Throughout 2018, Troldtekt A/S and Aalborg Portland A/S worked together to find ways of recycling offcuts from Troldtekt panels in cement production. The trial scheme has now become permanent. The project is described in the CSR report for 2018 which has been submitted by Troldtekt A/S to the United Nations.
In 2018, dust from the processing of acoustic panels at Troldtekt A/S acquired new value through its use in cement production at Aalborg Portland. The project to recycle offcuts from the finished Troldtekt panels was initially a trial scheme – but it proved so successful that it is now permanent.
“The material from Troldtekt is received with open arms by us, because it is a product made from natural materials and fully in line with our desire to promote circular cooperation, and thus substitute fossil fuels and conserve natural raw materials,” says Henriette Charlotte Nikolajsen, Manager Environment, Energy and QMS at Aalborg Portland.
The recycling story is told in the new CSR report for 2018, which is published as part of Troldtekt’s membership of the voluntary global initiative for corporate social responsibility, the UN Global Compact.
Sixty-two percent of the material which Aalborg Portland receives from Troldtekt is used to replace raw materials, while 38 per cent of the material is used to replace fossil fuels. This is the first time that Aalborg Portland has been able to recycle offcuts from finished products as a raw material in new cement.
“The focal point of our business strategy is the sustainable Cradle to Cradle design concept, the basic idea being that products and waste must be recycled to create new value. Troldtekt panels can do this in several ways, among other things as compost. However, it is something of a milestone that we have now also successfully managed to recycle waste products in cement production,” says Troldtekt CEO Peer Leth.
He explains that the dust is transported to Aalborg Portland in the cement lorries that would otherwise be returning empty after delivering cement to the Troldtekt production in Troldhede in western Jutland (Denmark).
Troldtekt’s CSR report describes several CSR initiatives which were implemented in 2018. Among other things, Troldtekt has increased the proportion of locally sourced FSC-certified Norway spruce in its products. FSC certification is a guarantee of responsible forestry management, and Troldtekt can now supply acoustic panels which carry the ‘FSC 100%’ (FSC®C115450) certificate. This means that all the wood in each panel is FSC-certified.
“A significant proportion of our panels are FSC-certified, but we want to produce even more of them as more Danish forest owners hopefully start certifying their forests. Our strategy is to produce sustainably, and the market is ready to buy more certified products,” says Peer Leth.
The FSC label guarantees, among other things, that no more trees are felled than the forest can reproduce – and that local workers are trained, equipped with safety equipment and paid a decent wage.
Other highlights from Troldtekt’s 2018 CSR report include:
>> Read Troldtekt’s CSR report in full here
Peer Leth, CEO, Troldtekt A/S: +45 8747 8130 // ple@troldtekt.dk
Tina Snedker Kristensen, Head of Marketing and Communications, Troldtekt A/S: +45 8747 8124 // tkr@troldtekt.dk