Policy summary
OWA UK and the OWA group are committed to responsible practises including sustainability and broader ESG activities. As respected market leaders in Germany and with a global reach, OWA recognises the impact it can have on the quality of lives of people with whom we come in to contact. Our stable, family ownership for more than 75 years influences our responsible culture and approach.
Organic binder
Discover sustainability in construction with our OWA organic binder! For over 25 years, we have been producing all our OWAcoustic mineral tiles using organic binders made from starch. This long-standing tradition not only ensures environmentally friendly and low-emission construction but also guarantees the high quality and reliability of our products. Choose quality and sustainability – choose our OWA organic binder and shape a better future for generations to come.
Management commitment and sustainability leaders
At OWA’s global headquarters in Bavaria, Germany, OWA has retained a senior environmental consultant for more than a decade and currently manages and develops ESG, sustainability and EPD’s through a team of four specialists. Meanwhile in the UK, senior management work with the leading interiors trade body, FIS (www.thefis.org) influencing the sustainability agenda at MD level.
Low carbon steel and EPDs
OWA’s global reach and responsible approach to sustainability enables smart choices of materials and suppliers. OWA’s metal ceilings are almost entirely manufactured from low carbon steel made using electric arc furnace technology. This results in embodied carbon figures as low as 4.99 kg CO2/m² for metal tiles or canopies plus varying additional amounts depending upon the suspension system. OWA UK provides some of the lowest embodied carbon figures for its ranges of metal ceiling systems available on the UK market. There is current significant investment in additional EPDs for more than twenty acoustic ceiling systems.
Circular economy approach – OWA S14 acoustic canopy
OWAtecta S14 acoustic canopies are the first OWA ceiling system to be offered under our ‘Take-Back’ scheme. Already offering best in class environmental credentials using low carbon steel, OWA UK welcomes back S14 metal acoustic canopies to re-sell as ‘nearly new’ or offer to community projects and charitable causes. The one-piece, white, 2 m x 1 m, S14 rectangular, perforated, metal canopy is ideal for a ‘take-back’ scheme and offers a large carbon saving by allowing systems to be re-used, thus supporting our clients to achieve their net zero goals. Also, S14 is currently our lowest carbon metal system because it has minimal suspension components, just six, 6 mm threaded rods.
We understand that for our supply chain to decarbonise and meet their net zero targets, we must take a circular approach and decarbonise too.
OWA committed to a more sustainable future
OWA UK is committed to innovation and sustainable development. We are currently researching and developing several exciting new initiatives, which we look forward to announcing to the market soon.
OWA Green Circle – serving central Europe
OWA’s Green Circle campaign enables customers to return post-consumer ceiling tiles for recycling at the principal factory in Bavaria. Due to our unique approach of using natural materials to manufacture our mineral tiles, up to 100% of the ceiling tile can be recycled and added back into the production process of producing new ceiling tiles. This re-purposing method of production allows a reduction in energy and water usage throughout the manufacturing process, as well as reducing waste by preventing old ceiling tiles going into landfill.
We are determined to help reduce the depletion of earth’s natural resources and are continually exploring new options to recycle and reuse materials.
Please sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with our exciting developments and for further information, please contact us…