EASY ECO by ISOVER and RIGIPS

Sustainable construction – reliably and effortlessly implemented

Of all the challenges facing the construction industry, the societal task of constructing, using and dismantling sustainable buildings with the lowest possible CO₂ footprint across their entire lifecycle is undoubtedly one of the most urgent and complex. This is a complexity that the companies ISOVER and RIGIPS aim to significantly reduce, starting in July 2023 with EASY ECO. As part of this new initiative, the manufacturers have brought together all the information, measures and offerings to promote greater sustainability in construction, including the collection of materials after demolition. Full details, including information on direct participation in comprehensive recycling and recovery solutions, are available on the new service website: www.easy-eco.org.

Making sustainable construction simple: with their new EASY ECO initiative, ISOVER and RIGIPS, together with their recycling partner FINERT GmbH, are offering a comprehensive recycling and recovery solution, including the collection of demolition materials with a manufacturer's declaration. All information and participation opportunities are available on the central service website: www.easy-eco.org. Photo: SAINT-GOBAIN ISOVER G+H AG / SAINT-GOBAIN RIGIPS GmbH

Anyone setting out to design and implement future-oriented buildings under strict sustainability criteria will quickly realise: "The devil is in the detail". What should be done with leftover materials in light of the impending 2024 landfill ban on recyclable construction products? Which construction materials are advantageous from a life cycle assessment perspective? What disposal options exist for packaging materials or pallets? How can the costs of various sustainability measures be reliably included in construction calculations? What information is available from manufacturers?

"Taking the ecological aspects of planning and constructing future-oriented buildings seriously raises many questions. This often makes sustainable construction complex and difficult to calculate the costs of", explains Alexander Geißels, Sustainability Project Manager at Saint-Gobain. "It’s precisely this complexity that we aim to reduce with EASY ECO. In other words: with the Saint-Gobain brands ISOVER and RIGIPS, sustainable construction should be simple and reliable."

Six pillars for sustainable building concepts

The EASY ECO offering from the manufacturers is based on six pillars:

Waste prevention
Minimising waste during processing
Pallet take-back
Recycling of packaging
Collection of leftover materials from construction sites
Material take-back after demolition

Maximum transparency and predictability: ISOVER and RIGIPS offer a standardised, reliable nationwide (excluding islands) pricing structure for the take-back of leftover materials, with no small quantity surcharges or hidden costs. Photo: SAINT-GOBAIN ISOVER G+H AG / SAINT-GOBAIN RIGIPS GmbH

Following the official launch of EASY ECO, ISOVER and RIGIPS are committed to the full recycling of all ISOVER stone wool and glass wool insulation materials, as well as ULTIMATE insulation materials, and all Rigips plasterboards and Rigidur gypsum fibreboards installed from 1 July 2023 onwards, in the event of building demolition. "This take-back guarantee is documented, and participation is extremely straightforward. Construction projects and the materials used just need to be registered at www.easy-eco.org. The user — typically the planner, architect or contractor — then receives a manufacturer's declaration for take-back, which can be added to digital or analogue construction records. We are also working to continuously expand the portfolio of materials eligible for take-back", says Alexander Geißels.

Similarly, the collection of leftover materials from construction sites is straightforward. Collection containers can be ordered via the FINERT GmbH webshop. The purchase price of the containers varies based on material type, but not processing location. If the containers are filled with sorted materials, the purchase price covers the full recycling costs. "We are the first manufacturers to offer a nationwide, standardised and reliable pricing structure for the recycling of construction waste. The only current exceptions are Germany’s North Sea and Baltic Sea islands. Beyond that, there are no small quantity surcharges or hidden costs. Here, too, we’ve prioritised maximum transparency and predictability.” Collection of the sorted containers is arranged online through our recycling partner, FINERT GmbH, and typically occurs within five to seven business days.

ISOVER and RIGIPS offer a free take-back service for single-use pallets, deposit pallets and packaging materials. This can be conveniently arranged via phone or email. Alongside the almost waste-free processing capability of ISOVER flex felts and the zero-waste production approach already implemented at ISOVER and RIGIPS manufacturing sites, we are able to achieve fully closed material cycles. Photo: SAINT-GOBAIN ISOVER G+H AG / SAINT-GOBAIN RIGIPS GmbH

Free take-back of pallets and packaging materials

"Our goal is to offer our customers comprehensive recovery options that relieve them of the pressure from the impending landfill ban and enable them to realise sustainable building concepts easily and transparently", explains Alexander Geißels.

ABOUT FINERT GmbH
FINERT GmbH, with its shareholders Knettenbrech + Gurdulic Trading GmbH & Co. KG and 3 R RE:CYCON GmbH, is your partner for handling waste containing synthetic mineral fibres. We use the patented 3 V RE:CYKMF process for appropriate backfilling procedures in mines, or for reusing the fibres as 3 R KMF:CYCLE recyclate in the production process for insulation materials.
Find out more about FINERT at www.finert.de and its shareholders Knettenbrech + Gurdulic at www.knettenbrech-gurdulic.de and 3 R RE:CYCON GmbH at www.3r-recycon.de.

SAINT-GOBAIN RIGIPS GMBH

RIGIPS. You have the solution for everything. #RigipsForEverything
Recognised as a system provider of high-quality drywall solutions by construction professionals, RIGIPS offers a wide range of gypsum and speciality boards, Rigidur gypsum fibreboards, profiles and accessories, as well as high-performance joint fillers and compounds. The tested solutions prove their worth in interior and exterior drywall constructions. Particularly, the system offerings for weather-protected façade constructions make RIGIPS the ideal partner for timber frame construction. With its continually expanding range of healthy-living products and highly effective fire and soundproofing systems, the manufacturer stands for maximum safety and comfort. The comprehensive product and system portfolio is complemented by a wide range of services and personalised expert advice, providing valuable support in the planning and execution of even the most demanding construction projects. At the same time, RIGIPS is committed to environmental responsibility, focusing on sustainable climate protection and the conservation of natural resources. For instance, gypsum board recycling options increasingly close material cycles, while product packaging made from recycled materials reduces the need for primary raw materials. RIGIPS has repeatedly been recognised as a "Brand of the Century" and is one of the most significant brands for modern drywall solutions in the German market. The company is part of the international Saint-Gobain Group.

In a nutshell: Rigips® – for better building for the benefit of people and the environment.

ABOUT SAINT-GOBAIN

As a global leader in sustainable lightweight construction, Saint-Gobain develops, produces, and distributes materials and services for the construction sector and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, lightweight construction, and the decarbonization of the construction sector and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process. They offer sustainability and performance. The Saint-Gobain Group and all its brands are driven by the shared purpose of "MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME".

€51.2 billion in revenue in 2022
More than 168,000 employees, represented in 75 countries
Committed to achieving CO2 neutrality by 2050

Find out more about Saint-Gobain at www.saint-gobain.de
and follow us on LinkedIn Saint-Gobain Germany.

Further information:
SAINT-GOBAIN RIGIPS GMBH
Schanzenstraße 84
40549 Düsseldorf
P.O. Box 11 09 48
40509 Düsseldorf
Phone 02 11 / 55 03-0
Fax 02 11 / 55 03-208
[email protected]

Press contact:
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Christoph Tauschwitz
Laubenweg 13
D-45149 Essen
Tel.: +49 201 2202 400
Fax: +49 201 2202 460
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