British Gypsum, part of the Saint-Gobain Group, is celebrating two years of zero gypsum waste to landfill. Setting the standard for the industry, British Gypsum implemented a comprehensive waste management and recycling strategy across its five UK manufacturing sites, which has enabled it to divert in excess of 200,000 tonnes from landfill since April 2009.
To achieve zero gypsum waste to landfill, British Gypsum has taken a two-pronged approach, which focuses on reducing manufacturing losses alongside increasing its ability to recycle and reprocess scrap material on site. Brian Andreas, Sustainability Leader at British Gypsum, explains: “We’re committed to addressing sustainability across every aspect of our business, and waste is one key area of focus as highlighted by the Plasterboard Sustainability Action Plan1. So as well as helping customers tackle waste management through schemes like our Plasterboard Recycling Service, we’ve explored how we, as a business, can minimise what is sent to landfill too.”
The first step for the company was to identify areas where in the manufacturing process significant losses were being produced, and make changes to minimise wastage. British Gypsum also significantly invested in increasing its in-house recycling capabilities at each of its sites across the UK.
“As well as making practical changes, we’ve also been educating our workforce to ensure reducing waste remains front of mind,” added Brian. “This includes things like making sure they are fully trained on correct segregation procedures and understand the environmental benefits their positive actions can bring. By doing this, and improving our recycling and manufacturing processes, we’ve been able to achieve zero gypsum waste to landfill for a second year across the whole of our business, and it’s an achievement we’re really proud of.”
This latest achievement is part of British Gypsum’s role in Ashdown 2, the updated version of 2007’s original Ashdown Agreement - a shared voluntary initiative amongst UK plasterboard manufacturers to reduce waste to landfill and increase recycling. The agreement is led by the GPDA (Gypsum Products Development Association) and WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).