Building a Sustainable Future with Polypipe Building Products
Our Sustainability Commitment and Net Zero Strategy
As part of the Genuit Group, Polypipe Building Products is committed to verified Science Based Targets and achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050.
We are helping developers, specifiers and contractors lead the way in sustainable construction by integrating low-carbon strategies into every stage of our manufacturing and supply chain.
Decarbonising Our Operations and Logistics
We are actively reducing the carbon footprint of our distribution network through significant operational shifts:
Bio-diesel Fleet Trials: We are conducting long-term trials using bio-diesel across a large proportion of our 100-vehicle delivery fleet. This fuel generates up to 90% less Greenhouse Gas emissions than standard diesel.
Route Optimisation: We leverage advanced data analytics to eliminate unnecessary mileage and reduce transport-related emissions.
Electric Warehouse Infrastructure: Our internal distribution fleet has transitioned to next-generation electric forklift trucks.
Hybrid and Electric Vehicles: All company vehicles are now electric or hybrid-only models, supported by dedicated charging infrastructure across our Doncaster manufacturing sites.
Sustainable Manufacturing and Resource Innovation
Polypipe Building Products has comprehensively addressed energy consumption to meet modern environmental standards:
Renewable Energy: All three of our manufacturing sites in Doncaster now run exclusively on renewable energy.
Water Conservation: We use on-site boreholes for our extrusion line cooling baths. This water is returned via a soakaway for natural reuse, significantly reducing our reliance on the local mains supply.
Material Science: We invest in research and development to maximise the use of recycled material (recyclate) and explore the viability of biopolymers in plastic piping systems.
Energy-Efficient Machinery: Recent capital expenditure has seen our moulding machinery upgraded from hydraulic to electric systems, yielding substantial carbon savings.
Sustainable Packaging and the Circular Economy
Our commitment to the circular economy extends to how we protect and distribute our products:
Recycled Packaging: Our plastic plumbing packaging now features a minimum of 50% recycled content. This represents an industry-leading percentage designed to balance environmental responsibility with product protection.
Industry Collaboration: In partnership with Wolseley Plumb Centre, we have launched a nationwide plastic recycling programme.
Landfill Diversion: In its first year, this scheme successfully diverted 2.8 tonnes of plastic from landfill, resulting in a carbon saving of 3.2 tonnes. This reduction is comparable to the carbon impact of a return flight from Leeds to Las Vegas.
Frequently Asked Questions: Sustainability and Net Zero
As part of the Genuit Group, Polypipe Building Products is committed to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050. This is supported by verified Science Based Targets and a multi-stage strategy that includes transitioning to 100% renewable energy at our manufacturing sites and decarbonising our logistics through bio-diesel and electric vehicle trials.
All three of our primary manufacturing facilities in Doncaster now operate exclusively on 100% renewable electricity. We also utilise on-site boreholes for our extrusion cooling processes, recirculating the water via natural soakaways to reduce our environmental impact on local water resources.
We actively participate in the circular economy by incorporating recycled materials into our product ranges and packaging. In collaboration with partners like Wolseley Plumb Centre, we have established a nationwide plastic recycling programme that diverts tonnes of waste plastic from landfill to be reprocessed at our dedicated Environmental Management Area.
Our 100-vehicle delivery fleet is currently undergoing long-term trials with bio-diesel. This fuel source generates up to 90% less Greenhouse Gas emissions compared to standard diesel, significantly reducing the Scope 3 transport emissions for our customers and specifiers.
Yes, we have implemented an industry-leading commitment where our plastic packaging contains a minimum of 50% recycled content. This ensures we reduce the demand for virgin plastics while maintaining the structural integrity required to protect our products during transit.
Group-Wide Commitment to Net Zero
As part of Genuit Group, our sustainability journey is aligned with ambitious, group-wide targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Together, we are committed to a 1.5°C trajectory and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
