SAINT-GOBAIN NEWS CHALLENGES SURVEY ON BUILDING ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE: FRENCH STAKEHOLDERS SPEAK OUT Since 2023, Saint-Gobain’s Sustainable Construction Barometer has analyzed global perceptions, barriers, drivers, and expectations related to sustainable construction across the globe each year. It identifies key stakeholders and tracks progress to better guide innovation in this critical field. The 2025 Barometer delves deeper into the issue of building adaptation to climate change in France, publishing a qualitative survey based on interviews with a representative panel from the building sector1. The findings show that the construction industry is increasingly aware of the need to adapt to climate challenges, but also highlight the many obstacles to rethinking the sector: economic constraints, outdated practices, and difficult working conditions, in addition to already numerous requirements (safety, environmental standards, comfort). Regulation, though seen as necessary, is often perceived as too vague or ill-suited — particularly the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PNACC), which is difficult to translate into concrete action. On the ground, resilient approaches are emerging, favoring low-tech2 solutions in new construction. Greening and rewilding are identified as key levers to combat urban heat islands. In response to these challenges, the study identifies three priority areas to accelerate building adaptation: • Increase support for investments in more resilient buildings; • Train and equip stakeholders to speed up transformation; • Transform practices to integrate climate adaptation at every stage. shortage of experts. To address this need, Saint-Gobain is partnering with ESPCI Paris – PSL to launch the first specialized master’s program in LCA. This one-year program will train professionals to conduct LCAs in order to quantify, assess, and reduce the carbon footprint of materials, while integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Through realworld case studies, students will be prepared to tackle current and future environmental challenges and to propose solutions aligned with the energy and ecological transition of the sector. INNOVATION ISOVER FINLAND: SAINTGOBAIN’S LOWEST-CARBON PLANT IN THE WORLD In the Finnish industrial landscape, Saint-Gobain’s Forssa plant is writing a new chapter in the history of sustainable construction. This Isover site demonstrates that it is possible to produce glass wool with a drastically reduced carbon footprint (scope 1 and 2). The secret to this transformation? A unique energy mix. Three pressurized biogas tanks now complement a direct pipeline supply from a local producer, in operation since 2010. The remaining energy needs are met with hydropower electricity. The result: 50% biogas, 50% hydropower, and a projected reduction of 1,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. Thanks to this breakthrough, every Isover product manufactured in Forssa now has a 30–40% lower carbon footprint over its full life cycle compared to equivalent products made with other energy mixes. This performance is further enhanced by another record: the plant uses up to 80% recycled glass, making Saint-Gobain a Finnish leader in glass reuse. This dual excellence — energy and circularity — perfectly meets the growing demand in the Nordic market for solutions that are both high-performing and environmentally responsible. Beyond this Finnish success story, Forssa is becoming a benchmark model for the entire Group, proving that growth and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. MARKETS AND CUSTOMERS THE GROUP’S SOLUTIONS SUPPORTING THE NANTES UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL Saint-Gobain Solutions France coordinated the involvement of 11 of the Group’s brands and services for the future Nantes University Hospital (CHU) — one of the largest hospital projects in Europe. This ambitious project, set to open in 2027, is designed with a flexible internal structure that can be quickly reconfigured to meet medical needs (e.g., rapidly converting a standard unit into an intensive care unit, creating dedicated pathways during a crisis, etc.). The collaboration between the Group’s brands enabled the delivery of technical solutions tailored to the hospital’s specific requirements. Among the prescribed solutions are Eclaz® Sun solar control glazing for exterior joinery and high-performance fire-resistant glazing from Vetrotech. The EnveoVent Duo lightweight façade system, which reduces structural load (and therefore CO2 emissions), was also implemented. Interior fittings were equally considered: partitions incorporating Placo® technical boards, and decorative ceilings from Ecophon, combining aesthetics and acoustic comfort — both essential in a hospital environment. Finally, for finishing touches, fast-setting Weber tile adhesives facilitated on-site work, while sanitaryware and tiles from Point.P completed the comprehensive range of solutions provided. INITIATIVES TRAINING ENGINEERS IN LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT: A STRONG COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a key methodology for supporting the decarbonization of products, yet the sector faces a significant 1. 20 interviews were conducted with property developers and managers, craftspeople and construction companies, academics and think tanks, insurers, land developers, technical organizations, and local elected officials. 2. Refers to a sober, sustainable, and accessible technological approach that prioritizes simplicity, reparability, and the responsible use of resources.
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