November 21, 2024

Preparing Italy’s pipe systems to be ‘Fit for the Future’

Our recent Fit for the Future Pipe Value Chain Partners Event in Riccione, Italy, brought together close to 50 partners and industry experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of infrastructure and pipe systems in Italy and beyond. This event provided a unique platform for collaboration, with speakers and participants sharing insights on how to build the pipe infrastructure that meets today’s and future demands for reliability, resilience, and sustainability.

John Webster, Global Commercial Director for Infrastructure and Building at Borealis, opens the Fit for the Future event, emphasizing the importance of industry collaboration in building resilient, sustainable infrastructure.

John Webster, Global Commercial Director for Infrastructure and Building at Borealis, opens the Fit for the Future event, emphasizing the importance of industry collaboration in building resilient, sustainable infrastructure.

© Borealis

The conference featured presentations from key industry figures, covering topics from new legislation on drinking water pipes, to advancements in circular solutions, further to the energy efficient buildings and the role of polyolefin solutions in supporting the energy transition. Presenters also discussed Italy's national pipeline improvement program, which aims to significantly reduce water loss caused by outdated infrastructure. With droughts becoming more frequent across Europe, managing water resources efficiently has become a key priority, making these upgrades essential to climate resilience.

Panel discussion zooming in on the latest developments in drinking water legislation and standardization, highlighting the opportunities that come with new regulatory frameworks.

Panel discussion zooming in on the latest developments in drinking water legislation and standardization, highlighting the opportunities that come with new regulatory frameworks.

On the photo from left to right: Marco Dionisio, Head of Development & Innovation at ECOCAE; Carlo Gianetti, Sales Manager at Borealis; Peter Sejersen, Technical Manager at TEPPFA; Alvaro Perez, Application Marketing Manager Drinking Water at Borealis. © Borealis

Polyolefin pipe solutions, typically made from polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), are a critical part of this shift toward more resilient infrastructure. Compared to traditional materials, they offer superior durability—PE80, PE100 and PE100-RC utility pipes, for instance, have a lifespan of over 100 years—along with corrosion resistance and adaptability. These materials also enable modern installation methods, such as trenchless techniques, which lower environmental impact and reduce costs.

John Webster
© Borealis

We’re proud to offer solutions that enable life’s essentials, helping our customers meet their sustainability goals while ensuring pipes deliver reliable, long-term performance, even under demanding conditions.

John Webster, Global Commercial Director for Infrastructure and Building at Borealis, explains our commitment to supporting the value chain

We introduced participants to Borealis’ range of high-performance polyolefin materials, designed to meet the demands of today’s infrastructure applications. Alongside these, we highlighted our circular solutions, including the Bornewables™ and Borcycle™ C portfolios, made from renewable and chemically recycled feedstock.

Partners and industry experts gather at the Fit for the Future event to discuss the future of Italy’s pipe infrastructure.

Partners and industry experts gather at the Fit for the Future event to discuss the future of Italy’s pipe infrastructure.

© Borealis

The event included a lively networking session, where participants and speakers shared ideas and explored future collaboration opportunities. Looking ahead, we’re excited to build on this momentum with a webinar in May 2025, where we’ll share these insights from Riccione with a broader and international audience.

Attendees connected during the dinner networking session, sharing insights and exploring future partnerships to advance the durability and sustainability of Italy's infrastructure and pipe systems.

Attendees connected during the dinner networking session, sharing insights and exploring future partnerships to advance the durability and sustainability of Italy's infrastructure and pipe systems.

© Borealis

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