sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report

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a British trade association that promotes sustainable housing,
and is actively supporting its commitment to protecting
the environment. This is yet another example of the Group’s
ongoing drive to seek out innovative, sustainable solutions
that meet the challenges of the future in energy and housing.
Thanks to this partnership, Saint-Gobain will gain
the opportunity to share its expertise in environmental
quality with other businesses and encourage best practices
in the construction industry. Founded last year, the UK-GBC
has very quickly emerged as a vital force in the development
of sustainable housing in Britain. In particular, it plays
an increasingly weighty role in defining new construction
guidelines. The organization has developed an environmental
quality code for buildings to allow manufacturers,
their customers and government policymakers to participate
in the sustainable housing campaign.
Educating young people
The young people of today will drive change in the future,
which is why Saint-Gobain is committed to raising
their awareness of the environmental challenges we face.
Each of the Sectors is actively engaged in this task.
For example, the Packaging Sector educates consumers about
glass container recycling and its environmental benefits. Its
campaign is especially geared to children and young adults.
In Italy, the Group has given enthusiastic support to a program
that teaches young adults about selective sorting.
Members of Assovetro, the Italian association of glass
manufacturers, met with students at this year’s Ecomondo
show, an international exhibition devoted to recycling, energy
efficiency and sustainable development held on November 5-8,
2008. Assovetro’s glass packaging producer group is chaired
by the CEO of Saint-Gobain Vetri, part of the Group’s Packaging
Sector. In the United States, Saint-Gobain Containers held
several events to mark Recycle Glass Day, and produced
a 15-minute animated film entitled “The Adventures of Captain
Cullet and The Little Gob o’ Glass: A Story of Hope and
Recycling,” designed to be shown in schools.
Over 1,000 students in 12 Indiana schools were treated
to a presentation on the topic.
For the past five years, the Insulation Division has organized
a competition for architecture students on thermal
and sound insulation, energy efficiency and building comfort
solutions (www.isover-students.com). In 2008, students
were tasked with designing a Multi-Comfort House that
combines passive building design with acoustic comfort.
Three prizes were awarded in each of the thirteen
participating countries.
In France, Saint-Gobain is a member of the non-profit
organization Entreprises pour l’Environnement and is serving
as the lead sponsor for its 2009 student prize, awarded
in partnership with the free newspaper, Metro.
Students from every field of endeavor, from engineering
and business to the humanities, have been invited to reflect
on the topic “Urban density and quality of life: how can
we do better?” The winner will receive a €5,000 prize for his
or her contribution to the debate on making urban areas
more appealing.
The Building Distribution Sector does its part
The Building Distribution Sector primarily targets members
of the building trade and plays a central role in educating
them on the environmental aspects of selecting and using
building materials. One such educational initiative is the
feature on sustainable development included in every issue
of Point.P’s quarterly magazine for builders, Carnets
de Chantier. Similarly, over the past few years Point.P has been
offering a fee-based waste disposal service that encourages
environmental awareness among builders while offering
added safety and convenience.
Through our sales outlets, we provide the general public
with information on current environmental issues. Lapeyre
has launched several campaigns featuring the “Bilibois”
cartoon character to raise awareness about wood and forests
among children and parents alike. These campaigns
are showcased in dedicated in-store areas that encourage
customers to change the way they look at forests,
with the goal of promoting forest appreciation and
preservation. In addition, collection boxes for used Batribox
batteries have been installed in over 1,700 Point.P outlets
in partnership with the recycling organization Screlec.
The batteries are taken by Screlec to an approved sorting
center, from where they are delivered to a specialty recycler,
which issues a recycling certificate.
Saint-Gobain - 2008 Annual Report