Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

North America: Kingspan Insulated Panels North America has released its second annual sustainability report, detailing progress in the third year of the company’s Planet Passionate sustainability initiative. In 2023, Kingspan advanced its use of renewable energy, converting its DeLand, Florida, insulation plant to 100% on-site solar power. The producer reduced its total Scope 1 and 2 CO₂ emissions by 5% year-on-year and its water consumption by 2.17ML compared to 2022. It partnered with Belter Tech to divert 454,000kg of polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam from landfill.

Director of Sustainability Brent Trenga said "Planet Passionate is transforming the business on all levels, recognised by our leadership, employees and the building professionals we collaborate with. We are proud of our 2023 achievements and continue to strive for new milestones in 2024."

India: Knauf Insulation has donated and installed a 600m² insulative Urbanscape Green Roof at Piala Ashar Alo girls’ primary school in Kolkata, West Bengal. The roof includes a 2cm-thick layer of exposed mineral wool in which plants are able to grow. By retaining up to 47% of rainwater, the roof can help to prevent streets from flooding in the rainy season. Knauf Insulation’s Slovenia-based Urbanscape team supported the installation. The producer says that the renovation will protect learners from summer highs of 40°C and winter lows of 9°C, as well as seasonal dust squalls and downpours.

Head of building science Domen Ivanšek said “The flat surface of the 10cm-thick concrete roof was constantly hot, overheating the rooms below, and it was covered with a latex waterproof layer that was coming to the end of its life. When the school’s head said she wanted to provide the children with a place to learn about gardening and botanical science, it was clear that an Urbanscape Green Roof was the best solution all round.”

Denmark: Rockwool has detailed its sustainability achievements for 2020 in its Sustainability Reports 2020. During the year, assessment agency S&P Trucost certified all of Rockwool’s products as ‘positively impactful’ in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The company said that its insulation sold in 2020 saved 874,000GWh of heating energy. It said that the lifetime CO₂ emissions savings of its products are more than 100 times greater than their production emissions. It halved its production waste going to landfill compared to 2019, against reduction targets of 40% by 2022 and 85%. It achieved another of its interim sustainability goals early by increasing water efficiency by 10%, against a targeted 10% by 2022 and 20% by 2030.