Building product disclosure and optimization - material ingredients

Aim

To encourage the use of products and materials for which life-cycle information is available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life-cycle impacts. To reward project teams for selecting products for which the chemical ingredients in the product are inventoried using an accepted methodology and for selecting products verified to minimize the use and generation of harmful substances. To reward raw material manufacturers who produce products verified to have improved life-cycle impacts.

Detailed requirement

Option 1. Material ingredient reporting (1 point)

The project has to use at least 20 different permanently installed products from at least 5 different manufacturers that demonstrate the chemical inventory of the product to at least 0.1% (1000 pm).

Option 2. Material ingredient optimization (1 point)

The products must document their material ingredient optimization for at least 25%, based on cost, of the total value of permanently installed products in the project. One of the methodologies recognized by LEED is the REACH optimization. When the product contains no ingredients listed on the REACH Authorization or Candidate list, it is valued at least 100% of cost for the calculation.

Option 3. Product manufacturer supply chain optimization (1 point)

Manufacturers have to be engaged in validated and robust safety, health, hazard, and risk programs with independent third party verification of their supply chain.

Additional option:

Products sourced (extracted, manufactured, purchased) within 160km of the project site are evaluated at 200% of their base contributing cost.

Read the detailed requirement for material ingredient

Our contribution

With our focus firmly on sustainable materials, Saint-Gobain is engaged in robust safety, health, hazard and risk programs strongly linked to our supply chain, as outlined in our Environment, Health and Safety Charter and in the engagement letter signed by Saint-Gobain’s Chairman and CEO.

Furthermore, all Saint-Gobain floats and some of quarries are certified ISO 14001 as verified by an independent third party, to ensure good environmental management at site level.

In accordance with our responsible purchasing policy, we have established a three-step process for our suppliers:

Responsible Purchasing Charter signed by our suppliers;
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) risk mapping based on supplier country and purchasing category; and
CSR evaluation (documentation review and social audits on site) done by a third party.

The Vetrotech Saint-Gobain factories of Würselen (Germany) and Romont (Switzerland) are certified ISO 9001.

The Romont and Namyslow (Poland) factories are certified ISO 14001.

The Würselen factory is also certified ISO 50001 (Energy Management).

The Vetrotech Saint-Gobain IFTS fire lab in Germany is accredited ISO 17025.

The Saint-Gobain Glass Industry site in the UK (Eggborough) has a BES 6001 certification, with a Very Good score.

Many Saint-Gobain Glass raw material suppliers are certified ISO 14001. Our policy consists of encouraging the sourcing of raw materials extracted or made in sites to be certified ISO 14001 (or the equivalent).