According to the Gypsum Products Development Association (GPDA), continuing improvements in plasterboard manufacturing and distribution are making a significant contribution to the green rating of modern buildings, helping to move towards the ideal of Zero Carbon Homes.
The GPDA highlights many contributory influences. Gypsum-based plasterboard is made from a high percentage of recycled material with over 70% of the gypsum used for making plaster and plasterboard products in the UK now coming from recycled by-product gypsum; manufacturing methods are more eco-efficient; plasterboard is infinitely recyclable at end-of-life; and up to 50% of all construction waste is now recycled.
In addition, GPDA member-manufacturers only use 100% recycled paper for plasterboard liners and utilise highly efficient production technology, which reduces water usage and so requires less heat to dry the boards. Another factor is that modern gypsum-based board systems incorporate the use of timber or lightweight steel structural frames, which involve less material and makes the board more recyclable than concrete blockwork or masonry solutions.
GPDA secretary Crispin Dunn-Meynell commented: “As well as being a sustainable solution in its own right, plasterboard can be a critical component in achieving greener buildings and the ultimate goal of Zero Carbon Homes.”
