Saint-Gobain Acquires Asphalt Shingle Recycling Technology, Strengthening Its Waste Reduction Commitment

Saint-Gobain North America has acquired the rights to technology from recycling partner Asphaltica that will allow the business to recycle asphalt shingle waste, diverting it from landfill and enhancing the company’s goal to create a circular economy in its roofing shingle production.

Asphaltica’s unique process will enable Saint-Gobain to pelletize both post-industrial and post-consumer shingle waste.

This method produces pellets from ground shingles that blend well in hot mix asphalt and are an excellent component of an asphalt paving mix. Furthermore, the pellets are highly water resistant and can be used in a variety of climates.

The ambitious project comes as Saint-Gobain continues to implement its global Grow and Impact strategy, which includes reducing waste and enhancing the circularity of raw materials in its manufacturing processes, allowing Saint-Gobain to achieve a net zero carbon footprint by 2050.

Furthermore, this established technology will assist the company in contributing to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association’s (ARMA) goals of reducing landfill waste of asphalt-based roofing materials to 50% by 2035 and approaching 0% by 2050.

“By taking an innovative approach and embracing new technologies, Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed Roofing are making strides to maximize our positive impact while minimizing our environmental footprint,” Carmen Bodden, Vice President of CertainTeed Roofing, stated.

“CertainTeed takes our sustainability commitments seriously. The Asphaltica technology is proven and will help us achieve our goal of keeping shingle manufacturing waste across our network out of landfills.”

Asphaltica principals William Dempsey, PE and Bill Bailey, PhD, both paving and bitumen experts with over 40 years of experience, will continue to support CertainTeed’s landfill diversion efforts.

“It was important to me personally to partner with an organization that has the global vision and resources to do big things, and that is why I am so proud to partner with Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed,” Asphaltica CEO Bill Bailey said.

“Their commitment to sustainability is unmatched and I look forward to working with their roofing team as they continue their work to be leaders in light and sustainable construction.”

“Replacing virgin asphalt in asphalt paving with properly treated recycled asphalt products is both economical and sustainable,” Asphaltica President Bill Dempsey continued.

“By using the pelletizing process of asphalt shingles at the end of life, our companies will provide recycled, environmentally friendly, paving grade materials for paving projects large and small.”

The announcement of this partnership comes on the heels of several other recent actions by the company to solidify its commitment to sustainability, including the announcement of a circular economy program in California, where Saint-Gobain Sekurit’s automotive glass facility in Garden Grove recycles waste automotive windshield glass and sends it to CertainTeed Insulation’s facility in Chowchilla to be used in the production of fiberglass insulation.

With over 140 manufacturing facilities in the United States, every existing and future member of the company’s team is critical to attaining the company’s sustainability goals. The company’s careers page has a current list of job openings at all Saint-Gobain locations.