Dura-Line’s customer KPN, a leading network operator in The Netherlands, was impressed by the quality of MicroDucts and FuturePath® ECO following a successful field trial conducted by Allinq (turnkey contractor) and Netceed (systems integrator). KPN agreed that the MicroDucts and FuturePath® ECO range aligns with their sustainability goals, and the network is now live in The Netherlands.
CHALLENGE
Under the European Green Deal’s overarching aim of climate neutrality for all European companies by 2050, sustainability has become a prerequisite for modern optical fibre networks. Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, which occur in the value chain, typically account for more than 70% of a telecom operator’s carbon footprint1; for these scope 3 emissions, purchased goods and services, such as MicroDucts, are a key driver. Netherlands-based network operator KPN identified a need for Dura-Line to develop a more sustainable conduit without compromising technical performance as KPN works to lower its greenhouse gas emissions and transition to nearly 100% circular by 2025. Existing products made of lower-quality recycled materials often fail the necessary quality controls and technical standards. The challenge for Dura-Line was to deliver the best of both worlds: a more sustainable conduit that meets the required standard of quality.
SOLUTION
Dura-Line developed MicroDucts ECO using up to 100% reground High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) from Dura-Line’s own manufacturing process. MicroDucts ECO are then bundled to create FuturePath® ECO with protective jackets and identification stripes.
In just three months, Dura-Line’s R&D team produced the first prototypes through a comprehensive quality testing process. After several rounds of testing, the product line had passed all standard quality tests for regular HDPE MicroDucts. These results include the products having the same expected operational lifetime as regular MicroDuct products.
“Quality is a key pillar for Dura-Line,” says Dorota Kowzan, Circular Economy and Resin Approval Europe Manager.
“We focus on cleanliness in manufacturing, rigor with which Dura-Line selects its raw materials, and in-depth quality control to ensure Dura-Line’s high standards are maintained.”
FuturePath® ECO has also been tested and proven in the field. Dura-Line’s team facilitated a successful field trial conducted by Allinq, turnkey contractor specialized in the design, construction and maintenance of fiber optic networks and Netceed, system integrator of end2end fiber optic solutions, which confirmed equivalent performance to regular MicroDuct products, including during duct laying and cable jetting. Finally, Dura-Line conducted life cycle assessments (LCA) to identify the environmental footprint of the ECO product line with the support of a third-party evaluator. The assessment results demonstrated that MicroDucts and FuturePath® ECO deliver a significant reduction in carbon emissions versus equivalent regular HDPE products and minimise plastic waste in support of the Zero Waste to Landfill goal.
With tests results confirming the quality, performance and considerable CO2 emissions reduction of its new sustainable product line, Dura-Line was ready to launch the products.
RESULTS
KPN, Allinq, and Netceed were impressed by Dura-Line’s sustainable solution. It allowed KPN to reduce their scope 3 emissions without compromising the technical performance.
“We are very proud of this collaboration with Dura-Line involving MicroDucts and FuturePath® ECO,” Lars Willemsen, Head of the Netherlands at Netceed, says.
“By adding this Direct Buried Ecoduct to our Microfocus product portfolio, we are taking an important step towards a sustainable future. With this innovative solution, we are setting a new standard within the European Telecom market.”
MicroDucts and FuturePath® ECO have since been approved for installation and have already been deployed successfully in live networks in The Netherlands. This successful collaboration enabled all parties to support circularity and meet their sustainability commitment to deliver carbon emissions reductions in the telecoms industry.
Download the KPN, Allinq and Netceed Project Highlight
