Borealis partners with NUPI for high-performance pipes based on the Bornewables™.

• ISCC PLUS-Certified renewable feedstock Bornewables™ helps NUPI to reduce its eco footprint and to stay ahead of more stringent pipe production regulations
• First pipe supplier in Italy to use Bornewables in high-performance polypropylene random copolymer pipes for plumbing and heating systems under the ISCC PLUS certification scheme
• Partnership is embodiment of the Borealis EverMinds™ spirit of taking action to accelerate the move towards plastics circularity

Borealis, one of the world’s leading providers of advanced and circular polyolefin solutions and a European market leader in base chemicals and fertilizers, has announced that Nupi Industrie Italiane (NUPI) has selected the Bornewables™ polypropylene (PP) for the next generation of their NIRON BETA PP-RCT (Polypropylene Random Crystalline Structure Temperature) piping solutions for domestic plumbing, heating as well as ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems designed to perform under higher stress conditions and temperatures. Manufactured with renewable feedstock, Bornewables PP offer the same material performance as virgin PP yet decoupled from fossil-based feedstock.

The partnership positions NUPI as a front-runner in the market, getting ready for the time when legislation will require the use of renewable materials in pipe production, and makes the company the first pipe supplier in Italy relying on mass balanced Bornewables PP accredited under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification Plus (ISCC PLUS) scheme. It also aligns with Borealis’ EverMinds™ activities and initiatives to advance the circularity of plastics through partnerships across the value chain and connects with Borealis Pipe’s commitment for ‘Enabling life’s essentials.

PP-RCT, as defined by ASTM F2389 and EN ISO 15874, refers to a chemistry of ‘Polypropylene Random Copolymers with modified Crystallinity and Temperature’ resistance. Since the material formulation uses Bornewables PP as a drop-in replacement of fossil-based virgin PP, it eliminates the need for NUPI and end-users to seek renewed approval from water regulation authorities.

“By adopting the Bornewables PP from Borealis for our new PP-RCT pipes, we are taking a major step forward in our efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of our products and stay ahead of more stringent regulations by which the use of renewable feedstock may soon become mandatory for plastic pipes,” says Roberta Brusi, Quality Director at NUPI Group. “The ISCC PLUS certification of the material also helps us document the renewable content in our PP-RCT formulation and pipes in a clearly traceable way.”

The ISCC PLUS accreditation is based on a mass balance accounting process that allows Borealis and NUPI to prove and quantify the effective renewable content at each manufacturing step from the Bornewables material to the final pipe. The Bornewables feedstock is derived from second-generation natural resources, such as waste from pulp production or residues from food processing oils.

“The use of certified renewable polymers is considered an instrumental lever to accelerate the transition from a linear to a circular plastics economy,” adds John Webster, Global Commercial Director Infrastructure for Borealis. “It mitigates fossil depletion, helps all pipes & fittings value chain players reach their sustainability targets faster and supports the industry’s aims to become carbon-neutral. Together with our pipe industry partners, we are committed to reinventing the plastics system for more sustainable living.”