picture of dandelions

FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENT

Choose an energy-efficient alternative

In general, fibreglass has a good reputation for its environmental impact, and ours is certainly no exception. Here at Fiberline Building Profiles, our commitment to the environment is largely about taking our responsibility and doing the right thing. That is why we go out of our way to use resources efficiently and to be considerate towards the environment as best we can. Through energy-efficient production, a low CO2 footprint, longer durability and fewer resources required for handling and maintenance throughout our products’ long life, our customers create more value by using fibreglass yet use fewer resources than with traditional materials. 
On this page, you can learn about the environmental profiles of our products throughout the entire product lifecycle.
  • Raw materials – Raw material production is the most energy-intensive part of our climate footprint. This is where the fibreglass and resins that we use in production are created.
  • Manufacturing – We produce our products in a continuous and energy-optimised process called pultrusion.
  • Distribution – A light product and centrally located production in Europe positively affect transport and CO2 emissions.
  • Installation – Low weight means easy handling without the need for any large special machinery, and in addition, the products can be customised on location.
  • Use – Our customers get a cost-efficient construction material with reduced maintenance requirements, less material usage and easy disassembly and reuse of the constructions once they are no longer needed.
  • Recycling – Surplus fibreglass from our production process is either reused as raw materials (70%) and substitute fuel (30%), in cement production, or as supplementary materials in moulded fibreglass solutions. With our partner’s help, we reuse surplus consisting of fibreglass threads from the start-up of production lines. Read more here
You can read more about each point further down on the page.

 

Need help? Need help? Need help?
Need help?

Do you need CO2 calculations?

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.

More about the environment in the lifecycle

Raw materials

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.

Energy-efficient production

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. 

Lighter weight = lower CO2 emissions

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

Savings for installation and co-products

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.

Low operating costs

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. 

Well-suited for disassembly

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. 

From fibreglass profile to cement

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

Would you like to learn more?

Sign up for our newsletter to get news, inspiration, and free knowledge directly to your inbox.