Zero-Carbon Gypsum Recycling Project Launches in Quebec, Aiming to Decarbonize Construction
Sainte-Catherine, Quebec – Saint-Gobain Canada is piloting a gypsum panel recycling program in Quebec, poised to significantly reduce carbon emissions from the construction industry and establish a circular economy for building materials. The initiative addresses a critical gap in the company’s sustainability efforts, as transportation currently accounts for 40% of its remaining CO₂ emissions after a 60% reduction across other operations.
the project tackles a supply chain challenge created by the closure of a Nova Scotia gypsum mine, currently necessitating imports from Spain.Rather of landfilling construction and demolition waste, the program will redirect used gypsum panels to Saint-Gobain’s Sainte-Catherine factory. There, existing machinery will separate the paper from the gypsum, allowing the material to be reintegrated into new panels – a process already successfully implemented at Saint-Gobain facilities in British Columbia.
“It’s a real circularity. It is a sign that becomes again from the panel,” enthused Julien Perrier, highlighting the closed-loop nature of the system. “it is indeed not the plastic bottle that will become t-shirts.” The success of the pilot hinges on convincing the Quebec construction industry to adopt new practices at job sites to facilitate material recovery.
Saint-Gobain Canada operates 46 industrial sites across the country, producing materials for the Canadian market. According to Jean-claude Lasserre,the company’s localized production model shields it from the impacts of international trade disputes.”We tend to say that we are rather immunized against these problems of customs duties, because we are really multilocal…our 4,000 employees are 99 % Canadian in canada.” The company’s commitment to domestic sourcing and manufacturing underscores its dedication to a resilient and enduring supply chain.
