1 Saint-Gobain Today The Group’s activities www.saint-gobain.com SAINT-GOBAIN UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENT 2021 26 The Group’s glazing solutions play an essential role in both the construction market and the renovation market (see chapter 2, section 1.2.1) by providing strategic benefits, particularly in terms of energy savings. In the case of the construction of an office building in India, for example, this results in savings of 9% on the annual expenditure on temperature regulation (i.e. more than €50,000 per year) compared with standard glazing. These advances include solutions such as the integration of Eclaz One in façade solutions for the construction of new multi-family buildings, or Planitherm Stadip glass for the renovation of single-family homes, in particular to increase the reflection of thermal infrared rays and limit the loss of heat by radiation. Endlessly recyclable, glass, in all its forms - from window and façade glass to automotive glass - is one of the areas where the Group’s commitment to the sustainable development of the circular economy materializes (see chapter 3, section 2.2). This requires both investment in industrial processes - in particular to eliminate all types of contaminants present in glass waste - and also the development of efficient and sustainable collection networks. It is in this spirit that Saint-Gobain Glass France signed partnership agreements from 2019 with several companies specializing in the recovery of end-of-life windows. In addition to recovery, these companies sort and process glass to facilitate its reincorporation into glass floats. Gypsum 4.2.2.2 Plaster-based solutions for partitions and coverings for walls, façades, ceilings and floors provide Group customers with benefits in terms of thermal and acoustic comfort, fire protection and humidity resistance, thus meeting the growing market demand. Gypsum is a decisive asset in Saint-Gobain’s vision, formulated as part of the “Grow & Impact” plan, and which aims to make the company the worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction. Among the advantages of this construction method (see chapter 2, section 1.2.1.2), depending on the type of building, wall construction processes using plaster-based partitions can produce time savings of 20% to 50% compared to traditional materials. In emerging markets in particular, the replacement of traditional masonry walls with plasterboard walls represents a very significant source of growth. To develop this offer, the Group extracts and transforms gypsum into an extensive range of plaster-based products for the construction and renovation markets, through all of its brands such as Placo®, Rigips and Gyproc (see the list of Saint-Gobain's main brands below, section 4.3), thanks to increasingly efficient and virtuous industrial facilities, particularly in terms of energy consumption, diversification of energy sources, and the commissioning of the first carbon neutral plasterboard plant in Norway planned for 2023. These solutions comply with the highest technological standards and Saint-Gobain promotes their widespread adoption, and remain a step ahead of new regulations concerning, for example, the elimination of formaldehyde to improve interior air quality (Activ’Air®). expand in this market, strengthening its presence and industrial capacities, notably through the acquisition of Continental Building Products in the United States in 2020. Gypsum can be recycled indefinitely in a closed loop, thanks to processes allowing the removal of contaminants embedded in the paper present on the faces of the plasterboard. The Group has waste recovery and gypsum recycling services in a dozen countries in order to supply its industrial sites with recycled raw materials (up to 30% of input materials in some plants), also contributing to the Group’s strategic positioning in the global movement to expand the circular economy. Saint-Gobain continues to Ceilings 4.2.2.3 Through its portfolio of complementary brands such as Ecophon, CertainTeed, Eurocoustic, Sonex, or Vinh Tuong (see the list of the Group’s main brands below, section 4.3), Saint-Gobain is one of the world leaders in ceiling solutions, providing benefits particularly in terms of thermal and acoustic insulation. The Group offers a wide range of multi-material solutions (glass wool, stone wool, metal) for ceilings and wall panels that combine acoustics and aesthetics for the comfort and well-being of the end user. Its main brand, Ecophon, develops high-performance acoustic systems (capable of halving noise pollution) intended primarily for non-residential markets (offices, schools, healthcare buildings). Other solutions, such as custom-made heated and cooled metal ceilings, by Plafometal, bring comfort benefits to a whole series of situations, from research centers to entertainment venues open to the public. Insulation 4.2.2.4 In residential and non-residential buildings, Saint-Gobain’s insulation market offering meets the challenges of reducing energy consumption and improving thermal and acoustic comfort. All of its brands, such as Isover, CertainTeed and Izocam, offer a wide range of products, from mineral wools (glass wool, rock wool), to polystyrene and polyurethane foams, to bio-sourced products (wood fibers), thus covering the insulation needs of all types of buildings as well as their interior installations (roofs, walls, floors). Its offer brings benefits in terms of ease of installation for professionals and in terms of efficiency and sustainability for investors and owners. The Group has considerably increased its production of glass wool for blowing, a mechanized solution, greatly reducing installation time. It is complemented by a whole range of solutions for insulating heating or air conditioning systems, improve their efficiency and reduce their energy consumption. The Climaver range, for example, is a “two-in-one” product that replaces metal ducts as well as thermal and acoustic insulation. The solutions proposed by Saint-Gobain for the exterior and interior insulation of walls also support the strong momentum in the renovation market (see chapter 2, section 1.2.1.1), with innovations such as Optimax Habito, which saves installation time by 20% on average, reduces the risk of injury, and also reduces waste on site and makes the materials used in this solution completely recyclable. The Group also provides cutting-edge insulation solutions for a very wide range of applications outside construction, ranging from engine compartments and vehicle interiors (cars, railcars, ships, etc.) to household appliances and photovoltaic panels. In the insulation market, Saint-Gobain is once again demonstrating its commitment to circularity. It should be remembered that mineral wools can be recycled indefinitely. In France, Isover is the first player in the market to have launched a glass wool waste recovery service and recycling them by reinjecting them into its production process. The Group acts both through the technical characteristics of its solutions and through initiatives such as its ILOOP project, supported by the European Union, to contribute to the gradual recovery of glass wool waste generated on construction or demolition sites, or through its participation in the European project for the recovery of mineral wool waste WOOL2LOOP.
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