National Water Week: A Shared Resource and Responsibility

During National Water Week, we are reminded of the importance of protecting one of our planet’s most precious resources: water. In a water-stressed country like South Africa, responsible water management is of utmost importance. 

At Isover, we know that industrial operations must play their part in using water responsibly. While the journey toward more sustainable water use is ongoing, one of the most meaningful steps we have taken began with something simple: measuring. 

Did you know:

The built environment accounts for roughly 15% of global freshwater use across construction, materials manufacturing, and building operations (WGBC, 2023)

Water is used at multiple stages of the construction value chain, including raw material extraction, manufacturing processes, and construction activities on site (WGBC, 2023).

Improving water efficiency in one part of the value chain can contribute to meaningful reductions in the overall water footprint of the construction sector (WGBC, 2023).

Because the construction ecosystem is interconnected, progress depends on the collective effort of many stakeholders. This is why we’re taking aligned steps to reduce our water footprint, and inviting stakeholders to join us on the journey.  By improving how we measure and manage water within our own operations, Isover aims to contribute to the broader effort to protect water resources in South Africa.

Starting with Step Zero

Before reducing water use, it is important to understand it.

For this reason, our team implemented Step 0 water metering within our manufacturing process. This foundational step focused on carefully measuring where and how water is used across the facility. By improving visibility into water consumption, we were able to better understand the opportunities for efficiency and responsible management.

This approach reflects an important principle of environmental stewardship: what we measure, we can manage.

Reducing Water Consumption Through Better Insight

Since implementing Step 0 water metering, our site has achieved a 65% reduction in water consumption compared to our original baseline.

This progress was the result of a series of incremental improvements informed by the insights gained through measurement. By identifying areas of high-water use, the team was able to detect leaks and make targeted adjustments to optimise processes and reduce unnecessary water withdrawals. 

While we are proud of this progress, we also know that responsible water management is a continuous journey that requires ongoing attention and collaboration.

A Shared Journey

Water is a shared resource, and water stewardship is a shared responsibility. 

To support our customers in making informed, sustainable choices, we also obtain third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for our products. These EPDs provide transparent information about the environmental impact of our materials, helping our customers reduce their own water and carbon footprints.

As part of the broader sustainability commitments of Saint‑Gobain, we strive to operate in a way that respects local water resources and contributes positively to the environments in which we work.

For us, stewardship means approaching water use thoughtfully, learning from data, and continuously looking for ways to do better, and we invite our ecosystem of stakeholders to join us on the journey.