At least 25% lower emissions: GF Piping Systems' plastic Butterfly Valve 565 beats metal alternatives
GF Piping Systems commissioned Swiss Climate AG to perform a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for the Butterfly Valve 565 and compare it to a metal alternative. Now, the Swiss company has published a whitepaper based on the results. In addition, the LCA has enabled the Butterfly Valve 565 to become the first industrial butterfly valve with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
In today’s industries, operators are increasingly reliant on long-lasting and safe piping systems that help them close water circuits, reduce leakages, and optimize their water usage. But in order to achieve the necessary longevity and sustainability of these piping systems, the choice of material is crucial.
Swiss flow solutions provider GF Piping Systems therefore commissioned a Life Cycle Assessment of the plastic Butterfly Valve 565 by the independent institute Swiss Climate AG. The system boundaries as well as the quality and scope of the LCA were defined in accordance with the Product Category Rule (PCR) 2019:143. To put the results into context, a Butterfly Valve 565 DN100 was compared to an equivalent metal valve in the same configuration.
Swiss Climate AG has come to the conclusion that the plastic valve outperforms the metal valve in a number of key areas. The Butterfly Valve 565 emits significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions when comparing the individual service lives of the two materials. This gap increases further when taking into account that the metal valve would have to be replaced around three times during the 565’s expected 23-year lifespan. In addition, the plastic valve has a lower water footprint.
Jochen Hamburger, Product Manager Valves at GF Piping Systems, is pleased with the results published in the whitepaper. “We have focused on plastic as a piping material for many decades, and our products reliably transport water, chemicals, and gas in a wide range of applications across industries. Proving that our 565 emits 25% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to a metal valve has confirmed our belief that plastic piping systems are a long-lasting, cost-effective, and sustainable solution. At the same time, the EPD certification, which is the first for an industrial butterfly valve, offers our customers transparent information on the 565 and allows them to make an informed decision based on an independent analysis.”
The Butterfly Valve 565 is a wafer-style valve designed for water and water treatment applications and is suitable for a wide range of plastic piping systems and flange standards. The 565 features a very high pressure and temperature resistance (PN16 at 80°C). Furthermore, the material properties of its plastic components lead to a 60% lower weight compared to metal and make it more cost-effective due to a longer service life and lower maintenance requirements. Standard digital interfaces allow the Butterfly Valve 565 to be equipped with additional accessories and various types of actuation.
