Infrastructure pipes are at their best when they function seamlessly in the background, lasting decades or even longer with minimal maintenance requirements. For a long time, achieving this level of reliability was next to impossible.
As we face the challenge of replacing aging infrastructure, PP and PE materials are increasingly the first-choice solutions due to their combination of performance, value, and sustainability. At Borealis, we are committed to continually advancing these technologies, helping our partners to create modern pipe systems that are built to last.
John Webster, Global Commercial Director Infrastructure, BOREALIS
Pipes made from older-generation materials such as cast iron, copper, and concrete were prone to problems like erosion and cracking, disrupting the reliability and efficiency of infrastructure systems.
Today, these materials are increasingly being replaced by polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), driven by their superior performance, value, and environmental benefits.
At Borealis, we provide high-performance polyolefin (PO) materials suitable for a wide range of applications, including water distribution, gas supply, district heating, sewage and drainage, cable protection and industrial systems. Our portfolios include our BorSafe™ PE pressure grades, and BorECO™ high-modulus PP for non-pressure sewerage pipe systems.
These modern PE and PP materials don’t corrode or crack easily and demonstrate exceptional resilience under environmental stress—they can even withstand earthquakes.
Replacement of ductile iron pipes in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2022. © Borealis
PE and PP pipes can also be a sustainable choice through the use of circular materials. Grades in our Bornewables™ and Borcycle™ C portfolios, made from renewable and chemically recycled feedstock respectively, can be used across our pipe solutions, reducing the use of fossil resources while maintaining required quality standards.
By staying true to our EverMinds™ mission, together with our partners we are accelerating action on circularity also in the pipe industry.
New pipes for the renovation project in Gothenburg were produced by Hallingplast and made of the Borealis Bornewables™. The pipes were installed using the no-dig pipe bursting method. © Borealis
PE pressure pipe pipes that meet the PE100-RC standard are particularly notable for their high level of resistance to slow crack growth, ensuring they can serve reliably over an extended service life—often exceeding 100 years for water and gas systems.
PE100-RC pipes’ robustness also makes them suitable for modern, less invasive, and more cost-effective installation techniques. These include trenchless methods, such as directional drilling, which reduce environmental impact, and open trench installation that use extracted earth as backfill, eliminating the need for sand beds, speeding up the process and reducing installation costs.
Borealis and Borouge polyolefin pipe solutions are enabling life’s essentials © Borealis