Sustainability
Sustainability is at the heart of Glidevale Protect’s business strategy and we are always investing in ways to improve the operational efficiency of our business and reduce our environmental footprint. As a UK producer with two UK-based factories, we hold ISO 14001 certification, and both manufacturing facilities have achieved accreditation to the ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard having put in place new systems and procedures to track energy consumption.
As a manufacturer, we can add value to a new build or refurbishment project and also collaborate closely with our supply chain partners and customers to actively drive sustainability initiatives.
Group Sustainability Board
Glidevale Protect has a dedicated Group Sustainability Board which meets monthly to develop and execute a bespoke action plan, which includes initiatives such as an in-house conveyor to deliver closed loop recycling.
This recycling process involves granulating waste ABS offcuts from our tile ventilation production line which are compounded, moulded, and recycled back into products by local suppliers based within five miles of the factory. This recyclate is then used within the Glidevale Protect roofing division’s tile ventilation hoods. For rolled goods, the company is working with a recycling partner who is collecting both reflective and non-reflective membrane waste from our UK factories. A partnership is also underway with a local company who is recycling all used pallets and waste timber from the factory sites.
L-R: Building Product Design’s managing director Ben Gerry, head of marketing and sustainability lead John Mellor, and quality technician Dean Horner holding granulated ABS, made from waste offcuts from its tile ventilation production line. This is then compounded, moulded, and recycled back into products by local suppliers.
Where appropriate, we have removed some plastic from product packaging and have collaborated with selected customers on a take-back service on roll cores and stabilising cradles, allowing materials to be reused and put back into our production process.
Environment Product Declarations for key products
On a product level, Glidevale Protect has published independently verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for three of its most popular wall construction membranes to aid specifiers by providing clear sustainability and life cycle assessment data. The key to construction projects meeting their sustainability targets is to have access to reliable and transparent technical information. This data is independently verified by the EPD Hub in accordance with EN 15804+A2 & ISO 14025 / ISO 21930.
Hidden protectors
The products we manufacture are also playing a part in the race to net zero in the housing sector. Glidevale Protect is at the forefront of designing and developing ‘hidden protectors’ such as specialist construction membranes and ventilation products that help build healthy solutions, improving a building’s overall thermal efficiency and airtightness, whilst reducing the risk of condensation. Our reflective membrane and airtightness products have been involved in ground-breaking energy efficiency projects such as Barratt’s Zed House, Salford University’s Energy House 2.0 working with Bellway Homes and the Vistry Innovation Centre for Vistry Group.
On-site
The company has also installed EV chargers at both its UK factories and all new company cars will be either electric or hybrid vehicles.
Glidevale Protect’s factory in Pinxton, Nottinghamshire had a solar energy system installed back in 2011 with the objective to help power the facility using renewable sources and reduce our carbon footprint. Since 2011, the system has generated a high amount of electricity and exported an average surplus per day since its commissioning, allowing us to generate and use this energy in-house and saving the creation of multiple CO2 tonnage.
Supply chain sustainability school
Glidevale Protect has achieved gold level accreditation from the Supply Chain Sustainability School to demonstrate our commitment to continuous improvement around reducing environmental impact. This includes demonstrated case study examples as well as involving and encouraging employees to take part in the learning and development opportunities offered by the Supply Chain Sustainability School. This accreditation gives reassurance to the School’s partners that Glidevale Protect is dedicated to the area of sustainability for positive impacts and outcomes.
ISO 50001
Glidevale Protect is ISO 50001 accredited to help us in our journey to reduce our carbon footprint as a manufacturer, having put effective energy management systems in place at our two UK manufacturing plants. As an internationally recognised standard for energy management, ISO 50001 is centred around implementing effective systems as well as continually monitoring energy use and making changes to processes in response to the data.
Achieving ISO 50001 certification is the latest in a series of sustainability focused developments driven by our Group Sustainability Board, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to improving energy efficiency, conserving resources and reducing the environmental impact of our manufacturing operations.
