Teppfa (Brussels / Belgium; www.teppfa.eu) has revamped its “Environmental Product Declarations” (EPDs) for plastic pipes. This includes an updated design and visual identity as well as making Teppfa’s online “EPD Calculator” available as a free app for devices running on iOS or Android.

The European association for plastic pipe manufacturers says EPDs are more in demand as their values are highly effective in determining a product’s sustainability. As buildings are constructed more sustainably, EPDs provide support on helping assess the environmental footprint of pipe materials. The environmental impact of a material is assessed with seven criteria during its life cycle – abiotic depletion (non-fossil), abiotic depletion (fossil), acidification, eutrophication, global warming, ozone depletion and photochemical ozone creation.

The EPDs are based on a collaborative study by the research institutes Vito (Mol / Belgium; www.vito.be) and Denkstatt (Vienna / Austria; www.denkstatt.eu). Data on the plastic systems are provided by Teppfa member companies that are using life cycle assessments (LCAs).

Teppfa has also released a new brochure on the benefits of plastic pipes. Noting that plastic pipe systems have become the preferred choice of architects and contractors in Europe due to the many benefits inside the home, office or factory, both above and below the ground, Teppfa general manager Ludo Debever adds that plastics “are an amazing sustainable material for pipes, well advanced on delivering on Europe’s ‘Green Deal’.”