Photo competition demonstrates impressive biodiversity in European gypsum quarries
First Biodiversity Award 2024: Eurogypsum promotes sustainable biodiversity management in gypsum quarries
With the first Biodiversity Award 2024, Eurogypsum is highlighting the opportunities that arise for nature and the environment through sustainable biodiversity management in quarries. At the same time, the association emphasizes the importance of gypsum as a raw material for housing construction and climate protection.
Under the motto: “A picture is worth a thousand words”, Eurogypsum has announced the first Biodiversity Award. Members of the association, which represents the gypsum products manufacturing industry in Europe, were invited to submit photos showing the various aspects of biodiversity in European gypsum mining areas. A total of 57 images from six European countries were submitted in the categories of biodiversity gain, fauna, flora and landscape and evaluated by an independent jury. In addition, there was an audience award, in which the participants of the event could choose their favorite from the award-winning photos.
At the award ceremony in the presence of Eurogypsum President Christoph Dorn, six images were honored. The prize in the Biodiversity category went to Matthias Reimann from Knauf Gips KG and Jacobo González, Soneja/Spain. In the Fauna category, one picture each was awarded to Andreas Nolte, Wulften am Harz/Germany and Josuhé Ureña Bocanegra, San Martín de la Vega/Spain. In the flora and landscape categories, the prizes went to Jorge Ruiz Balboa, San Martín de la Vega/Spain and Teresa Martín, U.E. Collado Blanco Beuda, Girona/Spain, whose entry also qualified for the public prize.
“The pictures in this photo competition show very clearly the potential that former gypsum quarries offer for nature and the environment,” says Dipl.-Ing. Holger Ortleb, Managing Director of the Federal Association of the Gypsum Industry and the Research Association of the Gypsum Industry. Especially for the protection of species and biotopes.
The post-mining gypsum landscapes are of great importance for the protection of species and biotopes: “New habitats are being created for a diversity of species that did not previously exist in these areas.”
Dr. Jörg Ertle, Vice President of Eurogypsum, took the biodiversity award as an opportunity to point out the need for the supply of important raw materials such as gypsum. Gypsum and gypsum solutions are indispensable for mastering the challenges of European climate and housing policy and creating sustainable and affordable living space.
In fact, it is impossible to imagine modern construction without dry and lightweight construction methods. Thanks to continuous technical developments, gypsum boards, gypsum fiberboards and gypsum wallboards not only enable technically high-quality and sustainable interior construction with high safety and health requirements, but can also be used outdoors. Modern, multi-storey timber construction is also only possible thanks to the use of gypsum fiberboards, which meet modern sound insulation and complex fire protection requirements. They are also quick and easy to process. Gypsum wallboards for single-skin interior walls as well as gypsum plasters and gypsum fillers for high-quality and robust surface design round off the range. Calcium sulphate flowing screeds are characterized by their high performance.
The important role of gypsum as a building material in modern construction is complemented by its sustainable properties. Gypsum is more suitable for resource-efficient construction than almost any other building material, as it can be recycled almost indefinitely and never becomes waste. “Unlike most other building materials, gypsum is fully recyclable,” emphasizes Holger Ortleb. “Gypsum is the only natural building material that can be returned to its original raw and building material state after processing and use as a building material through recycling and subsequent calcination.”
Additional information about the first Biodiversity Award 2024 from Eurogypsum and an overview of all the images submitted to the competition can be found at: https://eurogypsum.org/bebuilder-3242/
Further information on the topic of gypsum building materials and recycling can also be found on the website of the Bundesverband der Gipsindustrie e.V. at:
