Innovation and Circularity
CSR as a Catalyst for Progress
Even without immediate regulatory deadlines, expectations are rising quickly: customers demand traceability, investors scrutinize ESG performance, and society calls for greater transparency. Supplier audits, traceability, and clear communication are becoming essential.
An example comes from Norton Abrasives, part of the Saint-Gobain Group which has developed a new generation of cutting and grinding discs (Norton Expert) containing a minimum of 14% recycled materials—comprising 25% recycled grain content, and 12% recycled steel in the center ring.
The benefits extend across the entire value chain:
- Suppliers contribute by valorizing waste as a resource.
- Customers gain access to solutions that support their own CSR objectives.
- Manufacturers anticipate future regulatory requirements, reinforce their market position, and advance circularity.
This is the type of initiative that the SEAM label seeks to encourage: a collective progress where companies test and scale up innovations that accelerate the sustainable transformation of the entire sector.
Driving Lasting Impact
CSR at the Service of All
The abrasives industry, like many others, faces the challenge of reducing its environmental footprint while managing the long-term impact of its operations. But CSR can also transform industrial sites into drivers of regeneration for their surrounding environment.
SEAM member Imerys provides a strong example. At its Provins site in France, the company converted a 13.7-hectare former quarry into a thriving natural ecosystem. Instead of simply closing the site, Imerys worked with local experts on an ambitious rehabilitation project to restore the land and create new habitats. Today, the site has become a haven of biodiversity.
This initiative shows how a company can go beyond reducing its footprint and actively contribute to improving their surrounding environment—while strengthening ties with local communities and demonstrating what CSR can achieve in practice. It shows how CSR can be a practical tool for managing industrial transitions in a sustainable way.
The SEAM Label
Your Partner for a Carbon Transition
At SEAM, we believe sound data is the foundation for progress. Reducing the sector’s carbon footprint is a priority, which is why we’ve launched the SEAM Carbon Footprint Project, a structured and pragmatic roadmap for action.
We have already mapped Scopes 1 and 2, covering direct emissions and energy consumption. This work has delivered sector-wide averages, a reference framework, and practical guidelines to help members identify priority areas for reduction.
Work has now begun on Scope 3, starting with raw materials (category 3.1), a natural entry point for many companies. Because this extends beyond direct operations, it requires looking at impacts across the value chain. SEAM provides tools and methodologies that help members approach the topic in a structured and practical way.
By moving forward in stages, SEAM members gain practical resources and opportunities to exchange experiences. Together, the industry is strengthening its capacity to achieve long-term sustainability goals.