Working paper 131 views
A New Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance Between Large Diameter High Density Polyethylene and Concrete Pipes
Vasileios Samaras,
Bernhard Alexander Krah,
Simon Thomas,
Gavin Bunting 
Swansea University Authors:
Vasileios Samaras, Gavin Bunting
Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.
DOI (Published version): 10.13140/RG.2.2.33968.06407
Abstract
The construction sector, which significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, is underincreasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Given the growing demand forinfrastructure involving large-diameter pipes, this study assesses the environmentalperformance of large-diameter structured wa...
| Published: |
2025
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70666 |
| Abstract: |
The construction sector, which significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, is underincreasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Given the growing demand forinfrastructure involving large-diameter pipes, this study assesses the environmentalperformance of large-diameter structured wall high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes andconcrete pipes with internal diameters ranging from 900 mm to 3000 mm, using carbondioxide equivalent (CO2e) as a measure of emissions. The study examines emissions in twoprimary stages: the production phase (cradle-to-gate) and the transportation phase (gate-to-site). It evaluates multiple available Environmental Product Declarations for various pipematerials, along with widely recognised carbon footprint resources. The study identifies thatthe production phase is the most energy-intensive, contributing substantially to the overallcarbon footprint. HDPE pipes, despite having a higher embodied carbon per kilogram,demonstrate a lower carbon footprint per meter due to their significantly lighter weightcompared to concrete pipes. A detailed comparison of the carbon footprints reveals that, onaverage, the embodied carbon of concrete pipes is approximately 20% higher than that ofequivalent HDPE pipes, particularly for larger sizes. This is also in line with previous studieswhich has been conducted for smaller diameter pipe sizes. The transportation emissions ofHDPE pipes are also considerably lower, as their lighter weight allows for more efficienttransport over longer distances. The findings indicate that large-diameter HDPE pipes presenta more carbon-efficient alternative to concrete pipes, particularly in terms of production andtransportation. The study suggests that adopting HDPE pipes could significantly contribute tothe construction industry's efforts to reduce carbon emissions and align with environmentalsustainability targets. While the installation phase requires further analysis, the overallenvironmental performance of HDPE pipes makes them a more promising solution forinfrastructure projects aiming to minimise carbon footprints. |
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| Item Description: |
Working paper not certified by peer review. |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
N/A |