New Study Results - Lead sheet: champion of recycling

London, 15th December 2006 – Pressures on building material manufacturers are increasing: environmental soundness and recyclability of materials are becoming central product demands.

Many materials are considered to have green credentials. However, the real environmental performance of a product depends on its recovery rate and on the efficiency of collection systems. Surprisingly it is lead and its producers, which has set standards in ecological management.

The European Lead Sheet Industry Association (ELSIA) has invested in long-term research, which investigated

the comparative environmental performance of lead sheet and other building materials. Independent and well-respected Dutch research institution TNO concluded that lead sheet has a far more favourable life cycle than possible substitutes such as SEBS, GRP, EPDM and PVC. Negligible quantities of lead sheet go to landfill. Up to 97.5 % of the material is recycled for new long term usage. “The recent study results dispel long-held but unfounded prejudices about lead sheet, which is clearly the best environmental solution,” points out Ben Travers, chairman of ELSIA.

Summaries of recent reports and further information can be found on ELSIA’s website under www.elsia-web.org.

About ELSIA:

The European Lead Sheet Industry Association (ELSIA) is the central trade association of the European lead sheet manufacturing industry. All members work to an established EN standard that guarantees the highest level of product quality. ELSIA is committed to funding long-term research and development to ensure that its products are environmentally sound. The members take a modern, responsible attitude to the health and safety of stakeholders and the environment.

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