Staying ahead of water contact regulations with circular materials

By Pim Janssen
Market Development Manager, Envalior

Water system manufacturers face pressure to meet regulations and adopt sustainable materials as lead-leaching brass and traditional thermoplastics like PA66 and POM are phased out. Many plastics fail to meet modern performance demands, creating urgency for safer, durable alternatives. Envalior supports this shift with advanced thermoplastics that ensure compliance, durability, and sustainability.

The shift to sustainable water contact materials

Globally, the push for circular materials is intensifying as governments strive to reduce waste and minimize environmental impact. In the United States alone, 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris were generated in 2018, with nearly a quarter ending up in landfills. This trend underscores the urgency for adopting sustainable materials, particularly in residential building and renovation projects.

Water system manufacturers are increasingly replacing brass components, which are costly and release harmful lead levels, with thermoplastics. These materials are now widely used in water faucets, meters, and boiling and heating systems. Additionally, the rise in smart home technologies, such as leak-detecting water meters and luxury faucets with boiling water functionality, has fueled the demand for innovative and compliant materials.

However, evolving regulations like the European Drinking Water Directive, Water Regulations Approval Scheme (WRAS) and NSF61, a health standard for plumbing products and materials that come in contact with potable water, demand that manufacturers select materials that meet current and future standards. Failure to choose the right material can lead to leaks, costly property damage, and reputational harm. Furthermore, global supply chain complexities limit access to compliant thermoplastics, making reliable partnerships essential for avoiding delays and ensuring high-quality production.

Envalior’s advanced water contact thermoplastics

Envalior provides a comprehensive range of safe, sustainable, and reliable thermoplastics for water contact applications. Our materials are tailored for heating, meter, sanitary, and industrial systems and are supported by our expertise in design, prototyping, and cost assessment to help you bring top-quality components to the market faster.

Key Material Solutions:

EcoPaXX® PA410: Partially biobased, certified materials for warm and hot water contact provide greater design flexibility in flow heaters, water meters, and sanitary valve applications, thanks to their excellent toughness, processability, and reliability during assembly and use. These materials can often replace PPO or PA66 without requiring significant retooling or redesign, reducing time and costs.
ForTii® PPA: Exceptional hot water contact-certified materials offering a processing advantage over other PPAs, as they can typically be molded at lower tool temperatures and exhibit excellent flow properties. ForTii® is commonly used in applications such as KTW-BWGL P1-certified hot water flow heaters and faucet cartridges.
Xytron™ PPS: Renowned for its exceptional strength and thermal resistance, Xytron™ is ideal for water contact applications requiring the best high temperature hydrolysis resistance and precision. It has for instance replaced brass in water meter housings and is used for flow tubes, helping suppliers meet regulations while reducing costs. Despite high demand from the automotive industry, Xytron™ has remained unaffected by supply chain disruptions or force majeures.

Supporting the transition to a circular economy

Envalior is committed to minimizing fossil feedstock use and helping manufacturers lower their carbon footprints. By 2030, our entire plastics portfolio will include third-party certified bio- and recycled-based alternatives.

Our teams provide end-to-end support, from part design and testing to production, ensuring a seamless transition to sustainable materials. This approach not only helps you meet consumer demand for eco-friendly water systems but also strengthens your relationships with OEMs and positions your brand as a leader in sustainability.

The materials you choose today will shape your ability to adapt to changing regulations and consumer demands for sustainable, high-quality water systems. Partner with Envalior to stay ahead of industry standards while embracing circular material solutions.