Environmental Product Declaration

Comparing products' Environmental performance

As active member of The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA) we want to raise awareness of the value that plastic pipe systems offer for a sustainable future. Within TEPPFA, we commissioned the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) to measure the environmental footprint of our plastic piping systems based on a life-cycle assessment. The work and results have been validated by the Denkstatt sustainability consultancy in Austria.

The life-cycle assessment (LCA) is the most recognized method to quantify environmental impacts of products, processes and/or systems. It shows the environmental performance of a product over its entire life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials, through production, product handling and installation, to service life and end-of-life treatment.

The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized way of communicating the results from such a life-cycle assessment. It provides transparency and enables clients and end users to assess the environmental impact of a piping system allowing also to compare them with alternative products and systems for the same application.

The results of this study are very positive for all the application areas and confirmed an excellent environmental performance of plastic pipes for utilities and building applications.