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Prysmian Group – 2015 Sustainability Report
Sustainable Innovation
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Afumex Green
Laboratory testing has started with a view to using polymers produced from ethylene derived from sugar
cane in Italian formulations. This study is currently constrained by the limited number of types of product
available.
THE SAFEST AND MOST SUSTAINABLE ELECTRICITY CABLE ON THE MARKET
In line with the main developments of safe, reliable and sustainable technologies, Prysmian has once again confirmed its
pioneering and innovative spirit by expanding the range of Afumex Green cables. The new member of the Afumex family,
Afumex Green 1kV, is now the safest and most sustainable cable on the market.
With this launch, the traditional petroleum-derived polyethylene, used for insulation purposes, is replaced by bio-
polyethylene (“green” polyethylene) derived from sugar cane, which is 100% renewable, certified at international level
and reduces CO
2
emissions. It is calculated that for every tonne of green polyethylene produced, more than two tonnes
of carbon dioxide are captured from the atmosphere.
Afumex Green 1kV cables meet the standards (NBR5410 and NBR12570) for electrical installations in areas with a high
concentration of people in a confined environment. The new green cables are used to power machines, equipment and
lighting systems in general; accordingly, they can be used in stadiums and arenas, airports, shopping centres, libraries,
museums, cinemas, theatres, underground railways, data centres, hospitals, schools and commercial and residential
buildings.
The Afumex Green range does not propagate flames in the event of fire and has very low emissions, without any toxic
gases. As a result, it is the safest range on the market. These cables are extra flexible, have a double layer, do not
contain lead or other heavy materials, and resist temperatures of up to 90 degrees.
P-Laser
P-Laser is the first high performance, eco-sustainable cable for electrical circuits. Produced using recyclable
materials, P-Laser lowers the environmental impact of circuits while also raising their efficiency and power
transportation energy capacity.
The Prysmian Group's R&D department has completed a project that compared the environmental impact of
two different systems for the production of medium voltage power cables: P-Laser and XLPE. The study was
carried out using the Carbon Footprint methodology, which summarises the entire environmental impact in
terms of total emissions of CO2 equivalents. The results showed that the CO2 emissions associated with P-
Laser cables are 30% of the total emissions attributable to XLPE cables, being about 800-1,000 kg of CO2
for each kilometre of cable produced.
COMMITMENTS FOR THE FUTURE
In 2016, the Prysmian Group is committed to pursuing product development that increases the efficiency and
reliability of the products concerned, while also reducing the dissipation of energy and power.
Implementation of the Design To Cost (DTC) project will also continue, resulting in reductions in the weight of
conductors and direct materials used in the production of cables.