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Abstract Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials, including structural products and Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) pipes, offer significant carbon footprint reduction when compared to traditional steel alternatives. This is because of the lower energy requirements needed for manufacturing and the lower energy use throughout the product's service life cycle. Global warming and the energy crisis make the use of FRP an attractive material of choice because its use results in less carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere. Climate change affects our competitive landscape in many ways. Businesses face higher raw material prices, rising energy costs, and increasing awareness of manufacturers' and suppliers' environmental impact. Companies that focus on managing and mitigating their carbon footprint will have a competitive advantage over rivals in a carbon-constrained future. They will also be able to conduct their operations in an environmentally sustainable way. The focus of this paper is to compare glass-reinforced epoxy (GRE) pipes and FRP offshore handrails with their steel alternatives, to illustrate the relative energy necessary to manufacture, transport, install, use and "through life maintenance" of the products. The critical success factors of FRP with respect to their carbon footprint will be highlighted to advance the case for this type of material in the offshore industry. This paper is development on an original paper by NOV authors in this paper which includes new supportive technical data and research analysis put in place by two major industry operators MODEC and PETROBRAS.
Eves et al. (Mon,) studied this question.