UK: A government-backed scheme to retrofit external wall insulation on UK homes has been found to have been a massive failure according to the National Audit Office (NAO). The Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which obliged utility firms to install insulation in their customers’ homes, was found to have installed inadequate insulation in 98% of cases, in many cases leading to damp, mould and serious health hazards in affected homes. The scheme began in 2021 and continued to run after the change of UK government in July 2024.

Many homeowners and tenants are now waiting for repairs, with as many as 22,000 – 23,000 properties affected. Around 6% of affected properties with external insulation were found to have problems that present immediate health and safety risks, including poor ventilation that could lead to carbon-monoxide poisoning and electrical safety risks that could lead to fires.

The NAO pointed out that the prevalence of poor-quality renovations was due to work being subcontracted to firms and individuals with little or no experience in the installation of insulation, while anti-fuel poverty campaigners accused the government of letting ‘cowboys through the front door,’ with very little government oversight. The energy regulator Ofgem estimated that the scheme had also been defrauded to the tune of €65-190m by businesses claiming money for installations that had not been carried out.

UK: The London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council has alleged a conspiracy by Celotex (now a subsidiary of France-based Soprema), its former outright owner France-based Saint-Gobain, and others to fraudulently supply unsafe insulation for use in the council’s social housing projects. Celotex insulation was installed in the Grenfell tower block, where an ‘uncontrollable’ fire broke out, killing 72 people, in the early morning of 14 June 2017.

Counsel for the claimant said that companies failed to highlight the unsuitability of Celotex’s RS5000 polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation for use in high-rise buildings’ façades, after failing to carry out ‘necessary and proper testing’ and supplying the product ‘based on a test the details of which were dishonestly concealed.’ Counsel further criticised Celotex’s defence submission as ‘too long,’ alleging that it made submissions ‘without discrimination as to whether it needed to do so for the purposes of proceedings.’

Counsel for Celotex and Saint-Gobain said “The allegations made against Celotex are complex, serious and are required to be properly pleaded.”

The hearing is due to conclude on 9 October 2025.

US: Building products installation and distribution company TopBuild acquired insulation producer and distributor Specialty Products and Insulation (SPI) on 7 October 2025. TopBuild paid US$1bn, partly using the proceeds of a senior notes issuance in September 2025. The acquisition excludes SPI's metal building insulation business.

SPI recorded US$700m in sales and US$75m in earnings in the 12-month period up to 30 June 2025. It employs 1000 people across 90 sites.

SPI President and CEO Ray Sears said "TopBuild is the best strategic owner for our business, better positioning the combined organisation to provide customers with innovative and high-quality solutions."

TopBuild President and CEO of Robert Buck said "The transaction drives our growth in non-cyclical revenue streams, given that approximately 55% of SPI's revenue relates to recurring maintenance and repair."

India: Rockwool India intends to start operations at its new 50,000t/yr stone wool plant at Cheyyar, Tamil Nadu in the second quarter of 2026. The unit had an investment of around US$60m, will be larger than the company’s existing plant in Gujarat and will become the company’s key production site in India, according to The Hindu newspaper. The new plant will also manufacture sandwich panels.