South Korea: Researchers at Jeonbuk National University have developed a biodegradable thermal insulation composite from porous biochar derived from spent coffee grounds, according to a paper submitted to the Biochar journal. The team combined the biochar, pre-mixed in water, ethanol and propylene glycol, with a biodegradable ethyl cellulose matrix. The resulting composite recorded a thermal conductivity of 0.04W/m·K, comparable to commercial expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation.

US: GMS has acquired fellow construction products distributor Evergreen Building Products. Evergreen Building Products’ product range includes exterior insulation and finish systems. This will become part of GMS’ exterior cladding offering. M&A Navigator News has reported that Evergreen Building Products operates four locations in Washington, serving commercial and residential customers across Washington, Idaho and Oregon.

Austria/Belgium: Austrotherm has entered exclusive negotiations to acquire Etex’s Ursa extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation business. The business consists of the Bondeno plant in Italy, the El Pla plant in Spain, the Queis plant Germany and the Saint-Avold plant in France.

Etex says that it will now ‘refocus its insulation business’ on glass wool insulation.

Denmark: Rockwool recorded sales of €1.91bn in the first half of 2026, up by 5% year-on-year. The producer’s earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 2%, to €395m. It noted an increase in insulation sales volumes, bolstered by an increase in its market share in the flat roof construction segment and a narrowing of the price gap between its stone wool insulation and competing insulation types.

Rockwool has raised its full-year 2026 sales growth forecast from 3 – 6% to 5 – 7%. It now anticipates group investments for the year of €750m, up by 7% from €700m previously.