PIPES, VALVES & FITTINGS
What is the significance of bio-based PEX pipes for building services?
Mark Dowdeswell, senior category manager at Uponor explains how bio- based pipes can help building services meet their sustainability goals and reduce a building’s carbon footprint
W
ith the need to address climate change intensifying, greater focus is being placed on the role that manufacturers can play in helping the industry
to reduce its environmental impact and become more sustainable. Companies must focus on the whole life carbon cost of building products, rather than simply on operational costs. We need to consider the product’s entire life cycle, its long- term effect on the environment, and pay attention to the sustainability credentials of the full supply chain.
As one of the most damaging sectors when it comes to sustainability, heating and cooling manufacturers have had no choice but to rise to the challenge and adopt more sustainable ways to manufacture their products. In fact, we have already seen a greater uptake of PEX pipes which can reduce CO2 by up to 70%. However, this is not enough. We need to look beyond traditional methods that often use fossil-based materials, and adopt more innovative manufacturing processes if we are serious about tackling climate change.
A sustainable future is bio-based
One such development has been the introduction of bio-based materials to further enhance the sustainability of PEX pipes. Building service engineers are already familiar with the benefits provided by PEX (crosslinked polyethylene) pipes; greater flexibility, quicker installation, higher heat resistance, long-term durability and better sustainability. However, ground-breaking innovations now mean that high-performing PEX pipes can be manufactured using bio- based materials, which will go a long way in helping the building services sector to meet its sustainability targets in plumbing, heating, ventilation and HVAC installations. This new concept is based on the circular economy model by reusing or recycling materials such as plastic and switching to renewable feedstock instead of fossil-based raw materials. By using second-generation natural resources such as waste from pulp production or residues from food processing oils, manufacturers can offer PEX pipes that provide an even more sustainable solution without compromising on quality and long- term durability performance.
A fully traceable solution
To claim that a product is genuinely sustainable, the environment must be at the heart of the entire supply chain, which means that full traceability is essential. When manufacturing bio-based materials each element, from the renewable feedstock through to the end product, should be tracked, traced and verified throughout the entire supply chain.
This means that procurement teams in the building services sector should be looking for the traceability of the products they procure. To do this, they should look for third-party accreditations, such as ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification), that validate the sustainability of new bio-based solutions and provide complete traceability and transparency throughout the entire supply and production chain. Sourcing products with this kind of accreditation enables procurement teams to easily and quickly verify the life cycle of a product and its impact on the environment.
The world’s first bio-based PEX pipe
Although a relatively new concept, Uponor is already seeing tangible results from this innovative manufacturing approach. By using second-generation natural resources in the manufacture of the world’s first bio-based PEX pipe, PEX Pipe Blue, the pipe can achieve an unprecedented carbon footprint reduction of up to 90% compared to fossil-based PEX pipes. This exceptionally low carbon footprint is based on Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) calculations according to EN15804+A1 and CML/ ISO21930 standards, which use life cycle assessment to evaluate a product’s environmental impact along its entire life cycle from manufacture to deconstruction. The supply of the second-generation natural
resources used to manufacture 100% bio- based PEX Pipe Blue follows the mass balance approach. This means that for every tonne of ISCC certified renewable raw materials put into production, an equivalent amount of PEX Pipe Blue can be claimed as ISCC Certified.
The next generation of PEX pipe
With sustainability and traceability now strategic pillars for the construction industry, the building services sector has become
26 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2022
increasingly aware of the role it has to play in meeting these requirements. Manufacturers of energy-efficient heating and cooling system solutions are leading the way in helping the sector meet its commitments through innovations such as a bio-based pipe. By using bio-based materials for manufacturing the next generation of PEX pipes, they are setting the standards in the move from fossil-based to renewable and recycled raw materials and helping building services run more efficiently, reduce the CO2 footprint of their buildings and meet their sustainability targets.
Uponor specialises in the delivery of safe drinking water as well as energy efficient heating and cooling systems and is one of the industry’s market leaders, pushing the boundaries of innovation and supplying high quality products to the construction industry in the UK and globally. Its products can most commonly be found in the commercial, residential and industrial sectors. The company offers over 14,000 products, from pipes and fittings to manifolds and controls, and more. Together its product range ensures that all components required for a job can be sourced in one place, with the support of a design team to help with traditional and challenging projects.
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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