Using old shampoo bottles for new cables

TKF, a wholly owned subsidiary of TKH, has together with network operator Liander, developed a unique medium-voltage cable using recycled plastics for the outer sheaths. After an intensive development and research process, TKF developed a cable using sustainable materials, in which 50% of the plastics in the outer sheaths of these cables have been recycled and old shampoo bottles, among other things, are given a second life.

A challenging assignment, given the high-quality requirements that plastics for cables must meet to guarantee a long lifespan and therefore the reliability of the Dutch distribution network. Together with Borealis, TKF succeeded in optimizing reusable plastics in such a way that they meet all the required properties for long-term use in cables.

The first cables produced were met with laughter, due to the soft pink color and the shampoo smell in the factory.

Due to the introduction of the cable sheath, around 2,240 tons less new plastic will be used for Liander's cables until 2027. This is equivalent to 200 full trucks of plastic waste. A CO₂ reduction of 1,332 tons is also achieved, which is equivalent to the emissions of 6 million kilometers of driving a car and thus turning a mountain of plastic waste into a new raw material