Saint-Gobain Announces $32 Million Sustainability Investment

A Brief Summary

Saint-Gobain announced a $32 million investment to improve production capacity by 13 per cent and reduce carbon footprint at its insulation unit in California.

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The enhancement is part of a $400 million expansion plan at four manufacturing sites of Saint-Gobain in the US.

The developments at the California site include adding a new oven and other equipment that consume less electricity and natural gas. According to Saint-Gobain, the up-gradation will help scale down carbon emissions by more than 4000 metric tons per year.

The oven helps melt recycled glass and sand into molten glass, which is fiberized at the end.

An oxygen generation plant was also constructed as part of the project, which reduces electricity usage by around 30 per cent. Oxygen gets mixed with natural gas to heat the furnace.

The investment by the company is part of its Grow and Impact strategy to increase market presence and reduce environmental footprint.

CertainTeed, a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, accomplished a $4.3 million water recycling project at its plant in Kansas City, which will reduce the facility's water consumption by 227 million gallons per year.

The other sustainable activities of the company include a 12-year power purchase agreement with a wind farm in McLean County, Illinois, for 120 megawatts of renewable energy.

Saint-Gobain started the installation of the new equipment at the facility in California in January and expects the operation very soon. The company claims it is the largest capital investment at the Chowchilla plant since it opened in 1978.