Saint-Gobain Creates Circular Economy Program for Scrap Finished Goods

Saint-Gobain North America Implements Recycling Program at Bryan Ceramics Plant

Saint-Gobain North America, through its high-performance ceramics business Saint-Gobain NorPro, has initiated a recycling program at its Ceramics plant in Bryan, Texas. This program focuses on recycling scrap finished goods and utilizing them in production at other Saint-Gobain Ceramics plants, including the facility in Huntsville, Alabama.

This initiative aligns with Saint-Gobain’s global Grow and Impact strategy, which aims to reduce waste and increase the circularity of raw materials in production processes. The company aims to achieve a net zero carbon footprint by 2050. Saint-Gobain NorPro has already made significant progress towards these goals, reducing non-recovered waste by 74% in 2022 compared to 2017.

Recycling Efforts at Bryan Plant

The Bryan plant, established in 1976, specializes in custom ceramic catalyst carriers used in various industries worldwide. Previously, scrap finished goods resulting from the complex production process were sent to landfills. However, a pilot recycling program was launched in 2019, which expanded to include the recycling of kiln plates at the end of their life. Since the start of the pilot program, the Bryan plant has diverted over 1,000 tons of material from landfills, using them as raw materials in Huntsville and other Ceramics sites. Additionally, the site collaborates with a local recycler to recycle broken and waste kiln bricks and kiln car hardware.

“The recycling efforts at our Bryan plant to divert scrap from landfills are a prime example of our commitment to circularity within the Ceramics business while minimizing our environmental impact,” said Tihana Tresler, General Manager of Saint-Gobain NorPro. “I would like to express my gratitude to the entire Bryan team for their innovative leadership and their contribution to our purpose of ‘Making the World a Better Home’.”

Saint-Gobain’s Commitment to Sustainability

This project is part of a series of sustainability actions undertaken by Saint-Gobain:

• Last month, Saint-Gobain announced upgrades at its CertainTeed Insulation plant in Athens, Georgia, projected to save over 7,300 MWh of energy and 20 million gallons of water annually, while reducing landfill waste by over 5,000 MT.
• In July, Saint-Gobain opened a new CertainTeed Architectural facility in Conyers, Georgia, co-located with finishing partner QPC, reducing carbon emissions by over 50 million pounds per year.
• In June, Saint-Gobain was awarded a 2023 SEAL Business Sustainability Award for creating the first “net zero-carbon” gypsum wallboard facility for scope 1 and 2 emissions in North America.
• In May, CertainTeed Siding completed a submetering system at its Jackson, Michigan Siding facility, saving more than 9 million gallons of water per year.
• In April, CertainTeed Canada surpassed one million tonnes of recycled gypsum returned to production at its Vancouver plant.
• In February, Saint-Gobain acquired the rights to technology from recycling partner Asphaltica, enabling the recycling of asphalt shingle waste in the production of roofing shingles.
• In December, Saint-Gobain launched a recycling program at two locations in California, recycling windshield glass scraps from its Sekurit facility for insulation production.

Saint-Gobain has over 150 manufacturing locations in the United States and Canada, and every member of the company’s team plays a crucial role in achieving its sustainability goals. Job openings at all Saint-Gobain locations, including in Bryan, can be found on the company’s careers website.

About Saint-Gobain Ceramics

Saint-Gobain is a global leader in light and sustainable construction. Within its High-Performance Solutions division, Saint-Gobain Ceramics specializes in technical ceramics and aims to engineer a better, safer, and more sustainable world. The NORPRO brand offers unique ceramic catalyst support offerings and bed support media for applications in chemical, petrochemical, and biofuels markets.

About Saint-Gobain

Saint-Gobain is a worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Through continuous innovation, Saint-Gobain provides integrated solutions for building renovation, light construction, and decarbonization of the construction and industry sectors. The company’s commitment is guided by its purpose of “Making the World a Better Home.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
• Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
• Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 12.5.1: National recycling rate, tons of material recycled.
• Indicator 13.3.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula.
• Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

The article highlights the recycling program implemented by Saint-Gobain North America’s Ceramics plant in Bryan, Texas. This initiative aligns with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, as it aims to reduce waste generation through recycling and reuse. The specific target under this SDG is Target 12.5, which focuses on waste reduction. The recycling program mentioned in the article contributes to achieving this target by diverting scrap finished goods from landfills and recycling them as raw materials.

The article also mentions Saint-Gobain’s commitment to achieving a net zero carbon footprint by 2050, which is connected to SDG 13: Climate Action. The specific target under this SDG is Target 13.3, which emphasizes the importance of education and awareness-raising on climate change mitigation and adaptation. While the article does not explicitly mention education initiatives, Saint-Gobain’s efforts to reduce waste and increase circularity in its production processes contribute to raising awareness and implementing sustainable practices.

Furthermore, the article highlights Saint-Gobain’s focus on sustainability and innovation in its production processes, which aligns with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. The specific target under this SDG is Target 9.4, which aims to upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable. Saint-Gobain’s recycling program and other sustainability initiatives demonstrate their commitment to adopting clean and environmentally sound technologies and processes.

The indicators mentioned in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets are:

• Indicator 12.5.1: National recycling rate, tons of material recycled. This indicator can measure the effectiveness of the recycling program in reducing waste generation.
• Indicator 13.3.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula. While not explicitly mentioned in the article, Saint-Gobain’s efforts contribute to raising awareness and integrating sustainable practices into educational curricula.
• Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added. The article mentions Saint-Gobain’s goal of achieving a net zero carbon footprint by 2050, indicating their commitment to reducing CO2 emissions in their production processes.

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Source: waste360.com

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