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Insulation industry news from Global Insulation
US: Knauf Insulation has secured US$3.28m in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and verify Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for insulation. Knauf Insulation will produce the EPDs based on comprehensive Life Cycle Assessments of its products.
Knauf North America director of sustainability Gabriela Fleury said "Transparency is embedded in our core values and a key component of our business conduct. It is imperative that our product documentation provides accurate, reliable and updated information to our stakeholders. This grant will leverage the development and improvement of EPDs, which not only allows clients to make informed decisions about lower embodied carbon products, but also indicate areas of improvement to lower greenhouse gas emissions throughout our operations. This grant represents a significant sustainability leap for all of our stakeholders. It enables us to enhance our EPD portfolio, meeting increasing market demands for product transparency."
BEWI commissions Norrköping circularity hub
04 June 2024Sweden: BEWI has expanded its expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling capacities through the inauguration of its new Norrköping circularity hub in Östergötland. The hub occupies the site of BEWI’s former Norrköping insulation plant. The company says that it is equipped with an extruder to produce raw materials for the production of EPS for use in its product offering. Meanwhile, the site’s strategic location maximises the efficiency with which recyclable materials are obtained, for example local construction debris and fish boxes.
North America: Wood fibre insulation producer TimberHP has entered into a North American distribution contract with CertainTeed. Under the contract, CertainTeed will distribute TimberHP’s products across North America, including as its exclusive distributor in Canada. When fully launched, the offering will include TimberHP’s loose fill, batt and rigid board insulation.
CertainTeed Canada CEO Julie Bonamy said "Driven by our purpose of making the world a better home, this exclusive partnership with TimberHP enhances the sustainable solutions we are bringing to our stakeholders throughout Canada."
TimberHP CEO Joshua Henry said "It is a huge vote of confidence in our technology and our team at TimberHP to partner with a brand as innovative and impactful as CertainTeed. It is essential that we mould the future of construction to be exceptionally easy, effective, energy-efficient and sustainable, and we look forward to addressing those industry needs together."
Denmark: Architecture and engineering consultancy firm Ramboll has published a new study into the possible reduction in CO2 emissions offered by wood-based construction. The study quantified the total reduction potential at 12 – 39%. Materials included in the study included wood fibre or paper insulation, alongside structural timber and wood cladding. Ramboll analysed six types of buildings, including multi-storey and single-family houses.
Etex advances sustainability in 2023
23 April 2024Belgium: Etex says that it ‘considerably’ progressed its Road to Sustainability 2030 plan during 2023. That year, safety intensity increased by 7%, and Etex established a global diversity, equity and inclusion ambassador community of 110 volunteers across 26 countries. In Europe, the company achieved 70% Environmental Product Declaration coverage as a percentage of its turnover, up from 58% in 2022. Etex raised its total use of recycled materials to 7.6%, and achieved a 23% reduction in Scopes 1 and 2 CO₂ compared to 2018 levels, in line with its 2030 target of 35%.
CEO Bernard Delvaux said “In the EU, more than 40% of energy consumed is used in buildings and more than 30% of energy-related greenhouse gasses emissions come from buildings. Next to new building activities, and according to current high energy standards, renovating old building stock should hence be a top priority. With our portfolio of building materials such as glass wool and extruded polystyrene insulation, gypsum wallboard, fibre cement boards and fire protection materials, Etex has the solutions to reach the ambitious targets. But in view of the huge challenge, a holistic and effective plan to boost renovation is needed, to finance and simplify the renovation process, in each of the EU countries.”
Kingspan Insulated Panels North America announces upcoming Mattoon mineral wool insulation plant
02 April 2024US: Kingspan Insulated Panels North America is building a new K-Roc mineral wool insulation plant in Mattoon, Illinois. The producer expects the plant to commence operations in early 2025. It will be equipped with a solar power plant and rainwater harvesting system, recycling system and electric vehicle charging stations. When operational, it will employ 50 people. Kingspan’s K-Roc mineral wool insulation offers a three-hour fire rating in wall applications and one-hour fire rating in ceiling applications.
Kingspan Insulated Panels North America president Alswinn Kieboom said "As a result of continued growth and optimism for the future, the addition of this new facility complements our existing footprint in North America, giving us better access to our customer base. We are looking forward to launching this new site and having a presence in the Midwest."
Owens Corning publishes 2023 Sustainability Report
21 March 2024US: Owens Corning has published its 2023 Sustainability Report, highlighting its advances in sustainability in the past year. These included a 59% share of revenues from reduced-CO2 products, with a 25% share of revenues from 14 products certified as produced with 100% renewable electricity. Scope 1 and 2 emissions fell by 28% from 2018 levels, in line with the group’s 50% 2030 reduction target. It launched a pilot bitumen felt shingle recycling programme, aimed at recycling 2Mt/yr of shingles in the US by 2030. Further, Owens Corning reduced its generation of landfill waste by 14% from 2018 levels, and launched a Circular Economy Recycling Technology Innovation Laboratory in Granville, Ohio. In 2023, the group’s incident rate was 81% below the industry average, and it remains on track to meet its 2030 inclusion and diversity goals.
Senior vice president and chief sustainability officer David Rabuano said “Our 2030 sustainability goals are growing ever closer, and we believe that the targets we have set for ourselves are well within our reach. This confidence is the result of our employees’ unparalleled engagement and enthusiasm for our mission coupled with our investments in the innovation required to execute new solutions.”
Chair and CEO Brian Chambers said “Owens Corning demonstrated outstanding financial and sustainability results in 2023, showcasing the power of our company’s mission to build a sustainable future through material innovation. This report reflects the global scope of our people and our products and the many ways they work to make the world a better place.”
Owens Corning recorded net sales of US$9.68bn in 2023, down by 1% from US$9.76bn in 2022, while its adjusted earnings before interest and taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 2% to US$2.31bn.
Saint-Gobain to power 20% of Italian operations renewably
09 February 2024Italy: Saint-Gobain has entered into a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Switzerland-based utilities provider Axpo Holding. Under the agreement, Axpo Holding will supply 22GWh/yr of renewable electricity from a newly built wind farm in Puglia. The deal will fulfil 11% of Saint-Gobain's Italian energy needs across 10 sites.
The latest PPA with Axpo Italia is Saint-Gobain's fifth in Italy. Collectively, these will bring the group’s reliance on renewables in its Italian operations to 20%.
Metso launches electric mineral wool furnace
26 January 2024Finland: Metso has launched the Outotec Mineral Wool Furnace, an electric furnace for mineral wool production. The new model is based on Metso's established proprietary equipment, used in ferroalloy and slag cleaning applications. As part of Metso's Planet Positive offering, the furnace offers reduced CO2 emissions, high plant availability, extended life and an easily customisable modular design for specific applications.
Technology director Tom Ronnberg said “Demand for insulation materials is growing due to tightening energy efficiency requirements. At the same time, the insulation material industry is aiming for better efficiency and carbon neutrality in their production processes.”
Owens Corning ranks on Dow Jones Sustainability World Index
18 December 2023US: Owens Corning celebrated its inclusion on the Sustainability World Index for its 14th consecutive year on 14 December 2023. Companies’ S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) contributed towards their assessment for the index. Owens Corning has a score of 85.
Chair and chief executive officer Brian Chambers said "Our industry-leading score is a testament to Owens Corning's unwavering commitment to sustainability and our progress toward achieving our 2030 sustainability goals. We remain dedicated to providing sustainable solutions to our customers and making a positive impact on the world."