Civil Engineering June 2021 | Vol 29 No 5

Civil Engineering June 2021 5 objective that Molecor has fulfilled since it was founded. The energy used in the manufac- turing process of TOM® pipes and ecoFITTOM® fittings is applied through a specific air distribution that allows the optimisation of resources as it uses the least possible amount of energy while obtaining the maximum performance, turning them into very sustainable products. Thanks to this highly energy-efficient production pro- cess and the responsible consumption and use that Molecor SA makes of it, SDG 7 (af- fordable and clean energy) is another objec- tive that Molecor fosters. In addition to this, PVC-O pipes and fittings are 100% recyclable. They can be ground and reprocessed as recycled material for use in the manufacture of any other type of plastic product. These products have become the most ecological solution of all that exist in the market, due to their contribution to the correct sustainable development of the planet, as shown by various studies world- wide, among which we can highlight: the estimation of energy consumption and of CO 2 emissions associated with the production, use and final disposal of PVC, HDPE, PP, foundry and concrete pipes (Universidad Politécnica Catalunya) and the study of PVC-O Environmental Products Declaration TEPPFA (The European Plastics Pipes and Fittings Association). PVC-O pipes present environmental advantages in all phases of their lifecycle, from extraction of raw materials, to manufacturing, and their use, making them highly efficient from an energy point of view. By contributing in this way, TOM® pipes and ecoFITTOM® fittings fa- cilitate the construction of sustainable environments (SDG 11). This sustainability is evident in the current resource crisis. The problems of climate change and the need for economic growth have given rise to a new strategy, the circular economy, which aims to reduce both the consumption of new materials and the production of waste, closing the circle of the economic and ecological flow of resources. The concept of the circular economy is directly related to the minimisation of consumption of raw materials and energy. With the reduction of emissions into the atmosphere, the effect on climate change and the anthropogenic impact on the en- vironment can be mitigated, always taking into account the impact of products throughout their life cycle. In this way, the environmental advantage that PVC-O presents in all phases of its lifecycle is greater efficiency in terms of the use of natural resources. In short, we can affirm that Molecor applies eco-design to the manufacture of PVC-O pipes and fittings with a very high useful life, reducing the consumption of natural resources – both raw materials and en- ergy – during their manufacture, thanks to the development of an exclusive, highly energy-efficient technology. This makes Molecor’s PVC-O pipes and fittings the most competitive products for the trans- port of pressurised water in the world. For more information www.sizabantu.com proudly@sizabantu.com Figure 3 Comparison of PVC-O with DI in the six environmental impact criteria Percentage (%) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Abiotic destruction Acidification Eutrophication Global warming Ozone layer destruction Photochemical oxidation Ductile Iron PVC-O Design Figure 4 The circular economy Raw materials Production Distribution Installation Use Recycle Circular Economy The Sizabantu Piping Systems and Molecor factory in Richards Bay Delivering PVC-O pipe to clients