2024. The aim is to reduce on-site energy consumption by 30% and eliminate 40,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. The Group has already carried out similar measures at its Fredrikstad site in Norway. It plans to extend this transformation globally, based on a varied energy mix that will be dependent on local availability. This will include renewable electricity from sources including green hydrogen, biomass, and biogas. Greater digitalization and data analysis are helping to calculate and reduce energy losses, the temperatures in certain processes, and the use of natural resources. Optimized logistics Road freight is responsible for 16% of global CO2 emissions. To reduce these ‘carbon miles’, many manufacturers are investing in alternative fuels, as well as using river freight or co-trucking on specific routes. Materials that are lighter and cut to the right size are also contributing to resource and energy savings. Plasterboard, glazing and insulation are becoming lighter without compromising on performance. The advantage of this quest for lightness is twofold: fewer resources and less energy used during manufacture, and greater ease and comfort in handling and installation. Vacuum packed, rolled or compressed: packaging is becoming ever more ingenious, resulting in maximum space saving and therefore more efficient logistics. The ductile cast iron pipes of Saint-Gobain PAM, which fit together from the smallest to the largest, are an example of this. As are the highly compressed Isover glass wool rolls, which lower carbon emissions from transportation by reducing the size of each package – allowing more rolls to fit in a single vehicle load. The decarbonization of building materials requires real consistency between all stakeholders in the value chain, from those in manufacturing and shipping, to haulers and waste collectors. There are certainly multiple variable challenges to be met in terms of industrial processes, formulations and recycling, but the sector is mobilizing to bring this new economy of decarbonization to life. 54 SAINT-GOBAIN
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