Chicago Pipe Conference to Discuss Sustainability

July 21, 2014
The Plastic Pipes XVII Conference and Exhibition will be held Sept. 22 to 24, 2014 at Chicago's Swissôtel

The contribution of plastic pipe systems to sustainable development will be one of the key discussion points at the upcoming Plastic Pipes XVII Conference and Exhibition in Chicago. A total of 130 presentations will be delivered during Plastic Pipes XVII at Chicago's Swissôtel, Sept. 22 to 24, 2014. Five hundred participants are expected from more than 35 countries.

Evidence from environmental assessments carried out by independent technical institutes will underline the advantages of these systems. Furthermore, recent sustainable developments for mitigating flooding, seismic events, creating high-yield horticulture and transforming desert landscapes will be considered.

“As we look at ways to rehabilitate our aging underground infrastructure and protect our dwindling natural resources, the push towards recycling coupled with greater awareness of the long life environmental benefits of plastic pipe, continues to transform our industry," said Stephen Boros, vice president of engineering for Pipelines Plastics, LLC and chairman of the organizing committee of the event. "Conference delegates are drawn from the complete business and technical spectrum of an industry that generates a global turnover in excess of $100 billion. The conference offers major utilities, system designers, engineers, pipe and fitting manufacturers, resin companies and other suppliers the unique opportunity to come together to learn the latest developments as well as network with each other and drive the industry further.”

In Europe, a range of plastic pipe systems have been assessed for their environmental impact and carbon footprint. Commissioned by The European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Assn., these technical studies that embrace Life Cycle Assessments will be presented at the Chicago conference. They will confirm the low environmental impact of plastic pipe systems compared to non-plastic pipe systems.

The scope and scale of flooding and drought throughout the world have prompted plastic pipe solutions to manage and harvest rainwater under such increasingly unpredictable conditions. Conference attendees will learn how plastic pipe technology is now being used in Australia to offset extensive flooding. This solution was applied following an overflow of the Morwell River that caused $400 million of damage to infrastructure and put the electricity supply to over one million homes in Victoria at risk. Case evidence from China and India will also show how innovative pipe solutions such as trenchless technology are offsetting the worst effects of flooding. 

Plastic pipe technology is also being used as a sustainable solution to maintaining nationwide utility services in the event of earthquakes and tremors. Evidence from recent events in New Zealand and Japan will underline just how the flexibility of plastic pipe systems can withstand the shocks and how more rigid pipe materials are subject to failure under such conditions.

Source: Plastics Pipe Institute

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