Product roadmaps - Plasterboard
As part of our work on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), we are developing ten product roadmaps to reduce the environmental impacts across the life cycle of a range of priority products. Plasterboard is one of these products.
Why plasterboard?
Evidence shows that, at an EU-25 level, housing – which includes buildings, construction and appliances – accounts for 20-35 percent of all environmental impacts.1
Within this broader category we know that, across its lifecycle, plasterboard can generate significant environmental impacts, for example, waste at the end of life.
The plasterboard sector have already demonstrated commitment to improving the environmental performance of plasterboard. We consider that the positive, collaborative approach the sector have already demonstrated could provide a useful model for others. We will work closely with industry throughout the roadmap process to build on the range of sustainability activities already in place.
Scope of the roadmap
As well as addressing the environmental impacts associated with plasterboard, the roadmap process will enable us to explore plasterboard’s positive impacts and its potential contribution, though its insulation properties and use of recycled materials, to improving the sustainability of buildings.
Improving sustainability
We will develop actions to address the environmental impacts that occur across plasterboard life cycle, where evidence shows this would be most effective.
In developing the plasterboard roadmap, we are keen to work collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders and to build on existing interventions such as the voluntary ‘Ashdown Agreement’, which has been signed up to by plasterboard manufacturers in the UK to bring about a significant reduction in the amount of waste plasterboard sent to landfill.
Current activities
A report detailing the current status of the roadmap has been prepared to coincide with the publication of the Progress Report on Sustainable Products and Materials.
- Status report July 2008 (PDF 30 KB)
Impacts and consumption trends
Environmental impacts:
- between 1 and 1.3 million tonnes of plasterboard waste is generated through construction, refurbishment and demolition activities each year
UK consumption trends:
- plasterboard is increasingly being used as a construction product -around 2 million tonnes of plasterboard is manufactured and sold in the UK each year2
Further information
1Source: European Commission (2006): Environmental Impact of Products).
2Source: Market Transformation Programme
Page last modified: 10 July 2008