Panel Board

Panel board includes gypsum plasterboard. Gypsum plasterboard is used to line interior walls for the purpose of a clean painted finish. In Australia approximately 30% by weight of resources disposed of in landfills is construction and demolition waste. A large proportion of this waste is gypsum plasterboard. Using gypsum plasterboard waste in the manufacture of new products will reduce the amount of plasterboard entering the waste stream. It will also help conserve resources and reduce demand for virgin resources, in turn reducing impacts of mining and related processing.

Environmental loads associated with the production, use and disposal of gypsum plasterboard can be minimized by the recycling of gypsum. At the resource level gypsum recycling alleviates the environmental impacts of gypsum mining and reduces the costs associated with mining operations. On the product level, recycled gypsum plasterboard products are environmentally preferable for a host of reasons. At the most basic level, recycled gypsum plasterboard utilizes a resource otherwise destined for landfill. In addition, environmentally preferable plasterboard can have a lower environmental impact than virgin gypsum plasterboard by not including paper sourced from virgin forests, using chlorine-free paper fibre, comprising at least 5% (by weight) of recycled gypsum; not using phosphogypsum, formaldehyde, carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substances, halogenated substances, heavy-metal-based pigments and CFC’s; and manufactured in a manner that minimises wastes and emissions into the environment.

Opting for environmentally preferable gypsum plasterboard encourages resource conservation and recycling, and the amount of waste gypsum that would otherwise be destined for landfill.

Consider the following tips when considering the purchase, use and disposal of gypsum plasterboard:

Consumer Behaviour Tips

• Purchase gypsum plasterboard that contains a minimum of 5% recycled gypsum (by weight) – the more the better;
• Remove stickers, labels and tags from waste/leftover plasterboard before disposal;
• Dispose of waste plasterboard through a recognised waste contractor;
• Select plasterboard made of ingredients that have not been treated, cleaned or processed using hazardous toxins or solvents;
• Select plasterboard containing glues, binders and additives that do not contain halogens, heavy-metal pigments, phthalates with alkyl groups or organic tin compounds;
• Opt for plasterboards made without CFC's and the use of ozone-depleting substances;
• Avoid those that contain phosphogypsum, carcinogens and formaldehyde.
• Choose manufacturers with low-waste and low-emission production.

For specific information view our Environmental Standard for Panel Board: www.geca.org.au/standardsregister.htm