Environment
As an organisation that has grown within the Australian community for nearly 50 years, Vinidex recognises the importance of environmental sustainability.
Environmental issues are now the subject of greater community awareness than ever and consumers are demanding environmentally responsible products. Our materially efficient products are installed daily in projects critical to the effective and efficient use of water and wastewater.
Vinidex has been successful in reducing energy usage in our manufacturing processes without adversely affecting production or quality. Due to our commitment and outstanding achievements in environmental sustainability such as manufacturing improvements, recycling programs and product development, the company has been recognised with numerous environmental awards.
Green Star Credit Points Available for use of Best Practice PVC products
The Green Building Council of Australia recognises environmental advances by Australian PVC manufacturers.
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has a set of building rating tools known as Green Star which has achieved widespread acceptance by developers and governments to assess and rate the environmental performance of buildings. These tools were introduced in 2003 with a PVC minimisation clause that awarded points for reducing the value of PVC products used in building. Read more...
Vinidex – An Environmental Success Story
Vinidex’s commitment to environmental sustainability has been recognised through numerous awards Read more…
Recycling – an important contributor to waste reduction
Vinidex has developed processes to recycle scrap for its manufactured products - PVC pipe, Polyelthylene (PE) pipe, Polypropylene (PP) pipe and PVC fittings. Vinidex re-processes all in-house scrap and has done so for over thirty years to minimise wastage. Scrap is collected and granulated into a form suitable for extruded pipes and injection moulded fittings. Any material that cannot be reprocessed on site is sent to third parties for re-cycling.
Vinidex also reduces wastage in the greater community by recycling external waste bought in from building sites, reusing decommissioned pipes no longer needed, using packaging waste and offcuts from other industries.
Innovation – Environmentally Improved Products and Solutions
Materially efficient products are important in Vinidex’s environmental contribution. These products use less material and energy in their manufacture than comparable products.
Vinidex developed Supermain® PVC-O which requires less energy to produce than conventional PVC. Molecular orientation enhances the mechanical properties of the material and the pipe requiring less raw material allowing for energy efficient production The smooth bore of Vinidex Supermain® PVC-O allow high flow rates making them an ideal and efficient carrier of water for water and wastewater purposes. Read more...
Vinidex StormPRO® and SewerPRO® have also been developed as material efficient products. These are twin-walled, corrugated polypropylene pipes are manufactured with a smooth bore for optimumhydraulic performance and corrugated outside wall for a high stiffness to weight ratio. They have a long product life and can be recycled at the end of their life. Read more...
Read more on Environmentally Improved Product Solutions
Product Innovations are also contributing to Vinidex’s environmental solutions
AquaPRO® underground water storage system - reducing water usage, recycling and retention on site are key conservation strategies for any development. Vinidex developed AquaPRO® after recognizing the increasing demand for underground water storage systems that offer a high level of structural integrity and are fully sealable with proven durability.
By combining the strength and toughness of advanced polypropylene materials in a structured wall pipe design with uniquely designed modular fitting components, Vinidex AquaPRO® provides an environmentally sensitive and cost effective solution to underground water storage. Its light weight construction and modular design provides infinite possibilities which enables designers to configure a system that will accommodate numerous site imposed constraints for domestic, commercial or industrial developments. Read more...
Long Life of PVC Pipes
In 1996 it was decided to exhume part of the Millewa Water Supply Scheme constructed during the early 1970's in order to determine any signs of deterioration and to assess their condition. After almost 30 years of service, the PVC pipes, incorporating all classes, with both rubber ring joints and solvent cement joints, continued to perform well under a variety of operational conditions. Read more…
New Lease of Life for Old PVC
Ever since PVC took off in the 1960s as an alternative to kiln-fire and concrete materials, Australian pipe and fittings manufacturers have re-used their off-cuts (known as ‘regrind’) to make non-pressure products for stormwater and drainage applications. Three decades on, efforts to minimise wastage and reduce processing costs continue apace. PVC has permeated the plumbing sector to such an extent that scrap material has become an important component in manufacturers’ search for market advantage – and in honouring environmental commitments. Read more…
Material Efficient Products
Australia’s vast size and large scale water requirements call upon the highest levels in pipe performance. The smooth bore of Vinidex Supermain® PVC-O allow high flow rates making them an ideal and efficient carrier of water for household and drinking purposes.
For more information on great environmental initiatives from Vinidex, please select from the list on the left.