At Saint-Gobain, our commitment to sustainability compels us to:
Develop innovative, effective solutions that meet the challenge of protecting the environment.
- Limit the environmental impact of buildings WATCH US LEED BY EXAMPLE >
- Develop low-energy solutions VIEW SMART ENERGY GENERATION >
- Educate and raise awareness of energy efficiency LEARN ABOUT RECYCLING >
- Discover a world-class lineup of sustainable building products FIND OUT HOW WE ARE BUILDING RESPONSIBLY >
Consider the environmental impact of our business at every stage, from product design through manufacturing to the point of sale and product disposal at the end of life.
- Reduce direct and indirect atmospheric emissions READ ABOUT ENERGY STAR >
- Preserve natural resources, including water, wood and minerals READ HOW WE SAVED ALMOST 100 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER >
Reduce as much as possible the quantitative and qualitative impact of its activities on water resources, by both its withdrawals and by its discharges.
Mobilizing and making all the of Saint-Gobain’s functions, sites and stakeholders (including suppliers) more aware of water-related challenges, while taking socioeconomic challenges into consideration (dialogue with communities).
Planning the implementation of appropriate action on Saint-Gobain’s sites, according to their level of exposure to water-related risks.
Measuring progress attained by using common indicators that are coherent with existing guidelines and reference tools at an international level.
Anticipating changes in laws & regulations in the countries where Saint-Gobain operates and incorporating water-related challenges inthe Group’s innovation strategy.
Adhere to strict EHS and Internal Safety requirements
The Health-industrial hygiene standards on:
- noise NOS (Noise Standard)
- exposure to toxic agents TAS (Toxic Agents Standard) and its application guides (crystalline silica; building, renovation and maintenance of melting furnaces; EHS Code Of Conduct Applying To Nanomaterials & Related Products In Saint-Gobain; use of fibrous materials)
- purchasing and use of mobile phones and smartphones
- risk assessment
Internal safety requirements on:
- accident analysis
- working at height
- control of contractors
- permit to work
- Lockout/Tagout
- Fork Lift Truck
- Machinery Safety
- Vehicles and Pedestrians
- Confined Space
- Warehousing and Loading
- Road risk management
The expansion of Saint-Gobain Research North America in Northboro, Massachusetts, provides 60,000 square feet of new laboratory, office and meeting space. The completed structure is expected to attain a Gold Rating in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” program, making it one of the rare buildings in North America to qualify for this prestigious energy efficiency and sustainability rating. The building is a showcase for the company’s building materials and energy-saving solutions.
Saint-Gobain has established a major research effort to develop Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), which will provide a dependable source of power with far lower carbon dioxide emissions than traditional fossil fuel power generation. A solid oxide fuel cell directly converts the chemical energy found in fuel and air into electrical and thermal energy that can be used for hot water, space heating and to provide power for the household. SOFCs offer high electrical efficiency and low maintenance costs; when the heat generated by the system is used onsite total system efficiency approaches 90percent.>
Saint-Gobain subsidiary CertainTeed is using its position as one of the world’s premier manufacturers of quality building materials to develop and promote innovative products that reduce building energy use. The company’s 
Year after year, Saint-Gobain has displayed outstanding leadership in energy management, significantly reducing both energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in the Company’s facilities. In honor of these efforts, Saint-Gobain is proud that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the Company with a coveted “ENERGY STAR” Award for the seventh year in a row.
Two years ago, Saint-Gobain started a major initiative to consume less well water for cooling down heat-producing operations at the Worcester, Massachusetts business unit complex. The company has achieved a remarkable 70 percent reduction in its annual usage of water. In 2008, Saint-Gobain used just 25.5 million gallons of water, down from almost 123 million gallons in 2007.Saint-Gobain is a global leader when it comes to instituting practices and partnerships that keep us on the cutting edge of sustainbility.