Gypsum industry news

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.

US: Johns Manville (JM) has received UL certification for DuraCore 300 chopped strands used to reinforce wallboards in the building industry. The product is manufactured at JM's facility in Slovakia. The certification recognises the product for performance and safety standards.

"Our customers can continuously rely on UL certified DuraCore products with improved dosing consistency and dispersion in wallboards," said Jared Cox, Global Product Manager-Chopped Strands Fibers for JM Engineered Products.