Page 17 - Jan-Feb 2024 Reporter

xtraction has placed our planet’s resources projects. In Marseille, we’ve partnered with products; carbon, too, can be reused. While
Eunder immense pressure. As the global EPA Euroméditerranée to construct a new carbon capture has been in the spotlight
population keeps growing and the middle 6,500-square-meter campus using excavated lately, it comes with a high price and sizeable
class expands, it’s time to shift our economic earth. This often-discarded construction waste challenges ranging from seismic hazards to
approach, from using to healing the planet. will find a new life as part of prefabricated CO2 dilution in seawater. In contrast, reusing
How? By making our economy regenerative, walls with wooden frames. Further north, the carbon, such as integrating it into concrete
a commitment that goes far beyond simple earth excavated by the SOCIETE DU GRAND to enhance strength, can significantly cut
carbon neutrality. Read on to find out why, PARIS during the tunneling process for the emissions at their source in CO2-emitting
far from another buzzword, regeneration just Grand Paris Express is being repurposed. industries like steel, cement, or energy
might change the world. PLACO® is utilizing it to reinforce the production. At its Montalieu-Vercieu
The numbers are well-known: the underground galleries in its Montmorency site in France, VICAT Cement Works has
construction sector extracts over 40% of gypsum quarry. developed a carbon capture and use (CCU)
the world’s raw materials and produces But recycling is only the initial stride solution, capturing 40% of the CO2 emitted
30% of the world’s waste. These figures in shaping a regenerative economy. The by its production and using it to create
make construction a prime candidate for logical next step – and the most significant decarbonized methanol. Carbon can also be
regeneration, an approach defined as seeking challenge – involves replenishing our transformed into calcium carbonate, useful
to “create the conditions for all life to thrive, resources and creating a net positive impact in producing paper, food, or toothpaste.
generating self-sustaining positive outcomes on the environment. This means designing Recognizing carbon and other raw materials
for nature, people, and the economy”. products that can be disassembled and as a recyclable resource is a promising
The first rung of the regeneration ladder? reused a potentially infinite number of times, step towards healing our environment and
Recycling is a widely shared priority in the rejuvenating everything from raw materials reinventing our relationship with it.
industry and a significant challenge. To take to energy or labor. This paradigm shift isn’t
recycling to the next level, the sector must just for human benefit; it’s about contributing In Canada Saint-Gobain’s Kaycan Siding
build an efficient value chain - one that can positively to the entire ecosystem we are part Recycle and Reuse plan:
help reuse, recycle, or repurpose the largest of – one that has been around much longer
possible portion of the waste left at the end than we have. GATHER YOUR VINYL SIDING SCRAP
of a building’s life. “A competitive secondary In concrete terms, the regenerative Are you replacing your current
materials market would create demand for economy can mean starting to view buildings vinyl siding with Kaycan siding?
both quantity and quality of waste material, as material banks. For thousands of years, Have you been using our vinyl siding and
thus directly increasing circularity,” confirms humans have been building and rebuilding have some leftovers?
the European Environment Agency. houses and palaces with whatever resources Load your scrap and/or old vinyl into your
This is the underlying goal of the VALOBAT were available locally, prioritising reuse over vehicle or container dedicated to siding only.
network, of which Saint-Gobain is a founding extracting or transporting new materials.
member. The network has played a crucial A classic but little-known example: the DROP OFF YOUR VINYL SIDING SCRAP
role in establishing us as the leading network Giza pyramids of Egypt lost their limestone Your nearest Kaycan location will gladly
of collection points for the recycling of facades… to the construction of old Cairo! accept your used or unused vinyl siding and
building materials. As Saint-Gobain CEO This approach, common throughout history, take it to our manufacturing facility for the
Benoit Bazin recently said at New Year has inspired Saint-Gobain to build fully next step.
Greetings to the press, “Saint-Gobain’s ESG demountable and reusable plasterboard
roadmap includes the Group’s leadership partitions for the “Village des athlètes” of the RECYCLED VINYL IS PROCESSED AT THE
in the circular economy and recycling of upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games of MANUFACTURING FACILITY
materials”. Paris 2024, that can be reused long after the The vinyl siding you supply will undergo
Saint-Gobain is also incorporating event. a process of cleaning and grinding into
recycled materials into new construction But reusability extends beyond finished fine particles. This will allow them to be

www.lbmao.on.ca LBMAO Reporter - January-February 2024 17