the data was collected from around 60% of companies within the European pipe industry.

Lifetime Cycle Assessment (LCAs)

Making Fair Comparisons between Alternative Materials

A scientifically-based life-cycle assessment (LCA) is the standardized method for fairly comparing the environmental impacts of different products across all stages of their life, from cradle to grave.

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

The pipe systems EPDs

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) offers a standard way of communicating the output from an LCA and enables the user to assess the environmental impact of a pipe system and allows comparisons to be made with alternative products at the system level.

EPD Calculator

The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA) is keen to raise awareness of the value that plastic pipe systems offer for a sustainable future. We commissioned an independent study by the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) to measure the environmental footprint of various plastic pipe systems based on life-cycle assessment.

Please view the EPD Calculator here.

Benefits of
Plastic Pipes

Plastics have an incredible versatility for designing plastic pipes. Learn all about the various plastic materials and production processes of pipes and fittings.