| Raw materials policy | The production process | Packaging |
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Clay is a natural and virtually inexhaustible raw material, quarrying is limited, and excavated sites are redeveloped for agricultural or recreational purposes.
To reduce the utilisation rate of our own clay quarries, we also make use of raw materials recuperated from infrastructural and construction projects.
This not only enables us to establish fewer quarrying sites, but also helps solve the problem of overfull landfills.
Vandersanden also considers it a matter of pride to reintegrate its quarries into the landscape after exploitation so the area can once again serve a useful function. Exhausted clay extraction areas can be used to serve a variety of purposes that are both socially and environmentally beneficial – they can be redeveloped as nature reserves or scenic lakes, for forestry, etc. clay
extraction areas are usually redeveloped as fertile farming land.
Our production process uses absolutely no synthetic products or chemical processing techniques. Vandersanden bricks are created purely through the combination of natural elements: clay, sand, water, air and fire.
No toxic substances are added, and because brick is an inert material it does not give off any toxic or allergenic substances. This means that it presents absolutely no danger of soil contamination.
Minimising energy consumption through continuous improvement of the production process has been a key objective at Vandersanden for decades. We utilise computer-controlled gas-fired tunnel kilns for the firing process. The hot air from the kilns is recuperated to dry the bricks in the drying chambers. We also use a combined heat and power plant to further reduce our energy consumption.
Since October 2011, Vandersanden has a PV-installation, better known as solar panels. This form of sustainable energy provides us of even more own generated electricity. We also contribute to a better environment.
During production of our facing bricks we achieve a yield of 100%. In other words, every kilogram of raw material results in a kilogram of brick. This also means that the production process produces no waste. The groundwater used during the process circulates in a closed circuit, so absolutely no industrial wastewater is produced – it is what is referred to as a ‘zero discharge’
process. The only waste that leaves the factory is a limited amount of packaging waste.
Vandersanden establishes green buffer zones wherever possible around the factory buildings and stacking areas. This helps retain the green character of the rural environment and reduces the visual impact of the factory.
Vandersanden considers it important that every effort be made to protect the quality of the air. Years ago we began using energy-efficient tunnel kilns fired with natural gas, the cleanest and most environmentally-friendly fuel available.
A flue gas filter is used to remove particulates from the combustion gases as well. These combined measures result in purified emissions with results of many measurements falling far below the stringent standards.
An overhead rail system in Spouwen results in optimal efficiency during the loading and unloading of pallets of bricks. This rail system transports the packages of facing bricks from the factory to the desired stacking location. This reduces our use of forklift trucks, which in turn cuts down noise pollution and exhaust emissions.
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During packaging of the facing bricks, stacks are wrapped in very thin plastic film (polyethylene) to hold them together and prevent accidents during transport and in the yard.
As part of the belgian Clean Site System project, which Vandersanden supports, building contractors are given large collection bags for use at construction sites; the plastic is then collected and recycled via participating building material suppliers.
Together, all the packaging material for facing bricks amounts to less than 1% of the weight per package of bricks.
www.cleansitesystem.be
After production we stack the bricks on pallets made of pure untreated wood. Vandersanden is a member of VAL-I-PAC and for its part ensures that the pallets can be recycled via a recovery process in Belgium.
www.valipac.be
