Act sustainably: inspiring successes
The winning projects from the last two editions of the Act sustainably program unveil their first results. Driven by employee engagement, these projects meet concrete challenges in the field.
Sustainable innovation is taking shape in Saint-Gobain plants due to the engagement of its employees. As the 4th edition of the Act sustainably program opens for applications in June for the Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa (SEMEA) Region, the winning projects in 2023 and 2024 are already demonstrating their effectiveness in the field. Here is an overview of these inspiring initiatives.
For TRANSFORM projects, the Glass plant in Pisa, Italy, commissioned its cooling tower water recovery system at the end of 2024. By modifying the piping network to channel some of this water into the new osmosis and nanofiltration system, the plant can now treat it and reinject it into the industrial water circuit. Even though the system is not yet running at full capacity, 7,000 m³ of water has already been treated and returned to the industrial circuit since January.
In South Africa, it is innovation for operational efficiency that takes pride of place. The Gyproc plant in Germiston has automated the recycling of gypsum waste generated directly on the packaging lines, transforming a manual operation into an automatic system. The improvement is spectacular: a 79% reduction in plaster waste and a 71% reduction in cleaning time. In total, 720 kg of material is recovered every day, meaning that 3,600 kg of waste is diverted from external recycling every week! Operators at the plant also benefit from the change, with a reduction in load handling of six 30 kg bags per shift and per person. The forthcoming deployment of an equivalent system on the second line should further boost results.
Among the ACT projects, the Netherlands is encouraging soft mobility. Four Saint-Gobain bikes have been made available at Strikolith in Raamsdonksveer, Saint-Gobain Netherlands Beheer in Breda, Autover in Breda and Ecophon in Etten-Leur. The aim is to offer a practical mode of transport for short trips, whether to a meeting on another site or simply to do some shopping during the lunch break. These sites, not easily accessible by public transport, were chosen because of their synergies: several teams work together on a regular basis, requiring travel between the sites. Received just under a month ago, the bikes make it easier to get around, while reducing the need to use the car for short distances.
ACT projects are also gathering pace in France: in April, the Act sustainably committee selected 22 projects. These initiatives cover areas such as soft mobility, biodiversity and the circular economy.
Building on these inspiring successes, the 2025 edition is broadening its horizons: for the first time, SEMEA employees will be able to apply not only for the historic “Sustainable Projects” pillar, but also for the “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” pillar. A twofold opportunity for employees to transform their ideas into concrete impact.