Gypsum industry news

Spain: Saint-Gobain Placo has launched Placo Hermetic, a gypsum-based hermetic system for application to building envelopes. The company says that the product is the first of its kind to be gypsum-based that meets the Passivhaus standard. The Catalonia Institute of Construction Technology (ITEC) has certified the system with a Document of Suitability for Use (DAU).

The producer said “With this DAU, Saint-Gobain Placo continues to guarantee the suitability of its solutions, providing professionals in the sector with more sustainable and efficient systems that adapt to different projects and requirements, with total safety and reliability.”

France: Saint-Gobain is among 157 businesses which signed a letter to European Union (EU) members’ governments urging the enactment of higher 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. The letter calls on all EU leaders to target a reduction of 55% by 2030 in line with the European Green deal.

Chair and chief executive officer (CEO) Pierre-André de Chalendar said, “The right decisions now can help create and protect healthy, thriving and fair communities and secure a roadmap for a prosperous economy. From a business and investor perspective, clarity on the net zero transition pathway and timetables for each sector - as well as policy that enables substantial investments in carbon neutral solutions - is essential. This in turn would provide us with the confidence needed to invest decisively at the necessary pace and scale to reduce emissions, create decent green jobs, drive innovation, and accelerate the rebuilding of a resilient zero carbon economy."

Spain: Knauf España has signed an agreement with the Arquitectes per l’Arquitectura association with the aim of supporting sustainable and universal architecture. The partnership compliments other initiatives Knauf holds in the country with the Higher Council of Colleges of Architects of Spain, the Green Building Council, the College of Architects of Madrid, the Alejandro de la Sota Foundations and Architecture and Society.

US: The American Coal Ash Association (ACAA) has criticised a proposed revision of coal ash regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency because it will restrict the recycling of coal ash.

"EPA's proposals related to the definition of coal ash beneficial use are the opposite of a regulatory roll-back," said Thomas H Adams, ACAA Executive Director ahead of a hearing with the EPA. "Without any damage cases or scientific analysis to justify its actions, the agency is seeking to impose burdensome new restrictions that will cause millions more tons of material to be disposed rather than be used in ways that safely conserve natural resources and energy."

Adams and the ACCA argue that previous EPA rules concluded that beneficial use of coal ash should be exempt from regulation and encouraged to contribute to sustainability. However, the ACCA has taken exception with a 2015 definition of beneficial use, which was intended to prevent ‘disposal activities masquerading as beneficial use.’ By expanding the scope of this definition the ACCA says that more coal ash will be landfilled instead of being recycled.

Coal is the fuel source for approximately one-third of electricity generation in the US and produces large volumes of solid coal combustion products - primarily ash and synthetic gypsum from emissions control devices. This family of diverse products is referred to as coal combustion residuals in a disposal setting and is often generically referred to as ‘coal ash.’

According to ACAA's most recent ‘Production and Use Survey,’ 64.4% of the coal ash produced during 2017 was recycled. By volume, 71.8Mt of coal combustion products were beneficially used in 2017 out of 111Mt that were produced. Coal ash production volume increased by 4% year-on-year from 2016.

Thailand: USG Boral Thailand, also known as Siam Gypsum, has won the Green Industry Award at the Green Industry Forum Seminar. The award was presented by Suthon Nikomkate, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of Industrial Product Standards, Ministry of Industry to Wuttichai Ponmanop, Factory Management Manager, Siam Gypsum. The gypsum wallboard manufacturer was awarded the accolade for its focus on its production process, environmental management and its social environmental responsibility.

France: Saint-Gobain has joined part of the 2016 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), ranking among the top-three global companies and the number one European company for construction products. Special mention was given to the group's commitment and initiatives to tackle climate change. Established in 1999, the DJSI distinguishes best-in-class companies in the field of corporate social responsibility.

"I am very proud to see our group included in this renowned index, which is the benchmark for Corporate Social Responsibility. It is recognition of our commitment in this endeavour. We initially set out to be listed in 2017, so we met our target a year ahead of schedule. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our teams for achieving this excellent result," said Pierre-André de Chalendar, Chairman and CEO of Saint-Gobain.