Every 5 June since 1973, millions of people celebrate World Environment Day. This commemoration, organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is the largest platform for remembering the importance of the environment on a planet that is finite. The celebration is used as an opportunity for environmental outreach work to reach as many people as possible. It is important that millions of people pay attention to the climate emergency in which we live and the possible alternatives that exist.

Every year there is a country that leads the way on World Environment Day, this year it is Sweden, under the motto: ‘One Earth’. It is a slogan with great symbolism, as it was the slogan used at the first Stockholm Conference in 1972, an event now in its 50th year, which put the environment on the global agenda and led to the establishment of World Environment Day. The need for such a day, as the UN explains, is that ‘time is running out and nature is in a state of emergency. To keep global warming below 1.5°C this century, we must halve annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. If we don’t act now, exposure to polluted air will increase by 50% this decade, while waste flowing into aquatic ecosystems could triple by 2040’.

Everything that happens around pipelines, from raw materials to manufacturing and installation, is key to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as clean water and sanitation, responsible production and climate action. In order to collaborate in the dissemination of information about the environment, today, on its world day, we are going to discuss the relationship between plastic pipes and the environment and sustainability.

Plastic pipes and water management

We must assume that the use of plastic pipes contributes to the sustainability of the networks by providing a sufficient, safe and efficient supply. Water is one of the most precious commodities we have and, in its correct use and handling, mankind is staking its future: plastic piping systems guarantee present and future needs without detriment to natural resources and the environment.

The best option for the management of the water are plastic pipes, since, according to a study of the Flanders Institute for Technological Research (VITO): the average environmental footprint of plastic pipes is two thirds less than that of pipe systems made of alternative materials such as concrete, copper or ductile iron. ‘Plastic pipes are generally recognised for their ease of installation, lower cost and greater durability than their alternatives, but we now have conclusive scientific evidence to show that they also have a lower environmental impact than other materials,’ explains TEPPFA, the European Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association.

Environmental assessment

Verifying that the components used are from natural or sustainable sources has become a priority for business and society at large. There are a multitude of certifying seals that verify the origin and composition of pipes. It is a way of adding value to the product while producing it in an ecofriendly way. These seals have become essential to collaborate with the 2030 agenda, the best known are:

There are also Environmental Product Declarations, which are certifications developed by the TEPPFA (the European Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association, a group of 15 European national associations and 11 direct company members across Europe) that specifically assesses the footprint and environmental impact of plastic pipes.

It is vital that all sectors participate in World Environment Day, raising awareness of the climate emergency and how different businesses and industries are working together or can work together to alleviate the problem of climate change.

That is why we have prepared a guide on how plastic pipes and polypropylene make a decisive contribution to the sustainable development of society: https://bit.ly/3MdRf0o