Rairies Montrieux
In today’s landscape, preserving the environment is a necessity for all players in the construction industry. Rairies Montrieux stands out as a company committed to promoting sustainability by adopting a proactive approach.
Eco-responsible production
Rairies Montrieux is resolutely committed to an ecological approach, guided by several essential pillars.
At the heart of its plant, the company has introduced a series of environmental initiatives.
These include the innovative use of a biomass boiler, fuelled by production waste from a local furnisher.
To further optimize the efficiency of its wood-fired kilns, it has introduced a heat recovery system, which also powers the associated dryers. This approach not only maximizes its operations, but also significantly reduces its dependence on fossil fuels.
The Maine-et-Loire company is also involved in renewable energy projects, including the installation of solar panels on its storage sheds.
“This approach is part of our ongoing commitment to reducing our ecological footprint and promoting sustainable production.
Mégane Barret, communications and marketing manager at Rairies Montrieux.
“For the future, we are also planning other initiatives such as investment in more energy-efficient furnace technologies.”
Rairies Montrieux
Recovering production waste
Rairies Montrieux is also developing initiatives to recycle the waste generated during the manufacture of its terracotta products.
“When we manufacture slabs and tiles, small pieces of terracotta are generated, including offcuts and splinters.
We don’t leave any of these pieces unused.
We collect them and have them crushed by a local company located
in Baugé, close to our plant”, explains Mégane.
These scraps are transformed into mulch, which can be used for a variety of purposes, from ornamental landscaping to the construction of gabions. As part of this initiative, Rairies is collaborating with Sonomuro, a Belgian company specializing in the manufacture of gabions. Clay mulch is integrated into the gabions, contributing to the efficient and environmentally-friendly use of production waste.
In addition, thanks to architect Anne-Mie Depuydt of the UAPS agency, Rairies Montrieux is proud to have been able to supply the mulch integrated into a huge gabion created for the Athletes’ Village.
Rairies Montrieux
Turning surplus into opportunity
The reuse of materials represents an essential ecological and economic approach at Rairies, offering advantages in terms of reduced manufacturing time, energy savings and preservation of quality resources.
Thus, products manufactured for specific orders, but which have not found their way into final projects, whether due to color variations or project evolutions, are reinvented rather than left dormant or discarded.
“We look for alternative ways of using them, thus avoiding any waste of precious resources, prime bricks,” explains Mégane Barret. These surpluses are not just surplus items, but opportunities. “We offer them to architects as a chance to reduce the carbon footprint of their projects. By opting for these existing products and reusing them, architects contribute to a more sustainable approach to construction. Today, around 25,000 m2 of bricks are reused every year, but we can go even further!” emphasizes Mégane Barret.
Rairies Montrieux
Redefining architecture through reuse
The partnership between Rairies and Engasser, an architectural firm committed to the circular economy and reuse, is a perfect illustration of this philosophy.
Engasser doesn’t come with a specific plan in mind, but rather with an openness to inspiration.
“Engasser teams explore our existing stock to shape their architectural projects. By embracing these surplus resources, Engasser creates unique designs while promoting the reuse and preservation of resources,” says Mégane Barret.
Gaétan Engasser, Managing Architect of Engasser & associés, comments: “Our partnership with Rairies Montrieux is based on a shared commitment to environmentally-friendly architecture.
By working together on projects like the Groupe Scolaire de Dugny, we can bring to life facades that create the unexpected, while meeting or exceeding current standards for energy performance and CO2 emissions. For this project, all facade materials were recycled.
Rairies Montrieux
When constraint gives rise to creativity
Mégane Barret
“Today’s architects are faced with major demands in terms of carbon footprint. We offer them solutions while stimulating their creativity”.
The limited and variable availability of these surplus resources offered by Rairies Montrieux encourages their ingenuity, driving them to seek innovative solutions.
“This is clearly evident in our collaboration with the Engasser firm, whose teams visited our factory to explore available products, investigate installation possibilities and effectively organize their use. This approach demonstrates our commitment to inspiring and supporting innovation in the architectural sector.”
Gabions village des athlètes © Fleur Mounier – Designed by Anne-Mie Depuydt – Agence UAPS
