From wood waste to bioplastic

Most of the carbon dioxide that is produced by our plastic products is generated during raw materials manufacturing. PVC-U is normally produced using petroleum, which is heated up to 600 °C. Manufacturing a single kilogram of PVC-U produces up to 2.5 kilograms of CO₂ – equal to 510 balloons full of carbon dioxide. So, we decided to search for a more sustainable alternative that would not require us to compromise the mechanical and chemical properties of the products. That way, all the certifications and approvals could be retained.

We worked with several suppliers, and after about a year, we found our solution: tall oil. Tall oil is a waste product produced by the paper industry. It is composed of around 50 percent fatty acids, which, with the aid of a chemical procedure, produce the resin that forms the basis for the new plastic. Tall oil can serve as a substitute for petroleum, and this allows us to produce a biobased PVC-U with a 90 percent smaller carbon footprint.

GF Piping Systems currently uses bio-PVC for valves, fittings, and pipes that are manufactured in Europe. This makes us the first company to utilize a bioplastic as a standard material in pressure pipe systems.