Pipelife Poland Scales the Usage of Recyclates in Production

Achieving the company’s self-imposed ESG goals is a crucial aspect of Pipelife Poland’s business operations, especially when it comes to a circular plastics economy. One of the major targets has already been reached — all products manufactured at Pipelife Poland’s factories are 100% recyclable. However, the company’s commitments don’t end here. For years, Pipelife Poland has been working on increasing the uptake of recycled materials in its production while maintaining the high product quality its customers are accustomed to.

_{Sustainable Stormwater Management Made Possible}

The first Pipelife Poland’s product produced entirely from recyclates was Stormbox E stormwater retention and infiltration crates. After almost a year of developing and testing, Stormbox E was launched at the end of 2021 and immediately became a success in Poland and other markets.

The crates are produced entirely from top-quality recycled polypropylene (PP) and meet the same international quality standards as similar systems from virgin material. Last year, over 26,000 Stormbox E crates were sold in the Polish market alone; this year, sales are expected to double. 

_{More Circular Products Hitting the Shelves}

The successful launch of Product E marks just the start of the array of Pipelife Poland’s circular solutions. The range of products containing recycled raw materials has now been expanded, including several customer favorites.

One such recently relaunched product is Pipelife’s CoEx multilayer sewage pipes. Extensive testing has allowed producing the foamed mid-layer from a fully recycled material without affecting the pipe’s excellent durability and service life.

Telescopes, PP risers, PP soil and waste- and drainage pipes, as well as low-pressure riser rings in the most popular diameters, are now produced incorporating recyclates.

Currently, the company uses 55 kg of recycled raw materials per ton of non-pressure products. The ratio will rise even higher in the future as more products made from recyclates are being tested.

“Our business offers great opportunities to implement the principles of a circular plastics economy. The circularity of our pipes is achieved by implementing the highest quality standards, thorough testing, efficient manufacturing processes and support for sustainable industry initiatives,” says Grzegorz Hauser, Sales and Marketing Director at Pipelife Poland.

_{Packaging Matters}

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in awareness regarding the use of all types of packaging, including industrial packaging. For this reason, Pipelife Poland continuously researches ways to optimize packaging used for product transportation and storage.

Besides using cardboard from recycled paper, the company has recently switched to pallets made exclusively from waste wood, which otherwise would be disposed of. Such pallets have excellent technical properties and a very low environmental footprint.

_{Building a Circular Plastics Economy}

Pipelife Poland remains highly committed to continue its quest in increasing the proportion of recycled materials in the product range. The tests are promising, showing that high-quality products and sustainability indeed can go hand in hand.

With plastic pollution becoming a global issue that needs to be addressed urgently, reusing and recycling are crucial strategies for building a more sustainable economy. Pipelife Poland is proud to be among the game-changers in this field.

“Circular economy is not just a nice slogan. For our organization, it is one of the foundations of our decision-making process. Besides the positive influence on the environment, it also helps attract investors and gain a competitive edge,” sums up Grzegorz Hauser. “As a member of the Polish Association of Plastic Pipes and Fittings Producers — which is part of TEPPFA — we are committed to keep our products at their highest quality while embracing the opportunities offered by the circular approach.”