Since 2018 Areco Profiles has been manufacturing sandwich panels in Somero, Finland. Each year, this production process generates hundreds of thousands of tonnes of environmentally hazardous waste which, until now, has been transported to landfill. However, by using innovative solutions all waste material will now be recycled.

"We are going to reclaim everything. This is not just a way to make our business more sustainable, but also a service to our customers," says Kasper Siintola, Sales Manager at Areco Profiles Finland.

Two years ago, Areco established itself in Finland through the acquisition of one of that country's largest sandwich panel manufacturers, TPE Spirit Oy. Today, the Somero factory outside Åbo is part of Areco Profiles and the number of employees has risen from 13 to 30. Production has also increased, and with that waste. Today, the production of sandwich panels generates about 600 tonnes of mineral wool dust a year. Until now, this dust has been transported to landfill to be managed as environmentally hazardous waste. However, as part of Areco Profiles' sustainability strategy, the company has been looking for more climate smart alternatives and has now partnered with the insulation company Eko-Expert Oy. For a few weeks now, all the mineral wool dust has been sucked into seven containers outside the Somero factory.

"When the containers are full, they are taken away and the dust is used to manufacture new insulation. This way, we dispose of all waste from the factory and at the same time reuse it. Because we are constantly growing and producing more waste, this partnership feels fantastic," says Kasper Siintola.

Long called for solution to a long-standing issue
In addition to its partnership with Eko-Expert Oy, Areco Profiles has taken further initiatives to reduce its environmental impact. The sandwich panels produced in the factory in Somero are used to build different types of large industrial and commercial building, and during erection sections of panel need to be cut to fit the structure. The resulting waste is classed as environmentally hazardous and until the end of last year was transported to landfill. Since then, Areco Profiles has offered to dispose of this waste. Instead of throwing away the cut panels, all of the material is recycled.

"Today, building sites are often smaller than they were a few decades ago, and waste management during construction is increasingly a cause for concern. Many of our customers have long demanded better options than the laborious and expensive business of transporting waste to landfill. So, we are very happy to be able to offer a solution that is at the same time flexible as well as climate smart," Kasper Siintola concludes.