Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Spain/Portugal: Knauf Insulation Iberia met its company growth objective of 5% year-on-year growth in 2019, a year in which it supplied two major developments: the Government of Catalonia’s administrative complex and the VP Plaza Hotel in Madrid. The latter won the US Green Building Council (GBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificate, the first hotel to achieve this certification.

Interempresas News has reported that the focus of Knauf Insulation Iberia’s strategy in 2020 will be on maintaining its leadership in the sustainable building sector and in the search for products and solutions aimed at zero energy consumption building conversions and construction. Knauf Insulation Iberia CEO Oscar del Rio said, “Bearing in mind the economic uncertainty derived from the coronavirus crisis, our objective will be to maintain our penetration objectives.”

The company’s growth in 2018 was 10%.

US: Knauf Insulation has won a 2019 Greenbuild Leadership Award for outstanding contributions to sustainable building by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The insulation producer was recognised for providing innovative solutions that both reduce energy consumption and save resources. The USGBC said that Knauf set an ‘outstanding’ example for the international green construction industry through its commitment to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and other green building practices and its corporate social responsibility commitment.

“Knauf Insulation serves as a model for the international community. Your commitment to corporate social responsibility and improving the quality of life is an inspiration," said Mahesh Ramanujamm, the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of USGBC and Green Business Certification.

The award was received on behalf of Knauf Insulation by its Sustainability and Product Regulatory Affairs Director Vincent Briard at Greenbuild Europe, an annual USGBC forum for sustainable building experts held in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

US: A proposed Californian state legal bill threatens to phase out potentially toxic flame-retardants in foam insulation. The chemical industry has opposed the bill arguing that the move jeopardises energy-efficiency measures and doesn't take into account forthcoming legislation.

The sponsor of the bill, the US Green Building Council of California, said in a supporting letter that the bill is necessary because the adverse effects on health by halogenated organic compounds in flame-retardants are well documented.

However, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) has stated that the bill will unnecessarily circumvent the Department of Toxic Substances Control's forthcoming green chemistry regulations, which will identify potentially problematic chemicals in consumer products. The ACC added that, "Since buildings account for an estimated 36% of total energy use and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, California should be encouraging, not discouraging, the use of energy-saving building materials."

The bill is scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee on 29 April 2013.