How important is recyclability for the choice of piping material?
Utilities need long lasting pipes for their infrastructure. But recyclability is also becoming increasingly important, a representative from Italian utility company Gruppo Hera explains.Why is Gruppo Hera acquiring waste management companies?
Interview with Emilio Caporossi from Italian utility company Gruppo Hera.What were the key takeaways from the 1st PVC4Pipes conference?
Interview with Julian West, Product Manager, Trelleborg.Is it safe to use recycled PVC in new pipes?
Interview with Zoran Davidovski, VP Innovation & Marketing, Pipelife International.What is the future for plastic pipes?
The current debate on plastics is heated. But as Zoran Davidovski from Pipelife International explains there are many reasons why the future looks bright for plastic pipes.How can migration modelling make it easier to comply with regulation for PVC water pipes?
Interview with Christoph Losher, Project Manager, Fabes.Why should PVC pipe manufacturers apply for the VinylPlus® Product Label?
The VinylPlus® Product Label is a labelling scheme which makes it easy for customers and markets to identify the most sustainable and high-performance PVC products. Interview with Stefan Eingärtner, Technical Director, VinylPlus®.What are the benefits of the VinylPlus® Product Label vs. existing certification schemes?
The VinylPlus® Product Label is a labelling scheme which makes it easy for customers and markets to identify the most sustainable and high-performance PVC products. Interview with Stefan Eingärtner, Technical Director, VinylPlus®.Is the +50-year-old Dutch gas grid of PVC pipes fit for another 50 years or more?
Over 65% of the Dutch natural gas grid is made of PVC pipes. René Hermkens, Senior Project Manager at Kiwa explains the importance of impact resistance when calculating the lifetime of piping systems.How are studies helping to convince utilities and municipalities to select PVC pipes?
Interview with Bruce Hollands, Executive Director, PVC Pipe Association.What are the most striking findings of the latest studies sponsored by the PVC Pipe Association?
Interview with Bruce Hollands, Executive Director, PVC Pipe Association.How will harmonisation of drinking water requirements benefit the PVC pipe industry?
Volker Meyer, Managing Director, Figawa, explains how the harmonisation of drinking water requirements in the EU can benefit consumers and the PVC pipe industry.
How will the new EN 17176 standard benefit manufacturers and users of PVC-O pipes and fittings?
José A. Galera, Product Manager, Molecor, explains how the new EN 17176 standard will benefit manufacturers and users of PVC-O pipes and fittings
Plastic Pipes XX Conference in Amsterdam
PPXX takes place on 21-23 September 2020 at the Hotel Okura in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Go here for more information.
How can the cost-savings from recycling of PVC pipes be assessed?
The Milan-based consultancy Althesys has conducted a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis comparing unplasticised PVC (PVC-U) to other non-plastic materials for water and sewer pipelines lines. The analysis considered the costs to purchase pipes, install, operate and maintain and dismantle the pipeline. PVC-U pipes show significant economic advantages over ductile iron and glass fibre polyester (GRP) in water lines and concrete or clay in the sewer lines. Next step is to assess the cost-savings from recycling of PVC pipes.
How will the new EN 17176 standard benefit manufacturers and users of PVC-O pipes and fittings?
José A. Galera, Product Manager, Molecor, explains how the new EN 17176 standard will benefit manufacturers and users of PVC-O pipes and fittings
Plastic Pipes XX Conference in Amsterdam
PPXX takes place on 21-23 September 2020 at the Hotel Okura in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Go here for more information.
How can the 2018 Dutch legal opinion on end-of-waste criteria help PVC pipes further demonstrate their circularity?
Bureau Leiding's director Roger Loop explains the impacts of the 2018 Dutch legal opinion on end-of-waste criteria on the PVC pipe industry.
How can PVC pipes contribute to the circular economy?
PVC pipes have a long history of circularity that can inspire other materials, Bureau Leiding's director Roger Loop says in the interview.
How well is PVC positioned to meet the demands of the growing pipe segments?
Market expert Astrid Aupetit from AMI gives an update on how the PVC pipe industry can take advantage of the growing market segments in the years to come.
Why should water utilities choose PVC-O fittings?
José A. Galera, Product Manager, Molecor explains why PVC-O fittings are a good choice for water utilities.
What are the key growing segments for gravity and pressure pipes in the coming decade?
Market expert Astrid Aupetit from AMI gives an update on the major growth markets for pipes in the years to come.
Which pipe material for water and sewer networks has the lowest Total Cost of Ownership?
The Milan-based consultancy Althesys has conducted a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis comparing unplasticised PVC (PVC-U) to other non-plastic materials for water and sewer pipelines lines. The analysis considered the costs to purchase pipes, install, operate and maintain and dismantle the pipeline. PVC-U pipes show significant economic advantages over ductile iron and glass fibre polyester (GRP) in water lines and concrete or clay in the sewer lines.
Why is harmonisation of drinking water requirements a good idea?
Volker Meyer, Managing Director, Figawa, explains how the harmonisation of drinking water requirements in the EU can benefit consumers and the PVC pipe industry, and gives an update on the status of the harmonisation in the EU system.
What is the mission and vision of PVC4Pipes?
PVC4Pipes Project Leader Vincent Stone explains our main activities to promote the use of PVC in piping systems.
PVC Pipes in Europe: Delivering Sustainable Performance For More Than 80 Years
Recap of the 1st PVC4Pipes event, held in Bologna 17, September 2019. The 1-day event communicated the sustainable use and benefits of PVC in piping systems. The event gathered representatives from authorities, water utilities, pipe manufacturers, raw material suppliers and many more.
From building waste to building gardens
In Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark, potatoes, herbs and tomatoes grow in large PVC pipes. The scene is a VinylPlus®-supported project, that has collected partners amongst academics, architects, local authorities and industry, and that aims to establish sustainable food production with reused PVC building waste.
Plants don't discriminate – how to grow vegetables in reused PVC pipes
In Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark, potatoes, herbs and tomatoes grow in large PVC pipes. The scene is a VinylPlus®-supported project, that has collected partners amongst academics, architects, local authorities and industry, and that aims to establish sustainable food production with reused PVC building waste.
Why use PVC in piping systems?
PVC pipes are used for a wide range of applications due to the plastic material's unique combination of properties: safety, durability/cost-efficiency, sustainability and recyclability. PVC4Pipes is the ECVM's platform to communicate about the use of PVC in pipe systems in the global market.
PVC pipes – the safe choice
Why are PVC pipes so widely used for transportation of drinking water? A key reason is safety: PVC pipes have a high degree of inertness and resistance to corrosion. These pipes are therefore free from bio-film contamination that can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
PVC pipes – the durable & cost-efficient choice
PVC pipes are durable & cost-efficient: The first PVC piping systems were installed over 80 years and most of these are still in use. The expected lifespan of a PVC pipe is 100 years or more for underground pipes. PVC piping systems show a much lower failure rate than other materials. Durability, in combination with low maintenance and installation costs, makes PVC pipes a very cost-efficient choice.
PVC pipes – the best choice for the environment
PVC pipes have clear environmental advantages over traditional materials. As PVC is a low carbon plastic, PVC pipes require less energy and fewer resources to manufacture. Due to their low weight, less energy is used when transported. PVC pipes last long with a minimum of maintenance and they are easily recyclable. Many new PVC pipes contain recyclates. For instance three-layer pipes where the core layer is made of recycled PVC. Moreover, the ultra-smooth surface of PVC pipes reduces pumping costs and energy use, and their leak-free fittings eliminate water loss. This is good for both the environment and the utility bill.
PVC pipes – recyclable several times
PVC pipes are easily recyclable and can be recycled several times without losing their technical properties. The VinylPlus® programme ensures that around 50,000 tonnes of PVC pipes are collected and recycled each year. The recyclate goes into new pipes and many other PVC applications. Traceability and certification schemes for recyclates ensure a high degree of safety and quality for the recycled PVC.
PVC pipes have the lowest break rates
Each time a water main breaks the result is floods, service disruptions, economic losses and loss of a precious resource – water. A 2018 study by Utah State University confirms that PVC has the lowest break rates of all common pipe materials in North America.
How PVC pipes can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals
Dr. Mark Everard, UWE Bristol explains how PVC pipes can contribute directly to a number of the 169 targets within the SDGs and have an enabling effect on others. By providing safe, durable and cost-effective piping systems for drinking water, PVC pipes can help achieve Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and its targets to improve access to safe and affordable drinking water, improve water quality, and increase water-use efficiency. In developing countries in particular, access to piped, clean water can have a massive impact. Women, who most often are responsible for supplying drinking water, experience greater equality (Goal 5) and because time is freed up they have easier access to education (Goal 4). Other positive effects of clean water transported through pipes linked to the SDGs are improved food production (Goal 2 – Zero Hunger), which enables Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3). Piped, clean water also lifts the pressure on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (Goal 15 – Life on Land and Goal 14 – Life Below Water).
Water main break rates in North America
Dr. Steven Folkman, author of "Water Main Break Rates In the USA and Canada: A Comprehensive Study", presents the findings from his 2018 update to the original 2012 report. The main conclusion is that PVC pipes have the lowest break rate of the most used water pipe materials.
Water infrastructure in North America
Bruce Hollands, Executive Director of the PVC Pipe Association of North America, presents the status of water infrastructure in North America. A new study shows that over 40% of North America's water infrastructure is in disrepair and needs replacement. PVC piping is the safe, durable, cost-efficient, sustainable and recyclable choice.
Georganne Burke on NAFTA
The Vinyl Institute of Canada interviews Georganne Burke on North American relations.
Testing PVC-O pipe in the field
PVC-O pipes have amazing resistance to damage, as the extreme abuse tests in this video demonstrate.
PVC pipes lower water main break rates
Water main breaks cost money and cause trouble. Of all piping materials, PVC pipes have the lowest failure rates.
VinylPlus – committed to sustainable development
VinylPlus® is the European PVC industry's sustainable development programme. The programme ensures that PVC pipes and other PVC products are collected and recycled. Almost 640,000 tonnes of PVC waste are recycled through VinylPlus each year. VinylPlus was developed through open dialogue with stakeholders, including industry, NGOs, regulators, civil society representatives and PVC users. Five key challenges have been identified for PVC on the basis of The Natural Step System Conditions for a Sustainable Society. The regional scope of the programme is the EU-28 plus Norway and Switzerland.