ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS
Circular and Decarbonised Cast Iron Drainage
Pam Building designs and manufactures cast iron drainage systems made from 99% recycled material and recyclable endlessly without losing their properties.
Our environmental achievements
More than ten years of investment at our Bayard (France) and Telford (UK) plants.
Water: halving consumption at Bayard-sur-Marne
In 2020 we waterproofed the lagoons and water recovery basins at our Bayard site and connected them to the pump room supplying the casting machines. The project aims to halve the site's water consumption while protecting local groundwater.
CO₂: 100% renewable electricity in Telford since 2015
Since 2015, our Telford plant has run its electric furnace on 100% renewable electricity, supplied by SmartestEnergy.
FORNAX, DECARBONIZING OUR MELTING PROCESS
FORNAX is a €15.5 million project to electrify cast iron melting at our Bayard-sur-Marne plant. Selected under the France 2030 "Decarbonisation of Industry (DECARB IND)" call for projects, it is supported by the French State with €5.5 million through France 2030, operated by ADEME, and backed by our investors Aldebaran and Bpifrance.
We are replacing our hot-blast cupola furnace with two electric induction melting furnaces and one holding furnace. The furnaces have been ordered, and installation begins in 2027.
FORNAX takes its name from the Latin word for furnace and from the Roman goddess of fire, a nod to five centuries of cast iron expertise in Haute-Marne.
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Key figures
- €15.5MTotal investment in FORNAX
- €5.5MSupport from the French State (France 2030, operated by ADEME)
- –60%CO₂ emissions across the Bayard-sur-Marne site
- –85%CO₂ emissions within the cast iron production scope
- –80%Group CO₂ target by 2030, including our Telford plant (UK)
Reductions compared with the 2017 reference year (ADEME commitment). Between 2017 and 2024, Pam Building already cut its CO₂ emissions by 23%.
"By decarbonising our manufacturing process, we are going even further in our environmental commitments and strengthening our position as a leader." Eric Escalettes, CEO of Pam Building
Recycled cast iron pipes: a truly circular material
99% recycled content, recyclable without loss of properties
Our molten iron is produced by recycling cast iron and ferrous scrap. Unlike plastics, cast iron can be recycled again and again without any deterioration of its mechanical properties.
The recycling channel exists: collector network and recovery stream is existing and working! We work with local supply for scrap (125 km from the plant) to reduced economic and transport costs.
Following ISO 14021:1999 and LEED V4 criteria we can provide a recycled content declaration for our products. For the standard S range, recycled content is 99%: 11.5% pre-consumer and 87.5% post-consumer, according to ISO 14021:1999.
Modular, reversible systems: nothing is wasted
Cast iron pipe systems are built from modular, removable components with reversible mechanical joints. When a network is modified or dismantled, components can be reused, reducing construction waste.
Recycled content: proportion, by mass, of recycled material in a product or packaging. Only pre-consumer and post-consumer materials are considered recycled content. Pre-consumer material: material diverted from the waste stream during a manufacturing process, excluding rework, regrind or scrap reclaimed within the same process. Post-consumer material: material generated by households or by commercial, industrial and institutional facilities as end users of the product, which can no longer be used for its intended purpose.
Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
We assess the environmental footprint of our products through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to ISO 14040 and 14044: resource use, air and water emissions, energy and carbon.
- Multi-criteria: raw materials, emissions, water use
- Multi-stage: cradle-to-gate and cradle-to-grave
- Verified by independent third-party experts
Our Environmental Product Declarations cover the Standard and Plus soil and rainwater ranges and comply with ISO 21930 and French standard NF P 01-010.
Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
We assess the environmental footprint of our products through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to ISO 14040 and 14044: resource use, air and water emissions, energy and carbon.
- Multi-criteria: raw materials, emissions, water use
- Multi-stage: cradle-to-gate and cradle-to-grave
- Verified by independent third-party experts
Our Environmental Product Declarations cover the Standard and Plus soil and rainwater ranges and comply with ISO 21930 and French standard NF P 01-010.
Eligibility green building labels
Recycled content, verified EPDs and a long service life help projects earn credits under LEED, BREEAM and other schemes. Our sustainability brochure details the credits our systems contribute to.
FAQ
Is cast iron drainage sustainable?
Yes. Pam Building cast iron pipes contain up to 99% recycled material, last up to 70 years and can be recycled endlessly without losing their properties.
What makes cast iron a circular material?
Cast iron keeps its mechanical properties through repeated melting cycles, so end-of-life pipes become new pipes. A mature collection and recycling channel already exists.
What is the FORNAX project?
FORNAX is Pam Building's €15.5 million project to replace the cupola furnace at its Bayard-sur-Marne plant with electric induction furnaces. Supported by France 2030, it will cut CO₂ emissions by around 60% across the site and up to 85% in cast iron production versus 2017.
Do Pam Building products have an EPD?
Yes. Verified EPDs for the S and Plus soil and rainwater ranges are published on the International EPD System, based on ISO 14040/14044 Life Cycle Assessment.
Can Pam Building products help with LEED or BREEAM certification?
Yes. Recycled content declarations (ISO 14021, LEED v4) and EPDs support credits under LEED, BREEAM and other green building labels.
Can cast iron drainage components be reused?
Yes. Modular systems with reversible mechanical joints can be dismantled, refurbished and reassembled, reducing site waste.