sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report
sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report
sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report
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product developed in 2006 by Lapeyre, is an in-depth<br />
treatment for wood. It contributes to preserving rare species<br />
such as tropic<strong>al</strong> wood by giving European wood similar<br />
resistance properties. Lapeyre debuted the Woodprotect®<br />
product line in 2007. An Research and Development program<br />
is underway to apply this process to other Saint-Gobain Group<br />
products.<br />
Enhancing our water management<br />
Water enters into very few of Saint-Gobain’s<br />
manufacturing processes, <strong>al</strong>though it is used in large<br />
volumes to cool inst<strong>al</strong>lations that operate at high<br />
temperatures. Water is increasingly being recycled<br />
intern<strong>al</strong>ly, which considerably reduces the demand<br />
for natur<strong>al</strong> water resources.<br />
In <strong>2008</strong>, based on 2007 output, the Group’s concerned<br />
sites withdrew 89.7 million cubic meters of water,<br />
down 4% from 93.5 million cubic meters in 2007 based on<br />
a comparable scope. The target is to cut water withdraw<strong>al</strong>s<br />
by 6% between now and 2010, based on 2007 output.<br />
In <strong>al</strong>l, the Group’s sites used 101.7 cubic meters<br />
of water in <strong>2008</strong>.<br />
action plans to improve its water management and reduce<br />
withdraw<strong>al</strong>s through recycling. The “Archimède” process,<br />
developed by the Pipe Division’s Research and Development<br />
center, is being used to create interior cement coatings<br />
that reduce the need for water and raw materi<strong>al</strong>s.<br />
Elsewhere, the Point.P group’s ready-mix concrete<br />
and concrete products unit has adopted a policy for treating<br />
and recycling water used in the production process.<br />
Over time, each of its facilities will be equipped with settling<br />
tanks or recycling stations to ensure that recycled water<br />
can be returned to the manufacturing process or used<br />
to clean the vehicles.<br />
OBJECTIVE FOR <strong>2008</strong>-2010<br />
Saint-Gobain has set a target of reducing its water use<br />
at its concerned sites by 6% between now and 2010<br />
based on 2007 output. The Group achieved a 4% reduction<br />
in <strong>2008</strong>.<br />
Each Sector is examining ways of managing its water<br />
use more effectively. For example, the Pipe Division,<br />
which uses water to cool equipment, has introduced<br />
60<br />
Saint-Gobain - <strong>2008</strong> Annu<strong>al</strong> Report
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