Drywall, also known as gypsum wallboard, is one of the most common materials used in construction today. All the walls in your new home are likely to be covered with drywall. Drywall accounts for more than a quarter of all construction waste, and its chief ingredient, gypsum, has to be mined out of the earth and requires an immense amount of energy to produce. All this effort gives off carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Drywall made from recycled and synthetic gypsum is now readily available — you just have to ask for it. The backing is made from 100% recycled, unbleached paper that is bonded without adhesives onto a gypsum core. Keep in mind the boards come in standard heights of 8 feet, 9 feet, and 10 feet, so if you design to those ceiling heights (or have your architect design to those ceiling heights), you’ll reduce cutting and waste.
Drywall Manufactures
Here are some recycled-content drywall manufacturers you may want to try:
Georgia-Pacific Building Products, 55 Park Place, Atlanta, GA 30303 (phone: 800-225-6119 or 404-652-4000; Web:
http://www.gp.com/gypsum )
National Gypsum Company, 2001 Rexford Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211 (phone: 800-628-4662 or 704-365-7300; e-mail: ng@nationalgypsum.com; Web: http://www.national-gypsum.com )
Temple-Inland, P.O. Drawer N, Diboll, TX 75941 (phone: 800-231-6060; e-mail: mktgcomm@templeinland.com; Web: http://www.temple.com/gypsum )
USG, c/o Corporate Secretary, 550 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661-3676 (phone: 800-874-4968; e-mail: usg4you@usg.com; Web: http://www.usg.com )