Sustainability / ESG
Forests bind significant amounts of carbon and at Byggma the good management of this resource is all about creating high quality products that store carbon for many decades. In several of our operations, the contributions to carbon storage significantly outweigh the carbon footprint from our operations.
At Byggma, we have a tradition of working on productivity and continuous improvement. Sustainability is in many ways a progression of this work. In terms of sustainability and through the involvement of a committed team of employees and partners, Byggma will continue to implement efficient use of resources, while also securing jobs and ensuring the future of a company that is committed to creating value for society.
The following are some of the projects developed in 2023.
Forestia
Packaging
Our products must be packaged in a way that secures that they arrive undamaged at our customers sites with normal handling. Packaging is at the same time a problem in the form of waste at building sites and extra weight to be transported.
In 2023 Forestia has continued its project concerning less use of particle boards as packaging. We are now in the process of programming our packaging facility so that it can handle containerboard in a stable and satisfying way. We will make the transition as soon as the programming is complete.
Handling at Geitanger Bygg, Bergen | Panels returned to Forestia. First test with good results and no damage on the products. |
Logistics
The new logistics hub at Forestia was completed in Q4 2022. Byggform was merged with Forestia in 2023 and the new hub has become vital regarding bulk loading, transportation optimization and to ensure that we reach satisfactory fill grades on trucks going out of Forestia. This reduces emissions from transportation, and it is a good project financially. The merger went according to plan and the transfer of the products is now complete.
Waste management
Waste is wasteful and we will through procurement and internal operations reduce the scope of waste from our production and activities. Forestia is a member of Grønt Punkt Norge who contributes to a high degree of recycling of our waste. In 2022 we had a sorting degree of 54% which we are not happy with. We aim to 75% sorting degree in 2023.
In Q2, Forestia has organized it’s waste streams and found several sortable fractions. These fractions will now be put into a system with their own containers.
Uldal
Water containers
In 2022 we had tap stations with water in plastic containers. We bought 11,000 liters of water tapped in Dalarne, Sweden. In 2023 we have invested in dispensers with cooling connected to municipality water.
Change to LED lightbulbs
In 2022 we used 409,000 kWh on lighting in the factory. In 2023 we have swapped from traditional to LED light bulbs that consume 50% less electricity and lasts much longer before the bulbs must be replaced.
Masonite Beams
Efficient use of resources
Masonite Beams AB has invested in a machine to enable jointing of cut off wood together to new products. This will increase the usage of purchased wood raw materials and reduce waste. This is a good example of UN’s sustainability goal 12 which is a priority for Byggma.
Huntonit
Environmentally friendly Huntonit Sutak
Huntonit has developed a new production method that enables us to stop using asphalt in our suspended ceiling plates. The method uses an environmentally friendly wax in the core material directly in the production line in a way that secures that the products sustain excellent technical capabilities.
In addition to being environmentally friendly, the product will help us achieve advantages related to more efficient production methods and avoiding unnecessary logistics and refining.
The fact that we, with this enhanced product, don’t need to store asphalt is also positive regarding the company’s business risk in addition to the advantages for the environment.
The product is included in Sintef’s technical approval TG 2006.