Sustainability
Facing the future head on – whatever it may bring
The construction industry has a significant impact on the climate and the environment. We do our part to promote the circular economy, reduce climate emissions and minimise our impact on the local environment.
Climate change also directly impacts construction. By investing in the high-quality, reliable waterproofing properties and constant development of our products, we can improve their ability to withstand the conditions brought on by climate change.
We future-proof our customers’ assets for the storms to come.
We are the first in the industry to create Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for all our high-volume products
Our company is ISO 9001 certified, proving our commitment to high quality. We are also currently in the audit process for ISO 14001 environmental certification.
Sustainability reporting at Katepal
At Katepal, we see obligations as incentives for improving our operations. We want to be compliant with our sustainability obligations as part of our value chains and networks. We develop our sustainability efforts based on the principle of continuous improvement. Our first annual sustainability report will be based on 2025 data.
Climate change
While bitumen and elastomer, the primary raw materials for our products, are non-renewable, they are also the only materials that are fully weather resistant. We are critical when assessing the impact of our raw materials on the environment and climate. We actively strive to improve the efficiency of our materials and to find alternative raw materials – without compromising on quality. The Katepal Green product range, with its smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional roofing products, is proof of our product development.
In 2023 we started purchasing electricity produced exclusively by wind power.
Circular economy
We advance the circular economy by improving the recycling rate of our materials and reducing the waste generated in our production, storage and logistics activities.
Bitumen, our primary raw material, can be recycled for reuse as a raw material in asphalt pavements. Some of the virgin materials used in the production of Katepal Green products have been replaced with renewable or recycled raw materials such as wood-based pine oil and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.
Product safety
In product safety, our focus is on the life cycle impact of our products – from manufacture and installation to dismantling. Safe reuse of the materials used in our products is also taken into account when assessing product safety.
Value chain
We take the entire value chain into account when evaluating our impact, from material manufacturers to logistics and eventual disposal. Our products have a direct impact on a building’s total carbon footprint.
We also strive to control our impact on the local environment of our production facilities and maintain constant dialogue with local communities. We take all feedback from local residents seriously. As a result, we have invested in flue gas scrubbers and noise reduction, among other things at our Lempäälä plant in southern Finland.
We strive to promote our values as a family business in everything we do.
Katepal Green – longer life cycle, smaller carbon footprint
In the new Building Act in Finland, which entered into force in the beginning of 2025, it is required that all new buildings provide emissions calculations. Furthermore, new buildings are required to report their life cycle emissions from the beginning of 2026.
Going forward, we will pay close attention to the emissions and life cycle of construction materials.
With Katepal Green products, you can ensure a long life cycle for your roofing material and reduce your carbon footprint.
Katepal Green products are equal to traditional bitumen sheet products in both durability and quality. Some of the bitumen in Katepal Green products has been replaced with renewable pine oil and recycled materials are used in the support layers. This reduces the products’ carbon footprint compared with traditional bitumen sheet products.
In practice, Katepal Green products are very similar to traditional bitumen products – equal in all aspects but with lower emissions.
