Breaking the waste habit: the path to a recycling mindset in construction

While the built environment covers just 2% of the Earth’s surface, our cities consume nearly 50% of global resources. The demand for materials like steel, cement, and aluminum is projected to double or even quadruple by 2050. Recycling in construction has thus become an urgent priority, requiring a shift in mindset.

• Kicking our construction waste habit means applying a recycling mindset at every stage and scale of construction: from design to end-of-life, and from individual materials to entire buildings. This begins with designing construction materials that are fully or partially recyclable, as well as products made from recycled components. Glass, for instance, can be infinitely recycled into cullet at the end of its life. Saint-Gobain Glass has started collecting post-consumer cullet and aims to incorporate 40% of it into production by 2030.
• Many other materials also offer recycling potential. ISOVER Recycling, for example, has developed the world’s first glass wool recycling process, using material recovered from deconstruction sites. British Gypsum has introduced 100% recycled plasterboard, while Valoref demonstrates how even ceramic residues can be reused! To support this transition, better material traceability is essential. In the future, products should come with digital passports, detailing their reusability, recyclability, and the safety and sustainability of the materials they contain.
• Indeed, recycling also means designing safe products that can be reused without harming the environment or human health. This is the rationale behind Saint-Gobain Glass’ MIRALITE® EASYSAFE, a mirror made without lead, solvents, or plastic film – creating an entirely recyclable and sustainable alternative to traditional mirrors.
• Beyond materials, recycling and reusing construction components not initially designed for reuse is crucial. This concept treats buildings as material banks: discarded bricks, walls, or doors, which still hold value, can be repurposed for new buildings. This is made possible by marketplaces where construction companies can buy and sell high-quality materials. Saint-Gobain Distribution Bâtiment France has become the first private network of collection points for construction waste in the sector. Specialized recycling centers for construction and demolition waste also support the sorting and distribution of materials for reuse.
• Turning buildings into true material banks requires designing them with fewer parts and using simple fasteners that can be removed with only a few standard tools. Modularity plays a key role in facilitating the reuse of building components, with standardized parts that are easier to fix, disassemble, and relocate.
• Finally, repurposing buildings presents a powerful alternative to demolition and new construction. While office-to-housing projects are common, another promising approach involves designing buildings with strong adaptability, considering all potential uses in advance. This reversibility favors universal designs, such as large open spaces and light internal walls that can be easily redeployed.
• While construction companies must lead these efforts, no widespread recycling mindset can emerge without commitments from all stakeholders. Policymakers must promote waste reduction and recycling through regulatory and fiscal incentives, while designers and architects should prioritize adaptability and recycled materials. This will help shift perceptions of recycled materials, so they are no longer seen as inferior but as the future.

Innovation station

Saint-Gobain PAM Canalisation ’s Vulcain project has reached a major milestone with the installation of two 45-ton electric furnaces at the Foug factory!

• This remarkable feat required a 500-ton crane to lower the low-carbon furnaces through the roof in a perfectly executed aerial ballet.
• Replacing the old cupola furnace system, these new electric furnaces will decarbonize the melting process at the Foug facility (France), which specializes in product fittings, valves, and smaller-sized pipes.
• The impact? A 62% reduction in CO₂ emissions and an 80% decrease in water consumption! Even better: by the end of this year, Foug will have the lowest environmental impact of any facility in Europe! A game-changing move for a more sustainable future.

Window to the future

How can we make housing more resilient?

In North America, Saint-Gobain teams champion a powerful solution: offsite construction.

• As the construction industry faces challenges navigating housing and labor shortages, offsite construction offers an attractive solution to significantly reduce construction timelines and reliance on on-site construction crews.  
• Offsite construction ensures precision far superior to traditional construction methods, delivering homes that are more energy-efficient and built to better withstand damage from extreme weather.
• “Another challenge is ensuring that we are rebuilding with resiliency in mind,” says Saint-Gobain North America CEO Mark Rayfield . He emphasizes the importance of applying construction science and materials expertise to create stronger, more resilient homes and buildings.
• The key? CertainTeed ’s One Precision Assemblies, which enables innovative solutions that enhance energy efficiency, indoor air quality, moisture control, and acoustic comfort. 

Can you guess?

You’ve probably noticed a shade you love in a colleague’s office—perhaps during a meeting with them!

• We’re talking about Ecophon’s Akutex™ FT palette—nature-inspired acoustic panel shades designed to enhance comfort, wellbeing, and focus in workspaces.
• Meet Fresh Clover, a calming new green from the Akutex™ FT range, inspired by clover leaves. It’s the perfect choice for projects that foster tranquility and creativity!

Pioneers

Behind every innovation are dedicated individuals with unique journeys. Meet some of the team members who are driving change at Saint-Gobain Life Sciences , the global leader in fluid management solutions and components across industries ranging from food and beverage to biopharma.

• Michael Tuthill , Senior Manager of Life Sciences’ Manufacturing Technology & Innovation team, started as a rubber chemist before discovering his passion for operations. Today, he combines his expertise in operations and engineering to lead MT&I, a global group of engineers within R&D that spans all of Life Sciences. “It’s a fun challenge,” says Mike. See for yourself!

• Raymond Goyco, III learned the value of hard work from his family – a grandfather in computer science and a grandmother who worked in a factory inspired him to pursue a career that makes a tangible difference in people’s lives. Now, Raymond helps his colleagues achieve their professional goals in biomanufacturing and sales. His ultimate aim: to help drug manufacturers become more efficient and develop life-saving therapies faster. Learn more about Raymond’s journey ⤵️

Building bridges

From Morocco to India, France, Brazil and Canada, our Build Change program is empowering teams to transform lives across the globe.

• Launched in 2022, the Build Change program unites all of our philanthropy and sponsorship efforts worldwide under three key pillars: supporting access to decent, sustainable housing, including in emergency situations; acting for more responsible and sustainable communities; and shaping the next generation of sustainable builders.
• In the face of increasing global challenges, Build Change demonstrates how each of us can play a role in reinventing construction, adapting our built environment to climate change, and reducing its environmental impact. In short: making the world a better home!
• Discover more in our new video series highlighting Build Change initiatives around the world.

Expanding our horizon

From Versailles to Mars, discover the epic 360-year journey of France’s oldest company…

• Yes, that’s Saint-Gobain! From trade wars and industrial espionage to groundbreaking innovation, a short documentary by Les Echos chronicles the fascinating history of how the Royal Mirror Glass Manufactory, founded by Colbert in 1665, evolved into today’s world leader in construction materials. Buckle up – it’s quite the saga!