Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces, a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-pressure kitchen and bathroom laminate surfaces, has reinforced its commitment to reducing its environmental impact with the launch of its latest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report.

The global manufacturer, whose UK brands include Bushboard, Shore Laminates, Resopal and Polyrey, has released its Acting Beyond the Surface report to reveal the series of ongoing improvements it has made over the last 12 months as it looks to achieve its sustainability goals. The launch comes amidst mounting pressure for the building products industry to mitigate its environmental impact

Among the highlights is Wilsonart’s incorporation of 23% post-consumer recycled content (PCRC) on average into its High-Pressure Laminate (HPL) products – more than twice that of other leading laminate brands. Often positioned as a viable alternative to natural stone surfaces, the manufacturer’s HPL also produces 58% less embodied carbon than granite and 46% less than the industry average.

Noting the impact of adhesives on the surfaces category across multiple markets including kitchens and bathrooms, the last 12 months has also seen Wilsonart manufacture adhesives that are 100% free of added urea-formaldehyde and methylene chloride.

As well as reporting performance to date, the Wilsonart ESG report also outlines new operational, product and supply chain goals, deepening the company’s commitment to responsible manufacturing practices.

These targets include:

• Maintain a lower landfill-to-production weight ratio of 10% or lower every year
• Increase the amount of recycled manufacturing waste by 5% year-on-year
• Decrease the amount of waste sent to landfill by 5% year-on-year
• Increase overall post-consumer recycled content in HPLs by 40% by 2025

Over the coming year, Wilsonart also plans to analyse the embodied carbon in its HPL from cradle to grave, making it the first manufacturer in the industry to formally assess its impact on the downstream supply chain in order to provide customers with a new level of transparency and set the bar for embodied carbon in the HPL market.

On the launch of the ESG report, Tim Pearson, President of EMEA at Wilsonart said: “We’re proud to be able to contribute to the meaningful changes Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces is committed to on a global scale, at a time when the building materials industry is working hard to consider the impact it has on its surroundings and its people.

“As a manufacturer, we have implemented a number of changes and targets with the aim of making a positive difference beyond the specific features of our products. As with the development of our products, however, innovation will be crucial if we’re to continuously improve our performance and set a high bar for others to aspire to.

“By being so transparent with our reporting, we hope to help industry stakeholders, including our customers, to make decisions that will benefit them and their organisations in the long term.” For more information about Wilsonart UK and the complete spectrum of surfaces available, or to order a sample, visit http://www.wilsonart.co.uk