Soudal sets standards in energy-efficient and eco-friendly construction

18 of May '26

Soudal sets standards in energy-efficient and eco-friendly construction

From the series "Windows, doors, fittings, guards - trends 2026"

The year 2026 is a special moment for Soudal. This year, the corporation is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Silirub brand, one of the most recognizable silicone sealants in the world. The anniversary is an opportunity to take stock of its development - from the first professional silicone solutions on the market to an extensive product line with diverse and specialized applications. This anniversary perfectly illustrates the philosophy of the world leader in polyurethane foams and a leading supplier of adhesives, sealants and roofing products. For years, Soudal has taken consistent measures aimed at environmental safety. On the one hand, this is the development and implementation of technologies to significantly improve the energy efficiency of buildings, on the other hand, attention to a sustainable production process.

The history of the Silirub brand dates back to the 1970s, when silicone sealants were still a novelty on the market. Vic Swerts, the founder of Soudal, saw great potential in the technology and made a bold business decision that, in retrospect, proved to be a breakthrough. Back in the 1970s, the company invested in pioneering manufacturing solutions in Belgium that guaranteed stable quality and performance far above the standards of the time. The Silirub brand very quickly gained recognition among professionals, especially in the glass and joinery industry. With the rapid development of the market for windows, doors and modern facade systems, silicone sealants have become one of the key technological elements affecting the durability and tightness of buildings. In many applications, Silirub has successfully replaced traditional materials such as glazing putty and mortar. Its popularity is due to a combination of high elasticity, excellent adhesion to various substrates and mechanical strength.

Silirub brand silicones are used, among others, in the manufacture of wood, PVC and aluminum joinery, in the installation of windows and doors, in sanitary applications, facade applications and wherever long-term resistance to weather conditions is required. They are perfect for sealing in the three-layer Soudal Window System woodwork assembly system - guaranteeing the highest thermal insulation parameters.

Innovation, energy efficiency and ecology

The development of the Silirub brand perfectly reflects the strategy of the Soudal concern, which has been consistently investing in research and innovations that change the construction market. The key direction is solutions that support the energy efficiency of buildings and reduce their impact on the environment. Modern silicone formulations, including low-emission alkoxy technologies, products that meet the stringent EC1PLUS standards or the development of economical packaging are just some of the activities that are part of this strategy.

From the beginning, we have focused on innovations that have a real impact on the quality and durability of buildings. Silirub is a prime example of this. It is a product that has not only set standards in its category, but is also constantly evolving in response to new market requirements. Our company's primary mission is to develop state-of-the-art materials and comprehensive systems that help reduce thermal energy losses. These solutions set market standards and become one of the criteria for energy-efficient and passive construction," says Andrzej Kaczor, managing director of Soudal.

Over five decades, the Silirub brand has consistently evolved, responding to the changing requirements of the construction and industrial markets. Currently, Soudal offers as many as seventeen variants of the line's products for specialized applications - from glazing work and carpentry assembly, to sanitary applications, to facade and technical sealing. The development of Silirub is in line with the strategy of the Soudal Group, which for years has focused on solutions for the construction, industrial and DIY segments, responding to the growing requirements for durability, airtightness and energy efficiency.

Soudal solutions that have changed the construction market

Soudal has held a leading position in the construction chemicals market in Poland for many years. At the same time, it is one of the most important advocates of modern technologies and systems - fully in line with the European strategy for energy-efficient construction (EPBD). From the very beginning of its activity, the Soudal concern has been constantly working on the development of innovative construction chemical materials and complex systems that contribute to a dramatic reduction in the loss of thermal energy in buildings. These solutions set market standards in Poland as well and are becoming one of the criteria for energy-efficient construction. An excellent example of such a technology that has changed the construction market is the Soudal Window System - a three-layer installation of window joinery, allowing to achieve the highest thermal insulation parameters of the window joint, thus preventing energy waste. The system requires the use of Soudaband external and internal vapor barrier tapes or Soudatight liquid vapor barrier membranes, as well as sealing compounds to protect the insulation layer, which is polyurethane foam, from degradation under the influence of moisture. However, Soudal experts have gone a step further, proposing SoudaFrame SWI (Soudal Window Installation) - a system for installing windows in the thermal insulation layer, which, combined with the Soudal Window System, makes it possible to achieve the highest insulation parameters of the window joint. In SoudaFrame SWI, the window is mounted in front of the face of the structural wall, directly on a special mounting frame, made of modern GFPR material. This minimizes the number of metal supports, which are one of the main causes of thermal bridges around the window. The system has been certified by the Passive House Institute, which means that it meets the requirements of passive construction.

Socially responsible success

Soudal's development strategy is to use renewable energy sources on an increasing scale. Solar energy is already being used in many factories, and new investments envisage the use of wind and geothermal energy in the near future as well. At Soudal's plants, measures have also been introduced to reduce water consumption in the production cycle to a minimum, and in some processes rainwater recovery systems have been used. Soudal's portfolio is also being systematically expanded to include products with minimal emissions of volatile substances. This is confirmed by relevant certificates, such as EC1 Plus, which means that the products emit virtually no toxic compounds into the environment. The Soudal brand's care for the environment is also expressed in the production of eco-friendly packaging. The company wants not only to reduce the consumption of raw materials, but also the amount of waste generated. Adhesives and sealants currently packaged in thin-walled cartridges reduce plastic waste by about 285 tons a year, and more and more products are available in aluminum foil packaging. Soudal has also introduced eco-friendly packaging for adhesives in buckets, made from 75% PCR plastic. The raw material comes from post-consumer waste, which translates into a significant reduction in the use of virgin raw materials. An important advantage of PCR packaging is also its recyclability. In Poland, eco-friendly cartridges in the T-REX range of popular adhesives have already appeared in 2019, and from 2020 glue buckets in the DIY category.