Canada: Saint-Gobain subsidiary CertainTeed has concluded a year-long trial to increase the efficiency of CertainTeed 5/8 Type X gypsum wallboard production at its Winnipeg plant through recipe optimisation and technology upgrades. The producer adjusted its water-to-stucco ratio and replaced the line’s existing magnetic flow meters with Coriolis flow meters. It cut water usage by 1.09 million litres (3%), energy consumption by 25,000MWhr and CO₂ emissions by 5.6t year-on-year, while also increasing productivity by 5% year-on-year.

The producer now plans to roll out other water management initiatives based on the case study of the Winnipeg plant across its plants in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

US: Lowe's has concluded a deal to acquire Foundation Building Materials for US$8.8bn. Foundation Building Materials is a distributor of gypsum wallboard and other building products. Baystreet News has reported that the deal marks Lowe's second acquisition in the residential construction segment so far in 2025.

India: Knauf India has launched the GIFAfloor System, a gypsum panel-based flooring system. The system consists of high-density, fibre-core panels that are primed on both sides, and serves as an alternative to traditional wet construction methods, according to the producer. The range includes GIFA Floor DB Green raised-access floor systems, which can handle 4kN of weight, with 60 minutes’ fire resistance, and GIFAfloor FHB hollow floor systems, which can handle 20kN, with 90 minutes’ fire resistance.

CEO Sumit Bidani said "Our new GIFAfloor range reflects Knauf's drive to blend innovation with practicality. Each variant addresses a specific infrastructure need while delivering on durability, flexibility and environmental responsibility."

US: Alternative wallboard developer Xeriant has scheduled a limited production run of its recycled plastic and fibre-based Nexboard with a contract producer. Construction & Demolition Recycling News has reported that the production run will take place in August 2025.

Xeriant CEO Keith Duffy said "We are very pleased with the performance of Nexboard's fire resistance and other properties after incorporating our proprietary nanotechnology. We continue to receive strong interest from global construction leaders who are actively seeking non-toxic, fire- and water-resistant alternatives to gypsum wallboard, wood-based and cementitious panels. The latest formulation's success validates years of research and development investment, positioning Xeriant to capture market share in both traditional construction and emerging smart building applications, where performance and sustainability are paramount."