First plaster-to-plaster recycling plant opens in Austria

With the commissioning of its new recycling plant in Stockerau, GzG Gipsrecycling GmbH, a joint venture between PORR, Saint-Gobain and Saubermacher, has launched the first closed gypsum cycle in Austria. For the first time, gypsum waste can be recycled in Austria. In future, these will be added to new plasterboard panels at Saint-Gobain in Bad Aussee. This conserves natural resources and paves the way for the implementation of the plasterboard regulation and the forthcoming landfill ban. and the upcoming landfill ban.

Great response on the market

The acceptance of the first gypsum waste began in the summer of 2025. The response on the market has been strong since the plant went into operation. The waste is carefully sorted in the plant, mechanically prepared and treated in several screening stages to achieve maximum recovery. ­mechanically prepared and treated in several screening stages to ensure maximum purity. The Recycling Plaster Ordinance is an essential prerequisite for the construction and commissioning of the plant. This has been in force since 1 April 2025 and, for the first time, created binding requirements for the sorting and preparation of gypsum waste. . With the landfill ban coming into force on 1 January 2026, the demand for recycling options will become a necessity. Zero waste – 100% recyclable will become a necessity.

Zero waste – 100% recyclable

Gypsum is 100% recyclable. In the first step, the waste is prepared for further processing in Stockerau in a customised mechanical waste treatment plant. for further processing. To this end, the gypsum core is separated from cardboard and other impurities, crushed and subjected to a quality control check. The recycled material is then transported to Saint-Gobain in Bad Aussee. Up to 40 per cent of the recycled material can be used there to produce new plasterboard.

Transport is carried out in an emission-reduced manner by rail; the plant in Stockerau has its own railway connection for this purpose. Sustainability also plays a major role in the operation of the recycling centre in other respects.

Further information on this can be found here.

Grand opening

The ceremonial opening of the new gypsum-to-gypsum recycling plant took place in October in the presence of PORR COO Josef Die[ter] De[ix], cleaner founder Hans Roth, Benoît Bazin, President and CEO of the Saint-Gobain Group, and Peter Gifinger, CEO Austria at Saint-Gobain. Among the guests of honour were French Ambassador Matthieu Peyraud, State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner, Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf and Christian Moser, Vice-President of the Lower Austria Chamber of Commerce. Aesthetics were not neglected either: a wall designed by artist Emanuele Jesse from the Wie studio artist Emmanuel Jesse, as well as a train carriage decorated with Grafitti in the GzG look.

PORR COO Jozef-Dietrich Deix: “As a construction company, we take our responsibility for sustainability very seriously. It was important to us to create an innovative wall design early on. . It was important to us to provide an innovative response to the depot ban at an early stage and thereby make a substantial contribution to the circular economy in Austria. . With this plant, we have created a process that serves as a model: Gypsum waste, previously considered worthless, is converted into a valuable recycling material. PORR, together with its partners, has done pioneering work in the collection and processing of gypsum waste. “

Benoit Bazin, President and CEO of the Saint-Gobain Group: “In the 80 countries where Saint-Gobain operates, we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of construction, both within our own sphere of influence and along the value chain. and along the value chain. Sustainable construction requires a rethinking of how we develop, manufacture and recycle materials. in how we develop, manufacture and recycle materials. The transition to a circular economy is essential as it reduces the consumption of resources such as gypsum, extends the life and promotes recycling. Today, we are taking an important step forward: Together with our partners, we are proud to open Austria’s first “gypsum-to-gypsum” recycling plant.”

Peter Gifinger, CEO Austria at Saint-Gobain: “Today, we are not only celebrating the commissioning of a highly modern plant, but also the realisation of a long-cherished vision. plant, but also the realisation of a long-cherished vision. Since 2019, we have been working to bring gypsum into a closed recycling loop. The question of why, despite the long-standing importance of gypsum as a building material, it has not been possible to use it sustainably has been the focus of our efforts. the long-standing importance of gypsum as a building material, has always preoccupied me. Today, we can proudly say that we have taken a significant step towards a circular economy.

Clean-up specialist Hans Roth: “This plant marks a milestone for the circular economy in Austria: For the first time, gypsum is being returned to the material cycle on an industrial scale. By recycling gypsum waste, we are reducing landfill volumes and saving primary resources. , we are reducing landfill volumes, saving primary raw materials and lowering emissions. Together with our partners PORR and Saint-Gobain, we are sending a strong signal for innovation and responsibility responsibility in the construction industry while also securing the supply of sustainable raw materials for the future.”

Praise from distinguished guests

Matthieu Peyraud, Ambassador of the French Republic to Austria: “I am delighted that innovation and ecological change are at the heart of Franco-Austrian relations. are at the heart of the Franco-Austrian cooperation. The opening of the first gypsum-to-gypsum recycling plant in Austria , which was realised through a French investment by the company Saint-Gobain Austria in collaboration with PORR and Saubermacher, , is an important milestone in the development of the circular economy in Europe. By utilising an almost unlimited recyclable resource, this pioneering project conserves natural resources, anticipates regulatory developments and demonstrates the strength of the circular economy. , anticipates regulatory developments and demonstrates the strength of Franco-Austrian cooperation in establishing a sustainable construction industry. in establishing a sustainable construction industry.”

Elisabeth Zehetner, State Secretary for Energy, Start-ups and Tourism: “The new gypsum-to-gypsum recycling plant impressively demonstrates how the circular economy works in practice. Gypsum is an ideal building material – fully recyclable , regionally available and an example of how resource conservation and location policy go hand in hand. Especially in the construction sector, one of the most resource-intensive areas, it becomes clear how the future can look: fewer landfills, more value creation in the cycle. : less waste, more value creation in a circular economy. Such innovations arise when committed companies work together and pull in the same direction. GZG Gipsrecycling GmbH, founded by PORR, Saint-Go-bain and Sau-ber-macher, demonstrates what is possible with its cross-industry expertise and modern technology. As a federal government, we are committed to further developing the national circular economy strategy with concrete measures and to position Austria as a pioneer of circular technologies in Europe. “

Deputy Chief Minister Stephan Pern ­kopf: “The new gypsum-to-gypsum recycling plant in Stockerau shows what modern environmental policy means: a circular economy instead of a throwaway society. When waste is turned back into raw materials, it protects our natural resources, strengthens regional value creation and makes Austria less dependent on imports. , strengthens regional value creation and makes Austria less dependent on imports. Such projects show how environmental and economic policy can be made possible together – innovatively, sustainably and with common sense. Innovations like these are what enable us to protect the environment and strengthen the regional economy. innovative, sustainable and sensible. It is innovations like these that really bring us forward in environmental and climate protection — not with bans, but with good ideas and innovation.”

Christian Moser, Vice-President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber: “The efficient use of resources is one of the key concepts for the future. use of resources is one of the key concepts for the future of our economy and our environment. It is precisely the field of environmental technologies, in which ecology and economy are perfectly combined, that opens up extremely attractive and high-quality business opportunities for our economy. extremely attractive and high-quality business opportunities that can be exploited practically worldwide. The new gypsum-to-gypsum recycling plant is an absolute showcase project in terms of innovation and sustainability.”