sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report

from impurities in raw materials, cullet and other furnace
input. Based on levels of dust fallout in the vicinity
of Group plants as measured by devices installed at several
sites in France, our analyses indicate that these substances
have a negligible environmental impact. Pollution control
equipment, such as the electrostatic precipitators
described previously, has proven effective in reducing
emissions of heavy metals.
Reducing our impact on ecosystems
Flora and fauna
Although the processes used at Saint-Gobain do not,
in general, pose a particular threat to local flora and fauna,
impact studies are performed in most countries prior
to the siting of a new industrial facility.
Soil
Each time a site is acquired or sold, regulatory compliance
tests are conducted and the quality of groundwater is
assessed. If any contamination is detected, appropriate
measures are taken, such as pollution abatement,
containment or monitoring.
Quarries
The Group operates 145 underground and open-cast
quarries worldwide. Two thirds of these extract gypsum
that is primarily used to make plasterboard.
The quarries are operated in an environmentally friendly
manner in compliance with local and national regulations.
During the extraction period, the effects on local communities
and the environment are reduced to the greatest extent
possible, including the visual impact of the operations,
dust, noise and vibration, added road traffic and any
hydrogeological or hydrographic repercussions.
When extraction is complete, the site is in each case
reclaimed and restored. With open-cast quarries, the Group’s
aim is to return the land as nearly as possible to its original
contours. Then the entire area is replanted, with high-density
wooded areas composed of a variety of species, coupled
with woodlands, meadows and ponds, to foster biodiversity.
Since the start of the 1990s, the Gypsum Division in France
has redeveloped more than 200 hectares (495 acres)
of open-cast quarries in the greater Paris region and
planted over 190,000 trees.
Indicators developed in 2007 by a working group have
provided us with a profile of each mine and quarry site
in terms of area, number of Saint-Gobain employees,
production in tons of usable material extracted, type
of site (active, dormant or closed), quantity of minerals
sold or transferred internally, number of trees cut and planted,
land area restored. As part of its ongoing efforts to address
the environmental impact of its extraction sites, the Gypsum
Division, which operates the largest number of quarries,
is piloting the creation of a biodiversity policy.
Wood supplies
Preservation of natural wood resources is a major challenge
for the Building Distribution Sector, which manufactures
or sells a number of wood products such as flooring,
timber frames, shutters and windows. The five banners
with a particular stake in this issue are Lapeyre, Point.P,
Optimera, Raab Karcher and Saint-Gobain Building
Distribution UK & Ireland, which together account
for more than 90% of the Building Distribution Sector’s
purchases of wood paneling.
Since March 2007, a Sector-wide environmental policy
on wood has been in place to coordinate and bolster existing
policies at individual locations. This new policy defines
the Sector’s stance on responsible procurement and sales
and establishes uniform operating guidelines.
It is founded on two principles:
• Responsible procurement, which includes three major
components: protecting endangered species of wood,
ensuring that all the wood procured by the Group is legally
sourced, and promoting sustainable forest management
through the use of wood that is certified by the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Program for the
Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC).
These are the primary labels encouraging sustainable
forestry in accordance with strict ecological and social
criteria.
• Responsible sales, as a means of promoting this policy
at our distribution outlets. This requires that the Group
provide training to its workforce and inform customers
about the environmental aspects of wood products
and product traceability (species, country of origin,
certification, etc.)..
The Building Distribution Sector’s environmental policy
regarding wood, applicable at each of its banners, is one
of continuous improvement, complete with quantified,
scheduled commitments. For example, 80% of all wood
purchases are to be sourced from certified forests by 2010.
The policy will be reassessed on a regular basis.
The Building Distribution Sector is working to ensure that
the wood products it sells and designs are consistent with
this initiative. Woodprotect®, an innovative, 100%-natural
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Saint-Gobain - 2008 Annual Report