Life Cycle Assessment of Plastic Piping Systems

Session 4B
9:10

Zoran Davidovski, Pipelife

The European Plastics Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA) deems it important to have an insight into the integral environmental impacts that are encountered during the life-span of particular pipe system applications. With this framework in mind, TEPPFA has set up a project with the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO). The aim of this project is to carry out a life cycle assessment (LCA) from cradle to grave of 4 specific applications of pipe systems. This analysis outlines the various environmental aspects which accompany the 4 pipe systems, from the primary extraction of raw materials up to and including the end of life (EoL) treatment after their service life time.

With the present document the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) is reporting on the life cycle assessment (LCA) of one specific plastic pipe system performed on request of the European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA) with the final aim to establish an environmental product declaration (EPD). This LCA is part of a larger project where 4 pipe system cases are analysed by means of an LCA.

VITO is the author of this comprehensive LCA study which has been carried out under assignment from TEPPFA. The study was started in early 2009 and was completed in June 2010. The LCA study has been critically reviewed by Denkstatt.

The methodology used to determine the environmental aspects conforms to LCA methodology, as prescribed in ISO standards 14040 and 14044 (ISO, 2006). According to these ISO standards, an LCA is carried out in 4 phases:
1. Goal and scope definition of the study;
2. Life cycle data inventory (LCI);
3. Determining the environmental impacts by means of a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA);
4. Interpretation.

The design of this report complies with these 4 phases, whereby the various chapters describe each phase of the LCA. All relevant ISO guidelines were implemented when compiling this ‘Third Party Report’ (ISO 14044, paragraph 5.2)