May 12 2005
G-P Gypsum plants in Tacoma, Washington and Wheatfield, Indiana have received certification for recycled content from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an internationally recognized, third-party evaluation and certification organization. Both locations manufacture products utilizing Flue-Gas Desulphurization synthetic (FGD) gypsum.
Gypsum wall board products produced at these plants utilize only synthetic gypsum for their raw material source.
The Tacomaplant has been certified for G-P Gypsum's DensGuard® and ToughRock® gypsum products and the Wheatfield plant has been certified for ToughRock® wallboard. The paper that faces G-P Gypsum’s ToughRock wallboard is 100 percent recycled.
The SCS Certification was awarded after a rigorous evaluation process that examined the percentage of recycled material used in the manufacturing of G-P Gypsum's products at these plants.
"Our two plants convert more than 650,000 tons of FGD gypsum into useful products each year. This FGD by-product was historically sent to landfills by the utility companies,” said Dave Brewster, technical and architectural consultant for G-P Gypsum. "The company strives to be a responsible corporate citizen, and a large part of that responsibility is to use recycled material in the manufacture of our gypsum board and byproducts wherever possible.”
G-P Gypsum is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, which has determined through their LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard that synthetic gypsum is post-industrial content. Post industrial content gypsum is recognized in LEED-NC 2.1 in the Materials and Resources category as recycled content and therefore eligible for credits. Specifying SCS certified products from G-P Gypsum may allow architects and building owners to qualify for potential award of credits toward a registered LEED building project. SCS is a private company founded by scientists and leading practitioners, which is recognized internationally for its third-party evaluation and certification programs.
Founded in 1984, SCS offers third-party certification services that span a wide cross-section of the economy including agricultural production, forestry, fisheries, energy, consumer products, manufacturing and retailing, and the home improvement and construction sectors.