There can be no doubt remaining about the durability and longevity of plastic pipes following TEPPFA’s latest meta-study in partnership with The University of Leoben. “100 Years Lifetime of Plastic Pipes” confirms that “the actual lifetime of [pressure and non-pressure plastic] pipes can be expected to be well above 100 years” where “design, manufacturing, trenching and operating conditions follow currently valid EN and ISO standards for pipes, fittings and valves.”
For Wavin (an Orbia business), this conclusion confirms what our experts have known for years. But we welcome the findings as a springboard to the next stage in the conversation around plastic pipes and fittings: “What happens at the end of a plastic pipe’s 100-year lifetime? And how can we make the next 100 years more sustainable?”
To answer these questions, we spoke with three Wavin experts (one of whom has work featured within the meta-study). In our wide-ranging discussions, they explored how testing standards should be updated to embrace recycled plastics, why collaboration across the supply chain is key to enhancing sustainability and what a truly circular approach to plastic pipes and fittings could look like — taking today’s pipes well into the next century and beyond.
Enhancing standards and practices to accelerate plastic circularity
All three experts agreed with the study's findings and were eager to join the discussions it opened up about how to increase the sustainability of future solutions and the barriers to sustainability — particularly where recycling is concerned.
“When we use virgin materials, we know exactly what we’re getting. Yet, with recycled materials we have to probe more, because these plastics come with more variability,” says Jeannette Mulder, Wavin’s Standardization and Certification Manager. Mulder suggests that communication between recyclers and manufacturers is key because it helps to improve predictability in manufacturing outcomes.
Read Jeannette’s interview here.
This is a belief shared by Ronald Bal, Wavin’s Global Manager for Circular Economy, who emphasizes that: “It would be great to see TEPPFA review restrictive standards and continue to invest in new testing. Government should incentivize the use of recycled or bio-based materials. [And] the recycling sector must prioritize quality by focusing on monostreams.” He also reinforces that, while Wavin is making meaningful progress on recycling and sustainability initiatives, boosting collaborative, industry-wide efforts will help to accelerate change.
Explore more of what Ronald had to say here.
Echoing their views, Wavin's Senior Technology Manager, Maarten Hamberg, further suggests that the limitations of testing, particularly for non-pressure products, add to the challenge of working with recycled materials: “We need to continue to invest in research to identify the root causes of any issues and to continually improve products. This is even more critical as we work more with recycled materials… At Wavin, we’ve been recycling PVC for 30 years and offer a 50-year guarantee on our products. So, we know how to use these materials optimally and can do it over and over again. In fact, PVC can be recycled up to six times before we see any significant changes.
Discover Maarten’s insights here.
Empowering clients to embrace sustainable practices
Our experts agree that plastic pipes' 100-year durability is only the beginning of the journey toward a truly sustainable future. By addressing barriers to recycling, refining standards and championing collaboration across the supply chain, we can ensure that the next century of plastic pipes and fittings is circular and sustainable.
Explore our interview series to uncover the innovative ideas shaping the future of plastic pipes and fittings. And discover how Wavin is building a better future — for people and the planet — through pioneering sustainability initiatives.
