National Water Week: A Shared Resource and Responsibility
During National Water Week, we are reminded of how water is interconnected with all we do and reminded of the importance of protecting it. In South Africa, where water resources are under increasing pressure, water stewardship is essential for the health of our communities, ecosystems, and the resilience of our industries.
Water is deeply connected with all processes in the construction industry, from manufacturing to design, construction, and operation. Water is used at every stage of a building’s life cycle. The World Green Building Council highlights the important role that all stakeholders play, across the value chain, in acting as water stewards to preserve this resource.
At Gyproc, our team places a strong focus on sustainable operations, of which effective water management is a core pillar. Through continuous operational improvements, we aim to reduce freshwater withdrawals by reusing process effluent water in our system.
Taking care of our water footprint
- Gyproc Heat Exchanger Condensate Recovery System:
The Gyproc Heat Exchanger Condensate Recovery System captures condensate generated during the heat exchange process and redirects it back into production. By recovering this water and returning it to the process, the system significantly reduces freshwater withdrawals, lowering our overall water footprint.
- RhinoROC™ Closed Water Loop System:
The RhinoROC™ closed water loop system allows process water to circulate within a controlled loop during manufacturing. Through this approach, water can be reused multiple times within the production process, reducing both freshwater demand and process effluent discharge.
These innovative steps highlight our commitment to taking steps towards enhancing the water efficiency of our operations to protect this shared resource within our communities.
Water stewardship across the value chain
The construction sector relies on collaboration among all parties, including manufacturers, architects, contractors, developers, and building owners. To support our customers in making informed material choices, we also obtain third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for our products. EPDs provide verified data on the environmental impact of our boards, helping project teams understand their own carbon and water footprints.
Continuing the journey together
Water is a shared resource, and water stewardship is a shared journey. We invite our ecosystem of stakeholders to join us on the journey as we continue to lower our water footprint and take steps towards a more sustainable construction industry.