How Saint-Gobain Canada’s Employees Build Change Every Day

By Reni Chakal, Director, Human Resources, Saint-Gobain Canada

At the core of our purpose, Saint-Gobain aims at Making the World a Better Home. This translates in the business decisions we make, the many sustainable construction solutions we offer, and also in the support we give to the communities in which we operate and where our employees live. It is a strong value proposition that the company offers to its employees, a fulfilling purpose that goes beyond the daily tasks they achieve on the plant floor.

In order to make a significant and positive impact in our communities Saint-Gobain activates a global program called Build Change which revolves around three main pillars:

• Supporting access to decent, sustainable housing
• Acting for more responsible and sustainable communities
• Shaping the next generation of sustainable builders

This program reaffirms sustainable construction as the compass guiding every action. A purpose that compels us to act, day after day, in the field. And through it, it demonstrates to all stakeholders – both internal and external – that reinventing the construction industry involves each and every one of us. 

Through our many brands present in Western Canada – CertainTeed, Kaycan, BP Canada and Bailey Group of Companies – Saint-Gobain Canada acts every day to build a better future for all.

First Pillar: Supporting access to decent, sustainable housing

Saint-Gobain Canada’s facilities located in Alberta – namely CertainTeed, Kaycan and Bailey Group of Companies – all came together recently to support Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta for the Livingston 24 project. As part of Saint-Gobain Canada’s national partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada, the teams volunteered time for a Build Day to support the advancement of this project, which will provide affordable homeownership opportunities for 24 local families.

“Partaking in Habitat for Humanity’s Build Day has truly been a fulfilling experience for me as I knew the volunteering I was doing was important for the community I live in. And more specifically it would have a lifechanging impact for the families we were building homes for,” says Aiden Wong, Office Administrator, CertainTeed Calgary. “At Saint-Gobain, we believe in Making the World a Better Home, and building a better future for those families was a driving force throughout this day.”

Second Pillar: Acting for more responsible and sustainable communities

Through its actions, Saint-Gobain Canada continuously reviews its processes and production methods to always reduce its carbon footprint. A great example of that commitment is with our long-lasting partnership with New West Gypsum Recycling in British Columbia. By diverting gypsum wallboards from landfills, CertainTeed’s facility in Delta, British Columbia, reached an important milestone of returning to production one million tons of recycled gypsum, which represents enough gypsum to cover the needs of 250,000 new homes.

But it does not stop there, as CertainTeed Insulation plant in Redcliff, Alberta, recently updated its production line to produce a new insulation solution, Lanaé. By using recycled glass cullet, the new insulation product from CertainTeed Insulation Canada now includes up to 82 per cent of recycled content, reducing its embodied carbon.

Third Pillar: Shaping the next generation of sustainable builders

As outlined by Jenny Boudreau, Vice President, Supply Chain at Saint-Gobain Canada, in the Spring Edition of Western Built Magazine, there is a need for the construction and manufacturing industry to foster a more diverse work environment. Through our partnership with Women Building Futures, Saint-Gobain recently had the chance to host and network with an active training cohort and recent graduates from the program at our BP Canada facility in Edmonton, Alberta.

The partnership will have Saint-Gobain support Women Building Futures training and coaching programs, with a goal to further build a new generation of sustainable construction professionals across the globe. By fostering and creating a more inclusive atmosphere in manufacturing and the trades, Women Building Futures is helping to create a diverse pool of talent in the industry.

In conclusion

Every day, Saint-Gobain Canada empowers its employees to act on its purpose of making the world a better home at work and outside, building a better future for all Canadians.

Interested in joining an inspiring workforce that truly builds change? Check out Saint-Gobain’s open positions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.