Back to News

Borealis and Uponor launch first water footprint initiative in the plastics industry

Borealis, a leading provider of innovative value creating plastic solutions and Uponor, a leading supplier of plumbing and heating systems, have announced at the World Water Week in Stockholm a joint initiative to pilot for the first time the concept of water footprint to the manufacturing of a plastic application.

Co-founders of the Stockholm water prize (SWP), awarded this year to Pr. John Anthony Allan for his work on water footprint and virtual water, Borealis and Uponor have applied the concept to assess the amount of water needed to equip a typical home with a modern plumbing and underfloor heating system.

Water footprint is spearheaded by leading academics and environmental NGOs and pilots are starting in the food and drink industry. Borealis and Uponor findings will be shared with researchers to align approaches and make validated methodologies available for other products or value chains.

The initiative will investigate water uses across the entire plastics industry value chain from raw materials extraction to a full system installed at home. Initial findings show that a typical under floor heating and tap water plumbing systems for a 100 m² apartment using 500 metres of PEX pipe require some 29 m³ of water from "cradle to home". The plastics material and pipe production account for a third of the total footprint of the system once installed.

Speaking at the World Water Week in Stockholm, Borealis Executive Vice-President Lorenzo Delorenzi said "This initiative is part of Borealis and Borouge Water for the World commitment to contribute to making a difference to a global challenge. We believe such a pioneering partnership can really advance sustainability across the value chain."

Tarmo Anttila, Uponor Communication Vice-President added "As part of our environmental approach, Uponor is constantly developing products and processes that help people and industry save resources. Water Footprint is an excellent way of turning into action our long-term sponsorship of the Stockholm Water Prize. Understanding our footprint can be a key tool to further guide the development of more water-saving products".

END

For further information please contact:

Kerstin Meckler, Borealis Group Media Relations Manager,
Tel. +43 1 22 400 389
kerstin.meckler@borealisgroup.com

Downloads
Borealis and Uponor launch first water footprint initiative in the plastics industry English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Media Contact
Group Media desk
Virginia Wieser, Lena Lehner
+43 1 22 400 899 (Vienna, Austria)
media@borealisgroup.com

Latest News

Media Release – 27/09/2023

Borealis appoints Britta Warnke Vice President Energy and Shanila Baseley Vice President Mobility and Advanced Products as of 1 September 2023

Read more

Media Release – 26/09/2023

Executive Vice President Lucrèce Foufopoulos-De Ridder to leave Borealis

Read more

Media Release – 18/09/2023

New Material Recovery Facility Opened in Banyuwangi Under Project STOP’s Expansion Program

Read more

News – 31/08/2023

All Borealis polyolefin and polyolefin compounding sites in Europe ISCC PLUS certified

Read more

Media Release – 04/08/2023

Project STOP Jembrana Hands Over the Program to the Local Government

Read more

Media Release – 14/07/2023

Borealis Scientific Innovation Award open for submissions

Read more

News – 13/07/2023

Borealis supports program to restore drinking water infrastructure in Beira, Mozambique after Cyclone Idai

Read more

Media Release – 11/07/2023

Borealis completes Stenungsund cracker furnace revamp, elevating plant to higher energy efficiency and process safety standards

Read more

Case Study – 05/07/2023

Borealis completes the sale of its nitrogen business to AGROFERT

Read more