Uponor achieves milestone with Virsbo, Sweden, becoming its next Carbon Neutral Factory
Uponor Corporation, Press Release, 7 March 2024 at 12:30 noon EET
Uponor achieves milestone with Virsbo, Sweden, becoming its next Carbon Neutral Factory
Uponor, a leading global provider of sustainable and innovative flow solutions and part of GF (Georg Fischer), announces that a second manufacturing facility in Sweden has reached full carbon neutrality in its own operations – the company’s latest achievement in environmental sustainability.
In line with the GF Sustainability Framework 2025 and Uponor’s target to significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, the Swedish manufacturing facility in Virsbo embodies the company's innovative ‘Carbon Neutral Factory’ concept. This initiative, following the pioneering success of Uponor’s first carbon-neutral factory in Nastola (Finland), demonstrates the company’s proactive efforts to decrease not only its own climate impacts but also the carbon footprint of its customers and partners.
Since its groundbreaking debut in 1972, Uponor has proudly manufactured over six billion meters of PEX pipe for use in drinking water as well as radiant heating and cooling applications in Virsbo. By choosing our PEX pipes made in Carbon Neutral Factory Virsbo, customers across Europe are not just investing in top-tier quality; they're actively contributing to a greener future, aligning with their sustainability aspirations.
Similarly to Nastola, the Virsbo factory has made significant investments in technology and infrastructure to reduce its environmental impact. The key lies in an active commitment to heat recovery, using waste heat from production in the heating of the factory buildings. This both minimizes the need to purchase auxiliary heat and makes factories less reliant on external energy sources. Virsbo has also transitioned to green electricity and electrified its vehicle fleet to further reduce its carbon footprint. The remaining emissions have been compensated through a combination of tree-based carbon removal verified and retired using the Verra registry and biochar-based carbon removal using the Puro.earth or Carbon Standards International registry. To implement these practices and continuously improve our processes, Uponor has also invested in training to increase our employees’ sustainability awareness and skills, as well as to activate our employees to take responsibility for our environmental footprint.
“Our journey towards sustainability is marked by continuous improvement in our own operations. The Swedish factory's achievement of carbon neutrality is a testament to our dedication to sustainability and sets a powerful example for others to follow,” says Uponor’s Chief Technology Officer Thomas Fuhr.
“This is another milestone for Uponor and for the Virsbo factory. Two years ago, we launched the world’s first biobased PEX pipe. Last year, we manufactured the first circular PEX pipe based on 100% chemically recycled raw material from our own PEX production waste, and now we can proudly say that Virsbo is carbon neutral,” adds Uponor Sweden’s Managing Director Robert Molund.
“This is a clear statement that Uponor takes its sustainability agenda seriously, and that we are the number one partner in the construction industry when it comes to taking the lead in innovation, sustainability and quality products.”
With Virsbo achieving the Carbon Neutral Factory status, Uponor is not only reducing its own environmental impact but also contributing to the decrease in emissions across the construction industry's supply chain.
By promoting more responsible operating methods and collaborating with partners, Uponor is leading by example, demonstrating that sustainable manufacturing is both achievable and beneficial for the environment.
Uponor remains committed to replicating the success of its Carbon Neutral Factory concept across its other manufacturing facilities, reinforcing the company’s position as a leader in sustainable construction. This achievement in Virsbo, Sweden, marks another step forward in Uponor's journey towards a greener, more sustainable future for all.
Press contact:
Christine Schurz
Director, Branding and Communications
Uponor Corporation
Tel. +499521690537
christine.schurz@uponor.com
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Uponor in brief
Uponor, a leading global provider of sustainable and innovative flow solutions, was acquired in November 2023 and became a division of Georg Fischer. We help customers in residential and commercial construction be more productive and continuously find new ways to conserve, manage and provide water responsibly in buildings and homes, unlocking its potential to provide comfort, health and efficiency. Our safe drinking and waste water solutions as well as energy-efficient radiant heating and cooling solutions are sold in more than 80 countries. www.uponorgroup.com
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