Gypsum industry news

India: Knauf India says that all of its products are compliant with Indian Standards Institution (ISI) norms, as dictated by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

The Hindustan Times newspaper has reported that Knauf India CEO Sumit Bidani said "Knauf India is proud to be the first company in the market to achieve full compliance with the new ISI standards for plasterboards. This milestone is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to quality, safety and sustainability. We believe these standards will further enhance the trust our customers and partners place in us."

Spain: Knauf España has expanded its range of oversize gypsum wallboard systems with the launch of its new Maxiboard boards. The producer said that the boards’ 900mm thickness allows for a 30% reduction in studs, screws and joint treatment in installation. Maxiboard boards are optimal for use in large spaces, including in shopping centres, cinemas and data centres. They offer EI 240-certified fire resistance in systems up to 6m high and EI 120-certified fire resistance in systems up to 11m high.

US: Xeriant has hired the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and another accreditation agency to test its NEXBOARD waste plastic-based wallboard for the construction market. The producer says that tests will include the NFPA 286 and the ASTM E84 fire safety tests, as well as tests of tensile strength, hardness, water resistance, acoustic and thermal insulating performance, and volatile organic compound emissions.

UK: Knauf has maintained its 'Excellent' rating for BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing of its wallboard, laminated plasterboard and gypsum powder products, a rating that it has held since 2019.

The BES 6001 standard is a means of securing certification to demonstrate through independent, third-party certification, that raw materials for products certified against the scheme have been responsibly sourced and that Knauf manufactures these products in a way that minimises the impact on the environment and natural resources. Knauf said that this was a 'significant achievement,' requiring input from all areas of its business, from procurement and manufacturing activities to distribution to customers.

New Zealand: The government has established a taskforce to tackle the on-going national gypsum wallboard shortage. Scoop News has reported that the taskforce consists of industry experts. The body says that it will renew the focus on competition in the building materials sector. Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods has written a letter to Winstone Wallboards' parent company Fletcher Building regarding trademark protections, specifically urging it not to take action on its product colour trademarks. The taskforce also plans to explore new distribution models and investigate the potential of new products in the New Zealand market.

Megan Woods said "The taskforce has a very clear aim: to increase sector productivity as quickly as possible, and to remove any unnecessary barriers, including around certification, to facilitate the use of different types of plasterboard."

UK: Knauf UK has joined Planet Mark, an organisation that offers sustainability certification to businesses via the independent verification of social and carbon data. In doing this, Knauf has also committed to a CO₂ emissions reduction of at least 2.5%/yr. Planet Mark is in the process of verifying data submitted by Knauf based on its 2021 operations and Knauf will be publishing a report later in 2022 which will outline the findings. The outcome of the report will shape Knauf’s sustainability strategy moving forward.

Steve Malkin, the chief executive officer of Planet Mark said “We are thrilled to welcome Knauf into the Planet Mark community. Without precise measurements, progress cannot be tracked and Knauf has taken the vital steps necessary to begin taking action on its emissions.”

Belgium: Saint-Gobain has appeared on climate charity CDP’s Climate Change A List 2021. The producer says that the listing recognises its environmental ambition and transparency. It has taken ‘significant and demonstrable action,’ including allocating Euro100m/yr until 2030 in capital expenditure and research and development funding to reduce CO₂ emissions. It employs an internal carbon
price for investment decisions, which has risen by 50% to Euro75/t for capital expenditure. For research and development, it is Euro150/t.

Senior vice president human resources and corporate social responsibility Claire Pedini said “This is a recognition of the progress made and the commitment of the group with regard to the fight against climate change. Saint-Gobain is a key player in this respect and demonstrates at all levels its leadership and responsibility: maximising the positive impact for our customers thanks to our solutions, whilst minimising our own footprint as part of our commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050.”

Spain: Saint-Gobain Placo has launched a new technical manual on environmental certifications of buildings. The Saint-Gobain subsidiary says that the manual will help professionals when addressing all certification requirements in Spanish construction. It takes a practical approach and details all processes and evidence necessary for each certificate. The company hopes to advance sustainable development by facilitating more comprehensive planning.

Spain: Saint-Gobain Placo’s Ebro Gelsa gypsum wallboard plant has achieved silver certification for operational excellence under the World Class Manufacturing (WCM) programme. Its score improved to 63 points from 53 two years previously. Auditors recognised ‘clear progress in the different WCM pillars in recent years’ and ‘a clear strategy going ahead,’ noting a ‘high degree of safety’ at the plant.

Spain: Saint-Gobain Placo’s gypsum wallboard board plant at San Martin de la Vega near Madrid has been awarded bronze status in the World Class Manufacturing program. The plant is the first Saint-Gobain unit in the world to achieve the certification. The scheme is intended to train individuals to assess operational excellence, as well as improve employee morale, individual and company performance, and company profits.