Sustainability at EQUITONE

Building for tomorrow, reducing impact today

At EQUITONE, sustainability is more than a checkbox —it’s central to how we do business. As part of the Etex Group, a global building materials company with a diverse family of brands, we share in a companywide Road to Sustainability 2030 commitment and the six priority areas with specific science-based targets. Etex’s initiatives span multiple product lines and industries, and at EQUITONE we translate these goals into the way we design, manufacture, and deliver our fiber cement façade materials.

With over a century of material innovation behind us, we’re rethinking how facades are made, used, and reused. We know architecture must lighten its footprint on people and the planet, so our mission is clear: reduce emissions, eliminate waste, design for circularity, and empower architects to build with purpose.

While our hi-strength cement rainscreen panels are thin yet strong, material efficiency is only part of the story. Advancing light-impact construction means looking at the full lifecycle—from sourcing and manufacturing to transport, installation, maintenance, and eventual disassembly. By focusing on efficiency at every stage, we aim to help reduce overall project emissions, cut waste, and preserve resources, creating façades that perform for decades while keeping their environmental footprint as small as possible.

Manufacturing: Light-impact production & circular design

Our sustainable strategy starts at the manufacturing level. EQUITONE's approach is anchored in Etex's Road to Sustainability 2030 plan, which targets decarbonization, circular use of materials, and enhanced transparency across the entire company. We’ve committed to science-based goals and measure our progress against clear benchmarks. Some of our key EQUITONE-wide commitments include:

• Cutting carbon emissions: Etex is targeting a 35% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 CO₂ emissions by 2030, compared to 2018. These cover direct emissions from manufacturing and indirect emissions from purchased energy—both reflected in our Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). We’re on our way, with over 22% already achieved by 2023.
• Circular material use: 20% average circular content in all products by 2030. For example, EQUITONE [tectiva] TE20 already contains 16.6% circular content.
• Zero production waste: 0% of manufacturing waste sent to landfill – a milestone EQUITONE manufacturing facilities already reached by recycling all fiber cement production off-cuts.
• Third-party standards: Participation as part of Etex in leading sustainability frameworks like the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Sustainalytics, and EcoVadis (Etex holds a Silver rating, top 15% globally), and obtaining the first and only certified Cradle to Cradle Certified® fiber cement material —part of a wider Etex portfolio that includes many other Cradle to Cradle Certified® products.

To help reach these goals, our factories run on 100% renewable electricity, operate closed-loop water systems, and source over 65% of raw materials locally to reduce transport emissions. We’re also redesigning packaging to reduce plastic use and recover shipping materials, further shrinking our operational footprint.

Learn more about Etex Group's 2030 ambitions

Transparency & independent verification

Being sustainable is not something we can achieve alone. That's why partnership and transparency are core to our approach. EQUITONE collaborates with suppliers on innovative raw materials (such as low-impact cement and industrial waste reuse) and works with architects, engineers and sustainability experts to explore solutions such as developing take-back systems for end-of-life panels in Europe and aligning with green building certification standards.

We hold ourselves accountable by publicly reporting our environmental impacts and obtaining independent certification. Nearly all EQUITONE fiber cement panels are Cradle to Cradle Certified® at the bronze level, and all come with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) documenting their life-cycle impacts. Our parent company, Etex, publishes an Annual Report that outlines sustainability goals alongside our progress towards achieving them —providing transparent updates on key targets like emissions reduction, waste minimization, and circular design initiatives. By embracing these frameworks and openly sharing both achievements and areas for improvement, we aim to avoid greenwashing and earn genuine trust.

Download our EPDs, LEED Documentation & certifications  

Rainscreen panels with lasting performance

Sustainability at EQUITONE also means delivering materials that help lighten the load for builders and the environment. Our hi-strength cement rainscreen panels are engineered for material efficiency – thin yet strong, using less raw material per square foot than many cladding alternatives while still delivering exceptional durability. Composition includes cement, mineral fillers such as sand, cellulose fibers, and water.

These attributes help reduce environmental impact through the full life cycle:

• 50+ year lifespan for long-term performance
• Minimal maintenance requirements
• Lightweight panels that lower transport emissions
• Noncombustible* and free from banned chemicals under Cradle to Cradle standards
• Panels can be individually removed, replaced, or reused during renovations

While full closed-loop recycling for fiber cement is still in development, the material naturally reabsorbs CO₂ over time – offering a modest carbon sink effect.

Our plan of action

Learn from our teammates how we are all working together to challenge the boundaries of construction.

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