Brand story · 2026
Counting butterflies in the factory yard – how Pipelife Estonia contributes to sustainability with heart
English translation of the original Estonian article. Original headline: Liblikate loendamine tehase õuel ehk kuidas Pipelife Eesti südamega keskkonnasäästlikkusse panustab
Driving along Tallinn's ring road near Jüri, you see plenty of industrial buildings that in no way make you think of counting butterflies or taking part in World Cleanup Day. Yet that is exactly where it happens, as a contribution to a better future. We look at the everyday life of a large Estonian company through the lens of sustainability – without slogans or promises, but through real actions that create change.
At the Pipelife Estonia factory in Rae municipality, Harju County, which produces plastic water, sewerage and pressure water pipes, the employees decided to do things quite differently from what is usual in industry. Although the company belongs to wienerberger, one of the world's largest building materials groups, real decisions are made according to high ISO standards combined with heartfelt kindness and, to a large extent, on the employees' own initiative.
Pipelife also represents one big global paradox. In the eyes of ordinary consumers, plastic has a deeply negative image because of single-use packaging, but here vital underground systems are produced that protect clean water resources and last for more than 100 years.
A dedicated Green Team of employees focuses on protecting nature
All great changes begin with small actions and good people. The Green Team created a few years ago for Pipelife Estonia's employees is proof that sustainable thinking doesn't have to be mere paperwork. The team of green-minded volunteers is led by quality manager Marco Oolo. "We meet every two weeks to discuss what could be done better. We can also be pleased that we have our own budget," explains Oolo. Environmental and energy management are based on the strict ISO 14001 (environmental management system) and ISO 50001 (energy management system) standards.
The Green Team of enthusiasts has carried out a whole series of positive actions. Different species of flowers were planted and sown on the lawn of the factory grounds to ensure natural diversity. Three times each summer, employees count birds, butterflies and insects on the factory grounds. The same green area is also used to grow the team's own pumpkins, which get a festive look for Halloween in autumn. Flower pots and flower islands in the yard are made from the factory's own large pipes – reuse at its best.
In cooperation with the State Forest Management Centre (RMK), colleagues go tree-planting every year – this spring as many as 860 trees went into the ground. They also take part in World Cleanup Day every year. Not only is the company's own yard cleaned, but they also go out to the nearby roadside and fields, because unfortunately drivers speeding past throw rubbish onto the verge far too casually.
Inside the factory, one chapter came to an end when water dispensers with big blue bottles were replaced with filtered tap water. Pipelife decided that transporting drinking water back and forth in bottles is a waste in logistical terms – especially when you produce quality drinking water pipes yourself. The water dispensers were replaced with filtering machines that offer anyone thirsty clean, quality mains water chilled, hot or sparkling. Waste sorting has also been introduced in the building, where, based on systems created with partners, cardboard, paper, wood, plastic, metal and hazardous waste go exactly where they belong, and much of it can ultimately be recycled.
Supporting the community is held in high regard: snow parks, kindergartens and people in need
No company can exist separately from its community. This also means social responsibility, finding ways to support local residents. Pipelife Estonia has found a practical and creative way: among other things, expanding the possibilities for using the plastic pipes it produces.
At the Tallinn city festival, for example, you could see exciting installations built from Pipelife pipes, through which children could discover what pipes are all about. Its way of supporting winter sports is also great: when snow parks and sledging hills are built in winter, Pipelife Estonia gives selected projects large pipes free of charge, which are shaped into tunnels and ramps for jumps. The snow park support project has expanded across all the Baltic states, creating even more winter fun for thousands of people. Likewise, large pieces of pipe are given to local kindergartens so that little ones can climb through them and do other exciting things.
But the help goes far beyond playgrounds to much more serious matters. The company donated a biological wastewater treatment plant to the non-profit Lootuse Küla, ensuring a modern and clean living environment for the community there. Cooperation also runs smoothly with Kiili municipality, where together they support private individuals in need. Pipelife Estonia donates the necessary pipes and tanks, the municipality finds the installers, and as a result help reaches people who would otherwise have no way of fixing the water systems in their households. This is real community support through real actions, not just placing a logo on the poster of a sponsored event.
Keeping the environment clean and keeping strict count of kilojoules
At the level of management culture and general wellbeing, the talk is not only of directives, but of systems that ensure the factory operates transparently, safely and honestly.
Quality manager Marco Oolo presents Pipelife Estonia's largest current sustainability project, which also requires investment: "Operation Clean Sweep is an international initiative aimed at preventing plastic from entering the local ecosystem. The tiny raw material granules (pellets) used in the factory must under no circumstances get out of production, be blown away by the wind or reach the local sewerage or bodies of water. We do a great deal of work to prevent this and keep the environment clean."
In addition, the energy consumption of the entire production is calculated precisely to determine the size of the carbon footprint – whether heating rooms, keeping equipment running, charging computer batteries or the fuel consumption of vehicles and forklifts. In line with ISO standards, everything is counted, numbered and the energy consumption accounted for.
The entire factory has switched to LED lighting, and new production equipment has been chosen with the most economical energy class possible. The machine fleet is also constantly renewed, including replacing vehicles with more economical electric cars.
Significant environmental savings come from the factory's closed-loop cooling system. Water passes through the equipment, is then directed to cooling under the factory and sent back into circulation, without wasting a single drop of mains water.
Looking at the whole undertaking on an even larger scale, certificates verified by third parties count, including the ISO 9001 management system. This also covers equality: equal pay for women and men and other factors. They also check whether all kinds of security risks in the building have been mitigated, all job descriptions are accurate and safety training has actually been completed.
Pipelife Estonia's commitment to sustainability goes beyond simply protecting the environment. Long-term, trusting relationships with employees, customers, partners and communities are valued. Everything is done with heart, for the sake of a better future.