Sustainable impact

A better world for our current and future generations, through sustainable operations, resource extraction, production and transportation. That is the ambition of Knauf, which supports sustainable, circular and environmentally conscious construction in numerous ways.

Knauf is the market leader in gypsum plasters and a manufacturer of innovative finishing systems and materials, which are used in more than 86 countries worldwide. "As an organization, we have both the will and the clout to make a sustainable impact," says Director of Sustainability & Public Affairs Bauke Geuzebroek. "Several ambitious goals were formulated for this at the end of last year." As an example, he mentions halving the CO₂-emissions by 2032, the year Knauf celebrates its centennial. "By 2045, we even want to be fully CO₂-neutral. Moreover, we focus on 'healthy' raw materials - the Ecose binder in our insulation is already biobased - and we close the chain further and further with recycling," adds Senior Product Manager Eugenio Vosman.

Leader in recycling

"We want to become leaders in recycling," Geuzebroek emphasizes. "Within all our product groups, we want to develop at least one circular initiative every year, launch a new product line in the market or introduce a sustainable process, from which our customers also reap the sustainable benefits. For example, with a lower environmental cost indicator (EQI)." A great initiative in this context is the Knauf Hybrid Circular Wall System. "The beauty of our plasterboard panels is that they are 100% recyclable," says Geuzebroek. "'Hybrid' in this case means that the wall systems incorporate plasterboard panels that are sustainably 'harvested' from demolition or renovation buildings. After all, it's a waste to destroy products that are still good. For this reason, we are also fully committed to the recycling of residual and cut pieces, and where possible we work with recycled packaging. Moreover, we have been working for years with a deposit system for our pallets."

Glass wool recycling plant

A great sustainability initiative is also Knauf Resulation^®. "In addition to gypsum plasters and finishing systems, Knauf produces and supplies a wide range of insulation materials such as glass wool, mineral wool and rock wool," Vosman says. "In 2022, we set up a recycling plant in Vise, just below Maastricht, which takes back the glass wool waste streams from the market and processes them in such a way as to create a new raw material (glass cullet). Without compromising on quality and properties. We are currently rolling out a new logistics system in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Germany, in collaboration with Renewi, so that the supply of waste streams can be maintained. In this way, we are also completing the sustainable circle in this area."