In our Eco Report, you will find more information about the environmental profile of our fibreglass profiles. Among other things, we have performed CO2 calculations for a number of our products, making it easy for you to compare with other materials you are considering for your next project.
The most energy-intensive part of our products – as much as 80% – comes from our raw material production. The two primary raw materials used in our products are fibreglass and resins. Both are produced in a complicated process, with the resins being extracted from crude oil, while fibreglass is produced from sand and a number of additives.
We produce our products in a continuous and energy-optimised process called pultrusion. This production method effectively limits the evaporation of volatile compounds by using a closed process. At the same time, the hardening process also generates heat through what is known as an exothermic reaction, which keeps energy consumption per unit produced to a low level.
Compared with steel, our GRP-products have a lower density – just 1/4. Therefore, this often means a reduction in weight, which has a positive effect on transportation and CO2 emissions.
Our materials have an excellent weight-to-strength ratio, which makes it possible to create slim and lightweight designs. Compared with traditional materials, such as concrete, timber, steel and aluminium, using fibreglass often results in weight savings for the final product. Read more about the lightweight properties of fibreglass here
The low weight is also beneficial when it comes to installation. Here, the products are installed easily, without the need for expensive, CO2-heavy special machines, allowing for a reduction in the installation time.
The material consumption in other parts of the construction (so-called co-products) can often be minimised, as a lighter design places fewer demands on strength; e.g. in the foundations.
If you look at the total life-cycle costs of completed solutions, our profiles are often the most cost-efficient choice relative to traditional materials. The profiles are unrivalled in their durability. This means that maintenance requirements, costs and resource usage across the product’s long life will be minimal.
The material and technical properties of our products ensure a long life, even under demanding conditions such as those seen in swimming pools and cooling towers. In fact, it is within these areas that you will find some of our oldest solutions.
Furthermore, most of our solutions are constructed to allow for easy disassembly and re-establishment as new constructions to meet new customer needs.
Surplus fibreglass profiles are recycled as part of a technical and circular process in which the profile is used as a raw material and substitute fuel in the production of cement (30% for energy and 70% as raw material).
In 2010, we became the first Danish company to join forces with the company Zajons and later with Neocomp GmbH, which owns a facility in Northern Germany for the processing of composite materials for recycling.
At this plant, the profiles are broken down using a huge grinder. The calorific value of the material is then adjusted by mixing it with other recycled materials in a patented process. The final mix is then used as substitute fuel and raw material in cement plants owned by Holcim – one of the largest cement producers in the world.
In addition, the use of fossil fuels and virgin raw materials at cement plants is reduced.
For every 1000 tonnes of Fiberline profiles that are recycled, we save up to 450 tonnes of coal, 200 tonnes of chalk, 200 tonnes of sand and 150 tonnes of aluminium oxide in the cement production process. And no dust, ash or other byproducts are created in the process. (Ref: Holcim, 2010). See the calculation here
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