CertainTeed, parent company joins Energy Department’s Better Climate Challenge

Malvern-based CertainTeed LLC and its parent company Saint-Gobain North America recently announced they had joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge.

The Better Energy Climate Challenge encourages companies and organizations to reduce their portfolio-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent or more over the next decade. Saint Gobain’s new global Grow and Impact strategy includes a more ambitious goal of reducing the company’s global greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent by 2030.

“We will continue to challenge ourselves to look for ways to maximize our company’s positive impact for our customers and the communities where we do business while minimizing our environmental footprint,” said Mark Rayfield, CEO of Saint-Gobain North America and CertainTeed. “The construction and building products industries have an especially important role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions around the world. Today, 40% of global CO2 emissions come from the construction sector. With this in mind, we are thrilled to partner with the Department of Energy as we work to meet these ambitious goals and encourage other companies, especially in our own industry and value chain, to join us in taking this important pledge.”

Previously, in January, Saint-Gobain North America donated a zero energy ready house in Canton, Ohio, made with more than 20 of its own products, to Habitat for Humanity. In December, Saint-Gobain installed recycling technology at its Silver Grove, Kentucky gypsum plant, reducing landfill water by 15,000 tons per year. And in November, the company announced its intent to install solar panels in New Jersey to support the sustainability goals of the state’s electrical grid.

“Better Climate Challenge partners like Saint-Gobain North America are committing to decarbonize across their portfolio of buildings, plants, and fleets and share effective strategies to transition our economy to clean energy,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Their leadership and innovation are crucial in our collective fight against climate change while strengthening the U.S. economy.”