MALVERN, PA — Sustainability in construction has taken a gigantic leap forward with Saint-Gobain, a global giant in building materials, achieving a staggering 96% emissions reduction in the manufacturing process of its polymer shakes, vinyl trim, millwork, and vinyl siding. This commendable achievement is anchored in its building materials subsidiary, CertainTeed Siding, with the beneficial results seen at its manufacturing facilities in McPherson, Kansas; Social Circle, Georgia; and Williamsport, Maryland.
The company’s path-breaking efforts have been underpinned by fully electrified processes powered solely by renewable energy. The complete electricity consumption at these facilities is backed by renewable energy credits (RECs), marking a significant stride in Saint-Gobain’s avowed mission to deliver low-carbon siding products to the US market and minimize its environmental footprint.
As the company tenaciously pursues its ambitious ‘Grow and Impact’ strategy, Saint-Gobain’s commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is clearly visible. This strategy is designed to fuse aggressive sustainability targets that include not only curbing energy and water consumption but also reducing landfill contributions and increasing the use of recycled raw material.
Complementing the company’s strategy are its three existing Power Purchase Agreements. Once fully operational by 2025, these agreements will suffice to meet over 70% of the electricity needs across all Saint-Gobain’s industrial sites in North America.
But the journey doesn’t end here. With renewable energy already powering production processes at the initial three facilities, the company is now determined to eradicate remaining emissions sources not directly linked to production, like natural gas used for plant heating and propane for forklift trucks. Aspiring to achieve fully net-zero facilities in the coming years, Saint-Gobain plans to broaden this program to more Siding manufacturing sites.
As a side benefit of these all-out emissions reduction efforts, the company also witnessed a massive drop in water consumption and landfill contributions. For instance, the installation of a smart water submetering system and upgraded production equipment in its Jackson, Michigan facility resulted in a noteworthy 50% cut-back in water usage, saving over 9 million gallons.
Joe Bondi, Vice President and General Manager of CertainTeed Siding, credited the entire team for this incredible progress, emphasizing how these accomplishments showcase their commitment to delivering high-quality products while adhering to sustainable business practices.
This hard-hitting project is part of a broader framework of actions taken by Saint-Gobain to reinforce its commitment to sustainability. Such actions range from Saint-Gobain North America sealing a 15-year, 100 MW power purchase agreement with TotalEnergies to buy solar power and offset its CO2 emissions, to launching a circular economy initiative in its Ceramics business.
It’s clear that Saint-Gobain is set on a path of sustainable growth and environmental preservation, making strides in reducing carbon footprints at various operational stages. With such dedicated efforts, Saint-Gobain continues to set a high bar in the industry and reinforce its vision of ‘Making the World a Better Home.’
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