• A Preserved Environment

Limiting Environmental Impact

At a global level, because Saint-Gobain is involved in both manufacturing and distribution, it has to take into account the environmental impacts of very different types of sites (from production facilities to sales outlets and quarries), as well as the transportation of products. To help sites reduce their environmental impact, measurement tools and improvement initiatives are defined at the Group level. These initiatives are designed to combat climate change, preserve natural resources and/or reduce waste and atmospheric emissions. More targeted measures are also defined and implemented by each individual business to meet its specific needs.

Climate Change

Energy efficiency is a key component in every site’s environmental performance. All sites in India are making progress in this area by innovating and optimizing existing equipment. This includes improving combustion processes, making refractories more effective, recovering heat from furnaces, kilns and driers, using alternate fuels or sources of electricity that are less harmful to climate change and replacing end of life equipment. All sites in India have begun monitoring and reporting on CO2 emissions.

Natural Resources

Sustainable water use is one of Saint-Gobain’s priorities. A Group-wide sustainable water management policy has been implemented. In India, all sites have taken steps to reduce the amount of withdrawals and discharges, most sites have undertaken rain water harvesting projects, have invested in ETPs and STPs and recycle and reuse a significant part of their water consumption. All sites also nurture a green environment and plant several trees each year. Even when implementing green-field projects in India, to the extent possible, existing trees and shrubs are protected and new ones planted.

Atmospheric Emissions

Globally, reducing atmospheric emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the production of glass, cast iron and other products has been a priority for many years. In India, all sites not only comply with local requirements, but also follow the Group’s global standards.

Waste Reduction and Disposal

Waste reduction is a priority and an opportunity in India. All sites have ongoing projects aimed at reducing the generation of waste and increasing the recycling of waste. All waste that is not recycled is carefully stored until its ultimate disposal. Disposal is either by sale to an authorized scrap dealer or recycler or in a Government-authorized landfill.