Articles | Sustainability

Winstone Wallboards is Committed to Protecting the Environment

Wednesday, 7 August 2019
By Melissa Semmens

Local Manufacture

GIB® plasterboard and compounds are manufactured in New Zealand*. We have complete oversight of our factory conditions and the teams who work in our manufacturing plants. Our decisions to manufacture locally supports local jobs and directly supports the country's economy.
*Note: GIB Barrierline® plasterboard is manufacturerd to Winstone Wallboards' specific specification from a reputable overseas manufacturer.

Most of our waste from manufacture is either recycled or compostedfor agricultural use. We are actively researching ways to reduce GIB® product related waste from renovations and building site; our cut to length service is already helping to achieve this.

  • Winstone Wallboards is committed to a holistic view of sustainability: environmental, social and economic.
  • We manufacture products that are good for the environment.
  • We actively consider the full lifecycle of our products and support recycling initiatives both from our manufacturing and general construction waste.
  • We innovate systems and solutions that keep people safe and protected in buildings.
  • We support jobs and growth within our communities.

the absence of fly ash as a bulk filler differentiates GIB® plasterboard from imported alternatives, many of which still use this hazardous derivative of coal extraction in significant quantities in the board core.

GIB® products are certified through Green Star, GreenTag and Declare.

 

Green Star

Green Star is a comprehensive, national, voluntary environmental rating scheme that evaluates the environmental attributes and performance of New Zealand's buildings using a suite of rating tool kits developed to be applicable to each building type and function.

GIB® plasterboard and related products and services may contribute to Green Star points. The maximum contribution depends on the project type.

 

Global GreenTag Certification

Global GreenTag is one of the world's most robust, trusted and widely recognised ecolabels. GIB® Standard, GIB Fyreline®, GIB Braceline® /GIB Noiseline®, GIB Toughline®, GIB Wideline®, GIB Ultraline® and GIB X-Block® plasterboards have achieved GreenTag certification.

 

Declare Certification

Considered the most advanced sustainability certification in the built environment, Declare is like a nutritional label for building products, offering specifiers, contractors and building users insight into the ingredients used in the manufacture of building products.

GIB Aqualine®, GIB Fyreline®, GIB® Standard, GIB Toughline® and GIB Braceline®/GIB Noiseline® have all achieved Red List Free status (the highest Declare status possible).

 

Environmental Product Declaration

Winstone Wallboards has been the first and only plasterboard manufacturer in Australasia to publish an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). The EPD quantifies the environmental performance of GIB® plasterboard including its carbon footprint, embodied energy and other environmental data.

Projects utilising GIB® plasterboard will qualify for full Green Star points due to Winstone Wallboards holding an EPD for six or more products. The EPD for GIB® plasterboard is available on the GIB® website.

 

Waste recycling

Winstone Wallboards works closely with local waste companies on initiatives to recycle plasterboard waste.

Plasterboard is collected separately from general building waste through Green Gorilla's custom designed and built plasterboard processing system. The waste volumes and tonnages are recorded and reported per project for builders and their customers. This allows plasterboard recovery statistics to be provided as part of total site landfill diversion and environmental reporting for Green Star and Homestar accreditation.

In Christchurch, plasterboard manufacturing waste from Winstone Wallboards in Christchurch is processed by Canterbury Landscape Supplies with off-cuts shredded and screened to return it to gypsum form. The recycled gypsum is supplied as a soil conditioner to farmers, freight companies, orchards and vineyards. For more information visit gib.co.nz/sustainability