On September 19, the opening ceremony for Valoref China was held in Dengfeng, Henan Province. The management teams from Saint-Gobain Asia-Pacific region and Ceramic Materials gathered with some entrepreneurs to witness the launch of Valoref's operations in China and celebrate the beginning of a new chapter for Valoref!
Mr. Zhang Yunhao, General Manager of Saint-Gobain Special Grains and Powders, Performance Ceramics & Refractories (PCR) and Valoref China, warmly welcomed all guests and Saint-Gobain employees and announced the commencement of the ceremony.
Guests present at the ceremony included Ms. Yvonne Yang, Vice President of Human Resources for Saint-Gobain Asia-Pacific; Mr. Nicolas Miegeville, Global CEO of Saint-Gobain Ceramic Material; Mr. Wang Peiming, Vice President of Saint-Gobain Ceramic Materials in China; and Ms. Marie Alix, Global General Manager of Valoref, among others.
Yvonne stated: "Valoref, as a model of circular economy business in Saint-Gobain, perfectly embodies our sustainable development philosophy and culture, further driving us towards our great Purpose: 'Making The World A Better Home.'"
She also highly recognized Dengfeng team. "Every time I visit Dengfeng site, I can see new changes and development here. I am impressed and touched by their pioneering spirit, professional dedication, innovation and openness. In my opinion, they are a team full of passion and dream. Their commitment to Trust, Empowerment, and Collaboration (TEC) culture, their love for the site and business, and their pursuit of continuous innovation make them a model of Saint-Gobain's excellence."
Mr. Nicolas Miegeville mentioned: "Saint-Gobain, a time-honored organization soon to celebrate its 360th anniversary, remains active in the industry with proactive innovation and ambitious goals. Saint-Gobain is undergoing a profound transformation to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, aiming to make the world a better home. This objective is translated into concrete actions at Valoref: establishing a global circular economy of ceramic. This is a significant challenge on our path to technological advancement and sustainable development, and it is one of the key strategies against global warming. Valoref is actively expanding its global footprints and aims to become a leader in the recycling of ceramic and refractory materials in China."
Mr. Wang Peiming stated: "Since its transformation in 2005, Dengfeng site experienced rapid growth in the Chinese market, with Ceramics Business gradually shifting its focus to Dengfeng. The 7.20 floods in 2022 in Zhengzhou made us understand the importance of sustainable development. We must continually adjust our strategies and strive toward green industry and circular economy. I believe that in the near future, the second site in Dengfeng will be fully put into operation. At that time, the revenue of Dengfeng site is expected to exceed 1 billion yuan, making it Saint-Gobain's largest ceramic materials production base globally."
Ms. Marie Alix delivered an enthusiastic speech via a video. She first extended heartfelt thanks to the guests for their attendance and emphasized Valoref's commitment to the Chinese market.
Marie remarked: "Since Valoref expanded its international presence, Valoref China has quickly become a crucial pillar of our operations within just two years. We have successfully processed 6,000 tons of solid waste and sold 4,400 tons of recycled materials." She congratulated the Chinese team on their outstanding achievements while expressing her expectations and confidence in the team's future business development.
As the speeches concluded, Saint-Gobain's management team and business partners took the stage together, holding golden scissors, to jointly inaugurate Valoref's operations in China with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the official launch of its business in China.
After the ceremony, the guests embarked on a site tour to explore Valoref's core operations and processes, which further deepened their understanding and recognition of its strengths.
In 2019, Saint-Gobain Group made a commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, continuously working towards the goal of "Making The World A Better Home." Valoref is one of Saint-Gobain's outstanding practices on the path to green transformation. Valoref China is dedicated to providing its customers with innovative and sustainable solutions, moving together toward a greener, low-carbon, and sustainable future.
