No Cover Image

Working paper 224 views

A New Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance Between Large Diameter High Density Polyethylene and Concrete Pipes

Vasileios Samaras, Bernhard Alexander Krah, Simon Thomas, Gavin Bunting Orcid Logo

Swansea University Authors: Vasileios Samaras, Gavin Bunting Orcid Logo

Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.

DOI (Published version): 10.13140/RG.2.2.33968.06407

Abstract

The construction sector, which significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, is underincreasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Given the growing demand forinfrastructure involving large-diameter pipes, this study assesses the environmentalperformance of large-diameter structured wa...

Full description

Published: 2025
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70666
first_indexed 2025-10-15T07:20:30Z
last_indexed 2025-12-06T07:55:01Z
id cronfa70666
recordtype SURis
fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2025-12-05T14:37:24.6093375</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>70666</id><entry>2025-10-15</entry><title>A New Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance Between Large Diameter High Density Polyethylene and Concrete Pipes</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>cff84f8b58c62794284c62618b3b1dfc</sid><firstname>Vasileios</firstname><surname>Samaras</surname><name>Vasileios Samaras</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author><author><sid>41fb347c5683bce5c6694332bcbf1dc1</sid><ORCID>0000-0001-9531-4536</ORCID><firstname>Gavin</firstname><surname>Bunting</surname><name>Gavin Bunting</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2025-10-15</date><deptcode>ACEM</deptcode><abstract>The construction sector, which significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, is underincreasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Given the growing demand forinfrastructure involving large-diameter pipes, this study assesses the environmentalperformance of large-diameter structured wall high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes andconcrete pipes with internal diameters ranging from 900 mm to 3000 mm, using carbondioxide equivalent (CO2e) as a measure of emissions. The study examines emissions in twoprimary stages: the production phase (cradle-to-gate) and the transportation phase (gate-to-site). It evaluates multiple available Environmental Product Declarations for various pipematerials, along with widely recognised carbon footprint resources. The study identifies thatthe production phase is the most energy-intensive, contributing substantially to the overallcarbon footprint. HDPE pipes, despite having a higher embodied carbon per kilogram,demonstrate a lower carbon footprint per meter due to their significantly lighter weightcompared to concrete pipes. A detailed comparison of the carbon footprints reveals that, onaverage, the embodied carbon of concrete pipes is approximately 20% higher than that ofequivalent HDPE pipes, particularly for larger sizes. This is also in line with previous studieswhich has been conducted for smaller diameter pipe sizes. The transportation emissions ofHDPE pipes are also considerably lower, as their lighter weight allows for more efficienttransport over longer distances. The findings indicate that large-diameter HDPE pipes presenta more carbon-efficient alternative to concrete pipes, particularly in terms of production andtransportation. The study suggests that adopting HDPE pipes could significantly contribute tothe construction industry's efforts to reduce carbon emissions and align with environmentalsustainability targets. While the installation phase requires further analysis, the overallenvironmental performance of HDPE pipes makes them a more promising solution forinfrastructure projects aiming to minimise carbon footprints.</abstract><type>Working paper</type><journal/><volume/><journalNumber/><paginationStart/><paginationEnd/><publisher/><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic/><keywords/><publishedDay>15</publishedDay><publishedMonth>7</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2025</publishedYear><publishedDate>2025-07-15</publishedDate><doi>10.13140/RG.2.2.33968.06407</doi><url/><notes>Working paper not certified by peer review.</notes><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>ACEM</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>Not Required</apcterm><funders>N/A</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2025-12-05T14:37:24.6093375</lastEdited><Created>2025-10-15T08:16:05.9917747</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Civil Engineering</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Vasileios</firstname><surname>Samaras</surname><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Bernhard Alexander</firstname><surname>Krah</surname><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Simon</firstname><surname>Thomas</surname><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Gavin</firstname><surname>Bunting</surname><orcid>0000-0001-9531-4536</orcid><order>4</order></author></authors><documents/><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2025-12-05T14:37:24.6093375 v2 70666 2025-10-15 A New Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance Between Large Diameter High Density Polyethylene and Concrete Pipes cff84f8b58c62794284c62618b3b1dfc Vasileios Samaras Vasileios Samaras true false 41fb347c5683bce5c6694332bcbf1dc1 0000-0001-9531-4536 Gavin Bunting Gavin Bunting true false 2025-10-15 ACEM The construction sector, which significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, is underincreasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Given the growing demand forinfrastructure involving large-diameter pipes, this study assesses the environmentalperformance of large-diameter structured wall high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes andconcrete pipes with internal diameters ranging from 900 mm to 3000 mm, using carbondioxide equivalent (CO2e) as a measure of emissions. The study examines emissions in twoprimary stages: the production phase (cradle-to-gate) and the transportation phase (gate-to-site). It evaluates multiple available Environmental Product Declarations for various pipematerials, along with widely recognised carbon footprint resources. The study identifies thatthe production phase is the most energy-intensive, contributing substantially to the overallcarbon footprint. HDPE pipes, despite having a higher embodied carbon per kilogram,demonstrate a lower carbon footprint per meter due to their significantly lighter weightcompared to concrete pipes. A detailed comparison of the carbon footprints reveals that, onaverage, the embodied carbon of concrete pipes is approximately 20% higher than that ofequivalent HDPE pipes, particularly for larger sizes. This is also in line with previous studieswhich has been conducted for smaller diameter pipe sizes. The transportation emissions ofHDPE pipes are also considerably lower, as their lighter weight allows for more efficienttransport over longer distances. The findings indicate that large-diameter HDPE pipes presenta more carbon-efficient alternative to concrete pipes, particularly in terms of production andtransportation. The study suggests that adopting HDPE pipes could significantly contribute tothe construction industry's efforts to reduce carbon emissions and align with environmentalsustainability targets. While the installation phase requires further analysis, the overallenvironmental performance of HDPE pipes makes them a more promising solution forinfrastructure projects aiming to minimise carbon footprints. Working paper 15 7 2025 2025-07-15 10.13140/RG.2.2.33968.06407 Working paper not certified by peer review. COLLEGE NANME Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering COLLEGE CODE ACEM Swansea University Not Required N/A 2025-12-05T14:37:24.6093375 2025-10-15T08:16:05.9917747 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Civil Engineering Vasileios Samaras 1 Bernhard Alexander Krah 2 Simon Thomas 3 Gavin Bunting 0000-0001-9531-4536 4
title A New Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance Between Large Diameter High Density Polyethylene and Concrete Pipes
spellingShingle A New Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance Between Large Diameter High Density Polyethylene and Concrete Pipes
Vasileios Samaras
Gavin Bunting
title_short A New Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance Between Large Diameter High Density Polyethylene and Concrete Pipes
title_full A New Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance Between Large Diameter High Density Polyethylene and Concrete Pipes
title_fullStr A New Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance Between Large Diameter High Density Polyethylene and Concrete Pipes
title_full_unstemmed A New Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance Between Large Diameter High Density Polyethylene and Concrete Pipes
title_sort A New Comparative Analysis of the Environmental Performance Between Large Diameter High Density Polyethylene and Concrete Pipes
author_id_str_mv cff84f8b58c62794284c62618b3b1dfc
41fb347c5683bce5c6694332bcbf1dc1
author_id_fullname_str_mv cff84f8b58c62794284c62618b3b1dfc_***_Vasileios Samaras
41fb347c5683bce5c6694332bcbf1dc1_***_Gavin Bunting
author Vasileios Samaras
Gavin Bunting
author2 Vasileios Samaras
Bernhard Alexander Krah
Simon Thomas
Gavin Bunting
format Working paper
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.13140/RG.2.2.33968.06407
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Civil Engineering{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Civil Engineering
document_store_str 0
active_str 0
description The construction sector, which significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, is underincreasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Given the growing demand forinfrastructure involving large-diameter pipes, this study assesses the environmentalperformance of large-diameter structured wall high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes andconcrete pipes with internal diameters ranging from 900 mm to 3000 mm, using carbondioxide equivalent (CO2e) as a measure of emissions. The study examines emissions in twoprimary stages: the production phase (cradle-to-gate) and the transportation phase (gate-to-site). It evaluates multiple available Environmental Product Declarations for various pipematerials, along with widely recognised carbon footprint resources. The study identifies thatthe production phase is the most energy-intensive, contributing substantially to the overallcarbon footprint. HDPE pipes, despite having a higher embodied carbon per kilogram,demonstrate a lower carbon footprint per meter due to their significantly lighter weightcompared to concrete pipes. A detailed comparison of the carbon footprints reveals that, onaverage, the embodied carbon of concrete pipes is approximately 20% higher than that ofequivalent HDPE pipes, particularly for larger sizes. This is also in line with previous studieswhich has been conducted for smaller diameter pipe sizes. The transportation emissions ofHDPE pipes are also considerably lower, as their lighter weight allows for more efficienttransport over longer distances. The findings indicate that large-diameter HDPE pipes presenta more carbon-efficient alternative to concrete pipes, particularly in terms of production andtransportation. The study suggests that adopting HDPE pipes could significantly contribute tothe construction industry's efforts to reduce carbon emissions and align with environmentalsustainability targets. While the installation phase requires further analysis, the overallenvironmental performance of HDPE pipes makes them a more promising solution forinfrastructure projects aiming to minimise carbon footprints.
published_date 2025-07-15T05:33:15Z
_version_ 1856986987657953280
score 11.096191

Similar Items