The regenerative economy: a new horizon for construction

Extraction has placed our planet’s resources under immense pressure. As the global population keeps growing and the middle class expands, it’s time to shift our economic approach, from using to healing the planet. How? By making our economy regenerative, a commitment that goes far beyond simple carbon neutrality. Read on to find out why, far from another buzzword, regeneration just might change the world.

• The numbers are well-known: the construction sector extracts over 40% of the world’s raw materials and produces 30% of the world’s waste. These figures make construction a prime candidate for regeneration, an approach defined by EY as seeking to "create the conditions for all life to thrive, generating self-sustaining positive outcomes for nature, people, and the economy".

• The first rung of the regeneration ladder? Recycling - is a widely shared priority in the industry and a significant challenge. To take recycling to the next level, the sector must build an efficient value chain - one that can help reuse, recycle, or repurpose the largest possible portion of the waste left at the end of a building’s life. "A competitive secondary materials market would create demand for both quantity and quality of waste material, thus directly increasing circularity," confirms the European Environment Agency.

• This is the underlying goal of the VALOBAT network, of which Saint-Gobain is a founding member. The network has played a crucial role in establishing us as the leading network of collection points for the recycling of building materials. As Saint-Gobain CEO Benoit BAZIN recently said at New Year Greetings to the press, "Saint-Gobain's ESG roadmap includes the Group's leadership in the circular economy and recycling of materials".

• Saint-Gobain is also incorporating recycled materials into new construction projects. In Marseille, we've partnered with EPA Euroméditerranée to construct a new 6,500-square-meter campus using excavated earth. This often-discarded construction waste will find a new life as part of prefabricated walls with wooden frames. Further north, the earth excavated by the SOCIETE DU GRAND PARIS during the tunneling process for the Grand Paris Express is being repurposed. PLACO® is utilizing it to reinforce the underground galleries in its Montmorency gypsum quarry.

• But recycling is only the initial stride in shaping a regenerative economy. The logical next step – and the most significant challenge – involves replenishing our resources and creating a net positive impact on the environment. This means designing products that can be disassembled and reused a potentially infinite number of times, rejuvenating everything from raw materials to energy or labor. This paradigm shift isn’t just for human benefit; it’s about contributing positively to the entire ecosystem we are part of – one that has been around much longer than we have.

• In concrete terms, the regenerative economy can mean starting to view buildings as material banks. For thousands of years, humans have been building and rebuilding houses and palaces with whatever resources were available locally, prioritising reuse over extracting or transporting new materials. A classic but little-known example: the Giza pyramids of Egypt lost their limestone facades… to the construction of old Cairo! This approach, common throughout history, has inspired Saint-Gobain to build fully demountable and reusable plasterboard partitions for the “Village des athlètes” of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games of Paris 2024, that can be reused long after the event.

• But reusability extends beyond finished products; carbon, too, can be reused. While carbon capture has been in the spotlight lately, it comes with a high price and sizeable challenges ranging from seismic hazards to CO2 dilution in seawater. In contrast, reusing carbon, such as integrating it into concrete to enhance strength, can significantly cut emissions at their source in CO2-emitting industries like steel, cement, or energy production. At its Montalieu-Vercieu site in France, VICAT Cement Works has developed a carbon capture and use (CCU) solution, capturing 40% of the CO2 emitted by its production and using it to create decarbonized methanol. Carbon can also be transformed into calcium carbonate, useful in producing paper, food, or toothpaste. Recognizing carbon and other raw materials as a recyclable resource is a promising step towards healing our environment and reinventing our relationship with it.

Innovation station

A revolution is underway in metalwork grinding!

• Launched this month, Norton Abrasives RazorStar® 36+ is set to transform grinding efficiency and quality, thanks to breakthrough engineered shaped ceramic grain set to offer unparalleled performance.

• Saint-Gobain Surface Solutions, Ceramics BUs and Marketing, and R&D support functions pooled their expertise to launch this competitive, low-cost grit technology, a challenge in an otherwise mature market. And a game-changer for industries like steel and foundry, general engineering, metal fabrication, and construction!

Window to the future

Recess is over!

• In the United Kingdom, an unexpected reason is keeping thousands of children out of school. The culprit: disrepair in education buildings, a problem in many countries around the globe. In Quebec, half the schools require renovation, while France faces a similar issue, with 10% in disrepair.

• As a consequence, the concept of "sustainable schools" has been gaining traction, with its main tenet being energy efficiency. In just 30 years, heat waves have tripled, severely affecting children’s health, focus, and efforts. Key renovation strategies include revamping old buildings with modern insulation and high-performance glazing - a crucial goal as schools face fast-rising energy bills.

• However, sustainability in schools goes beyond energy efficiency to encompass improved air quality, acoustic comfort, and children’s very ability to learn. Curious? Learn more there ⤵️

Can you guess?

Planning a home-cooked meal tonight?

• Chances are you’ll do so on a cooktop manufactured in Château-Thierry, where the French American company EuroKera specialises in glass ceramic tops for major manufacturers around the world.

• Think glass ceramic cooktops can’t get better? Think again. The teams in Château-Thierry just unveiled Onyka, a cutting-edge matte black plate boasting unparalleled scratch and stain resistance. Find out more here.

Pioneers

Sometimes, all it takes to make meaningful change is a quick chat!

• In Sorgues, where Saint-Gobain Weber France and SEFPRO’s Le Pontet plants respectively produce mortars and refractory materials, Elise Normand, HSE Manager at SEFPRO, and Guillaume Prévot, Plant Manager at Weber, were accustomed to bumping into each other and making small talk.

• Then, in 2020, they made a surprising discovery: not only did their factories use the same type of sand, but they also shared the same supplier! This sparked an idea: why not use some of the calcine sand from SEFPRO’s refractory productions to produce Weber mortars?

• Fast-forward to today, and the idea has become a reality, making the two plants leaders in circular construction. "Now we save 5,000 tons of raw material per year," says Guillaume. "And since the sand comes from our neighbors, we save 5 tons of CO2 in transport too!"

Building bridges

In Brazil, Saint-Gobain Canalização - Brasil is teaming up with female recruitment startups to attract diverse talents!

• Together with HR specialist Plure, Saint-Gobain Canalização is focusing on increasing female representation in administrative, operational, and management roles, through the program "Carreira de Mulher".

• The results are impressive: since mid-2023, the initiative has added over 1,700 women’s CVs to the company’s talent. Thanks to its work with Plure,, Saint-Gobain PAM Canalização is planning on upping the proportion of women in leadership positions, from 23% today to 30% in the coming years. Find out more here!

Expanding our horizon

Saint-Gobain, the Official Supporter for renovation and sustainable construction solutions of the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Paris 2024, proudly unveils the Saint-Gobain Team.

• An incredible group of seven talented athletes and para-athletes ready to aim higher and higher on the road to the Games!

• Together, coached by the triple Olympic handball champion and inspiring mentor, Luc Abalo, and largely supported by all the Saint-Gobain teams, they embody the official motto of the activation campaign: "Aiming higher to make the world a better home." Meet the team: Margot Boulet, Renaud Clerc, Antoine PRAUD, Ludvy VAILLANT, Vincent Matheron, Emma Lombardi and Julie Dufour, in this episode of Saint-Gobain’s Top Stories! ⤵️

Paris 2024 - Comité d'organisation des Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques de 2024