The long-term objectives of designing a sustainable roofing system are to keep the system in place as long as possible to avoid materials being sent to disposal sites and to eliminate the use of new materials.

Energy economy, sustainability, efficient utilization of raw materials and waste reduction must guide roofing design and specifications. More precisely, sustainable design must include materials and details which extend the useful life of a roof and are paired with a sustainable recovery plan.

In the future, manufacturers, designers and installers should be partners working together to help protect the environment by making sustainable development a priority.

Environmental policy

Producing materials that address the needs of waterproofing professionals while protecting the interests of future generations – this is the mission the building industry must integrate into all of its environmental activities.

As a result, material manufacturers have a duty to reflect on the impact of their products on nature and humankind during their lifespan, from manufacturing to elimination. For SOPREMA, this reflection has become a reality, among other things, through the creation and implementation of an international-level environmental policy. One element of the main mission of SOPREMA is to take into account the effects of our products on the environment and health, from design to destruction. SOPREMA is also determined to instill a true environmental culture within the company.

SOPREMA’s efforts in terms of sustainable development are not new. In January 1998, SOPREMA was the first company in its field to obtain the ISO 14001 certification. This environmental management standard requires the implementation of an environmental policy and, especially, measures to ensure follow up: setting of environmental goals, monitoring the impacts and environmental risks, creation of emergency plans, and many more requirements.

The EN 16001 “Energy Management Standard” ensures that SOPREMA observes the latest practices in energy management. Moreover, its plant, located at 1675 Haggerty Street in Drummondville, was the first Canadian and the first SOPREMA plant to successfully complete the EN 16001 Standard certification process.