OWA green circle: Conserving Resources Through Building Material Recycling
Sustainable action is both an economic and a cross-border responsibility. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)* provide a clearly defined framework, which the construction industry addresses with innovative building methods, resource-efficient materials, and clear standards. This helps to create sustainable living spaces and actively shape the transition towards a fully circular economy.
The principles of sustainable building have long been a core part of the corporate strategy of Odenwald Faserplattenwerk GmbH (OWA). Founded in 1948, the company develops and manufactures ceiling systems for a range of applications, consistently prioritising resource conservation. The ceiling systems from this market leader in Lower Franconia are typically used for decades. To enable efficient reuse after their service life, the company has relied on its own closed-loop system, the OWA green circle, for more than ten years.
Here is how it works: Together with its circular economy partner Interzero, OWA enables its customers to dispose of used mineral fibre tiles safely and in an environmentally responsible way. If the return criteria are met, Interzero collects the removed ceiling tiles directly from the construction site and transports them to OWA. After a successful conformity check, 100 per cent of the delivered material goes back into the production of new OWA mineral ceilings. This is how the cycle is closed.
* Reference: German Federal Government
“We want to offer our customers genuine added value”
Three questions for Ilona Hirsch, Safety Officer and Environmental Engineer at Odenwald Faserplattenwerk GmbH
What inspired you to put sustainability at the heart of your corporate strategy – and what goals are you pursuing?
Since our company was founded, we have focused on using all resources as sparingly as possible, striving for a balance between economic, ecological and social factors. Key sustainability parameters for us – alongside compliance with environmental standards – include short transport routes, biosoluble mixtures, resource-efficient production, and manufacturing mineral fibre tiles that are 100 per cent recyclable.
To close the material cycle, you chose to partner with Interzero. How do you benefit from this partnership?
As a premium provider, we place particular emphasis on professionalism, service orientation and reliability when selecting our market partners. To offer our customers genuine added value, we deliberately chose Interzero. We especially value Interzero’s strong focus on customer service, its nationwide logistics network, and its transparent and fair terms.
What trends do you see in recycling, and what advice would you give other companies looking to improve their sustainability?
When we launched the OWA green circle in 2015, our customers were initially cautious – but we are now delighted to see demand rising significantly. In terms of sustainability management, we have had very positive experiences by involving not only our own organisation but also selected customers in developing solutions.
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