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.

UAE: Knauf Insulation Holding has announced the signing of an agreement with Exeed Industries to acquire a holding in their subsidiary, Exeed Insulation which will operate as a joint venture between Exeed and Knauf, under Knauf Insualtion management.

Exeed Insulation currently operates a newly built glass wool insulation plant in the ICAD 1 Musaffah in Abu Dhabi. In addition to assuming management control of the business, Knauf Insulation will bring its production experience and technology, including ECOSE Technology, to ensure that the plant produces the highest quality mineral wool and becomes the lowest cost mineral wool plant in the region. Knauf Insualtion will also provide product development and marketing expertise to ensure that the business can meet all the current and future needs of specifiers, distributors and contractors throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council states.

Following completion of the transaction the business will be renamed Knauf Exeed Insulation and will be managed by Thorsten Dambly, formerly General Manager, for Knauf Insulation in Austria and Switzerland.

US: Johns Manville (JM), the global manufacturer of energy-efficient building products, has announced the publication of its 2012 Sustainability Report, 'We Build Environments.'

"We intend to capitalise on our commitment to sustainability to ensure that we are better prepared to meet both the opportunities and challenges of our dynamic world and that we continue to deliver safe products that delight our customers," said Mary Rhinehart, JM president and CEO. The 2012 report includes 18 fully reported performance indicators applying the Global Reporting Initiative 3.1 guidelines.

Key indicators from JM's 2012 performance summary for the insulation market include a 19% increase of average fibreglass insulation compared to 2011. Total energy use for the company rose by 0.9% and total production fell by 0.4%.

Turkey: Austrian insulation producer Austrotherm has said that its second insulation plant in Turkey will go into operation at the beginning of April 2013. Austrotherm has invested Euro4m in the project.

The new plant is located in Turgutlu, near Izmir and will be focused on the production of grey thermally insulated curtail panels from expanded polystyrene and rigid foams. The new plant will employ 40 workers.

Austrotherm saw its sales rise by 8% to Euro245m in 2012. Austrotherm's foreign sales grew stronger than those on the domestic Austrian market in 2012, according to its CEO Peter Schmid.