With less than 25 years until the UK Government’s 2050 deadline for reaching net zero, the industry must be prepared for this next era of construction. Net zero infrastructure describes physical structures such as buildings, energy and transportation networks that are designed to emit no more greenhouse gases than are absorbed or removed over their entire lifespan. This includes everything from the materials used to how the system operates and is eventually decommissioned.
There’s no doubt that net zero requires whole-life carbon thinking and, thankfully, we’re seeing a real shift from focusing only on the operational emissions of infrastructure to looking at whole-life carbon, all the way from design and materials to use and even end-of-life.
The increasingly widespread use of standards such as PAS 2080 (a standard for managing carbon in building and infrastructure, providing a framework that looks at the entire value chain and aims to reduce carbon and cost through design, construction, use and even end-of-life) and the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (which provides a clear methodology for defining and achieving net zero carbon in new and existing buildings) support this.
At Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation, not only are we PAS 2080 accredited, but we’ve made significant investment into low-carbon manufacturing. Our extensive use of recycled content across our product ranges (including in Polystorm, our best-selling geocellular solution), combined with our sourcing of 100% renewable electricity, reduces the embodied carbon of our products by more than 60%. Plus, many of our products are engineered with circularity in mind. Durability, recyclability and responsible polymer management are built into our design and manufacturing processes, and our long-term investment in closed-loop recycling supports retaining material value at end-of-life.
Our innovation in areas such as sustainable drainage and water management also strengthens our contribution to climate-resilient, low-carbon infrastructure and supports the transition towards a net zero future. For example, our low carbon large-diameter pipe range, Ridgistorm-XL, enables measurable reduction in whole-life carbon compared to traditional alternatives, while aiding effecting water management in infrastructure projects.
SUPPORTING EPDS
Transparency is a fundamental element to preparing for a truly net zero future, and it shouldn’t be complicated. With their increasing popularity, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are playing an important role in bringing this conversation to the forefront of our industry. As comprehensive assessments of a product’s environmental impact throughout its lifecycle, they provide data-driven insights to help empower everyone from consultants to contractors to make informed decisions that drive meaningful reductions in sector-wide emissions.
Though EPDs are not yet a legal requirement in the UK, they are becoming increasingly prevalent within the industry. We fully support the premise of EPDs and are committed to independent verification of our suite of EPDs, which now covers 95% of our product portfolio by sales volume and gives specifiers the confidence to make informed, low-carbon choices that meaningfully contribute to creating net zero infrastructure.
By providing such information and evidence, we’re able to further the collaboration that exists throughout the supply chain – an absolute necessity if we are collectively going to achieve our decarbonisation targets by the deadline set. Working closely with designers, contractors and clients allows us to integrate our lower-carbon solutions from the outset, and support delivery against whole-life carbon and net zero targets.
It’s reassuring to see the ways in which our industry is embracing a shift from commitment to action, as we collectively move from high-level net zero pledges towards practical implementation. By prioritising reused materials, designing for disassembly and championing whole-life carbon thinking, we’re helping to demonstrate what true net zero-ready infrastructure looks like in practice. www.polypipecivils.com