SOLUTION / PUBLIC SOURCE RECORD
WOPAS recyclable utility poles promote the circular economy
- Published 19 December 2022; updated 21 September 2026; estimated reading time 2 minutes. Marked available; listed under Circular economy.
- WOPAS makes utility poles from natural wood and polyethylene (PE), avoiding creosote and other biocides. A patented extrusion process adds a 5–10 mm PE outer layer, caps the ends and encloses the wood to limit moisture and oxygen exposure. The page says the PE meets the standard used for drinking-water pipes.
- The article specifies a pole composition of 85% renewable FSC-certified wood, 10% recycled PE and 5% new PE. It says wood and plastic can be mechanically separated for recycling, with wood potentially repurposed into products such as oriented strand board. Claimed service life is up to 80 years.
- Similar encapsulation is used for marine piles, light poles and cattle fence posts. WOPAS says it manages the supply chain at its Norwegian factory. The page cites a Swedish life-cycle analysis in which WOPAS ranked “best in test” in six of seven environmental-impact categories; this is a referenced study, not independent confirmation of every product use or comparison.
- Poles were launched in 2017 and the article says Vattenfall approved them for use. WOPAS was targeting expansion beyond Scandinavia through exports or local-production licensing. The cited USD 52 billion global pole-market forecast was for 2024 and is historical.
- Linked to SDGs 3, 9 and 12. Creosote regulation described in the article includes an EU temporary exemption for utility poles; current rules may differ and the page’s policy discussion is dated.
- Contact: Thomas Lindblad, Marketing Director, thomas.lindblad@wopas.net. Company: WOPAS AS, c/o Hallingplast AS, Kleivi Næringspark 4, 3570 Ål, Norway; wopas.net.