english – It doesn't work without plastics
In a statement the RSV board declares why the use of plastics in pipe renovation is essential.
"Can we still order civil construction projects with plastic products in good conscience in the future?" "What about the microplastics that come from sewage pipes made of plastics?" These are questions we and our members have been asked more frequently lately. In particular, a press release about a study is cited again and again in this context. We have now taken a closer look at this and have written a statement.
Der RSV board declares:
"Plastics, steel, concrete, stoneware - in the construction industry, all manufacturers of pipe materials are currently making their contribution to sustainability, CO2 savings, the circular economy and economic benefits.
As a business association, we strongly oppose the denial of the value of plastics. We note that the rehabilitation of many thousands of kilometers of defective wastewater pipes made of concrete, vitrified clay and steel can only be carried out today because modern plastic pipes and processes are capable of safely transporting e. g. acidic wastewater over the long term.
Trenchless rehabilitation with high-performance materials also offers economic and ecological advantages. These are obvious to clients and the public: no need for sensitive interventions in the soil, lower transport loads, avoidance of congestion.
We assume that there will continue to be a social consensus: plastics will continue to make an important contribution to the energy turnaround, the fight against the consequences of climate change and the maintenance of the wastewater infrastructure.
As for the public debate about the danger posed by "plastics": not all are the same. Anyone who is involved with the different materials knows: the greatest danger to human and animal organisms are plasticizers, which can leach into the environment via plasticizer migration. These do not occur in the pipe materials used in sewer rehabilitation."
*In German language, people prefer to say "Kunststoff" instead of "Plastik", which is regarded as a derogatory term.