Innovation

Truscore’s innovations are modern PVC-based wall and ceiling panels. These panels are easily installable that combine sustainable materials with nanotechnology. Limiting the toxic fumes created by drywall in landfills will satisfy Sustainability Goal number three for Trusscore. Drywall decomposes in the worst way possible, by releasing toxic fumes into the air as bacteria convert the gypsum within the wall into hydrogen sulphide. Hydrogen sulphide is a toxic fume that could potentially be lethal; not to mention also foul-smelling. A decrease in these fumes will bring a greater quality of air to the region and will incidentally improve the health of any individuals living near a landfill. Trusscore walls should not end up in landfills because they are recyclable and reusable, but even if you did throw a Trusscore wall into the dump it would not do any harm to the air quality surrounding it.

Trusscore supplies a plethora of opportunities and jobs and is a leader in the community. A quick look at Trusscore and its impact will make you confident that it succeeds in fulfilling SDG number eight, “Decent Work and Economic Growth”. The information for jobs at Trusscore is on a page named “build a career” - an accurate title for what Trusscore is willing to supply. The company promotes how it works as a team with its employees and then talks about the benefits of working with Trusscore. The company demonstrates forward thinking not only with its manufacturing but also with its employees. A ten-minute scan of the career page is enough to pick up on the main features of working for Trusscore: forward-thinking, benefit-heavy, and highly rewarding.

Possibly the most obvious Sustainability Goal attained by Trusscore, number nine, “Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure”. can be shown by a quote directly from Trusscore;

“Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard has been recognized in the Best of International Builders’ Show (IBS) Awards as one of the most innovative building products. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Best of IBS awards recognizes outstanding building products and services from exhibiting companies.”

The last two SGDs are interconnected, eleven and twelve, Sustainable Cities and Communities and Responsible Consumption and Production, respectively. Trusscore is created with highly recyclable and reusable materials so if one wanted to tear down their Trusscore wall, another wall could go up somewhere else. A sustainable city would have to preach and implement responsible consumption to maintain its sustainability. Trusscore aids in this mission by supplying the city with building materials that can do just that, and more. Trusscore can last up to 100 years and doesn’t need much maintenance. A city or community wanting to stay sustainable would inevitably look to Trusscore for its flawless integration of responsible consumption and production.

Inspiration

Dave Caputo remembers the exact age he was when he recognized a problem which eventually led to Trusscore. When Dave was 13, his close friend was learning drywall by working with his dad. “As a kid, I saw my friend put up drywall, and I thought to myself, there has to be a better way”. Dave remembers the waste that was created from the drywalling. The majority of the material went into the garbage. Not only was there excess waste, but there was also a giant dust mess. When Dave would pick up his friend to spend time together he said he would put a sheet down in the car because he knew there would be lots of dust. He consistently thought to himself there must be a better way.

Dave did not jump right into creating Trusscore. He spent many years starting companies and selling them, generating many connections and a great portfolio. After that business venture, Dave spent a few years in the wild reconnecting with nature. Throughout these years his mind kept going back to hating drywall and its disadvantages. This was what led to the creation of Trusscore.

Overall impact

The impact of Trusscore’s product maintains sustainability for future generations. As the general population becomes much more dedicated and aware of climate change, sustainable products are growing exponentially and are increasing in demand. Trusscore’s product has both long and short-term advantages. In the short term, the product does not require any additional work than simply the product they provide. This includes boarding and painting the drywall. Because of this, it saves materials and lessens their eco-footprint. In the long term, Trusscore’s product can last much longer than traditional drywall. This is extremely important as once the product has been constructed, there is no need for multiple changes throughout future years. Once again, this saves material and contributes to a more sustainable world.

Sustainable building materials are an industry that is exponentially on the rise. Unlike drywall, Trusscore’s product is advertised to typically outlast the structure that it’s installed in. This strength and durability are exactly the sustainability that is needed to maintain the earth’s delicate climate. Trusscore is at the forefront of their industry and they have so much more innovation to achieve. Shortly, it is not unlikely to suggest that Trusscore will be a household name.

Business benefit

As the construction/development industry increased over the past decade, Trusscore saw the opportunity to develop a technology to improve the sustainability of these processes. Traditionally, drywalling is a very messy process that creates tons of landfill, leading to increased pollution and contaminated water. CEO Dave Caputo was not impressed with the industry practices and dedicated his work to improving these problems to protect the longevity of our plant. Since Trusscore developed this process, its goal has been to be a material science company. With this comes research and development. As Trusscore continues its research, it will begin to find new advancements that will help further the sustainability of the company. This includes ideas like the recent development of eco-friendly factories, as solar tiles are used at the plants where Trusscore produces its materials.

Trusscore's business operations have increased because of this new advancement of their drywalling. As this process is easy to install and environmentally friendly, Trusscore has grown its market share and expanded its product offering around North America. Customers are satisfied with using Trusscore products because of their sustainability. Every product is high quality and what separates them from other companies is that Trusscore walls can be reused if they tear them down. This allows them to keep positive relations with their stakeholders and spread awareness of the negative effects of traditional drywalling.

Social and environmental benefit

For the environment, Trusscore has created a better product than drywall and is a lot more sustainable as well. When looking at labour, Trusscore has made installation and waste removal and almost eliminated all of the headaches that come with it. Drywall requires a minimum of 2 people to complete the job, and has many different stages that you need to reach to successfully drywall (boarding, sanding, mudding, priming). With all that labour and work, about 15-20% of the drywall ends up as waste, and even more, if it rains. With Trusscore, it not only helps narrow a 2-person job down to 1 but almost entirely eliminates waste! Another benefit to the environment is Trusscore’s inclusion of SDG number 12, Responsible Consumption and Production. Responsible consumption and production creates a more circular economy, Trusscore’s products are created in a factory that runs fully on solar energy so no carbon emissions are generated. Trusscore’s products can last up to one hundred years, so this means customers do not need to buy excess materials and at the end of the product’s life they can be recycled.

The drywall, itself, contains materials that can create hydrogen oxide. With drywall, once you install it, it cannot be reused and must be taken to the dump. The waste is so much that some dumps even have a separate entrance for drywall, unlike the Trusscore product which is effective and efficient. Trusscores drywall lasts for around 100 years, and can easily be taken down to be reused in different locations as well. Not only is Trusscore’s drywall better for the environment and workers, but they also cost relatively the same! With Drywall, while the drywall itself is relatively cheap if you look at all the expenses used with installing it, such as mud, water, boarding, painting, priming, and labour for multiple people; it comes out to around the same, with a lot less work and physical labour involved. All these benefits help to create more Sustainable Cities and Communities which is SDG number 11.

For all the reasons above, Trusscore has created a sustainable innovation that not only benefits the environment but a product that helps society and all these workers. A quote that was shared with us in the interview is, “When a less skilled person can do a job better than someone more skilled, that’s where technology wins” and that is what Trusscore’s innovation does.

Interview

Dave Caputo, CEO