Ireland: Kingspan has pledged €3m to the Innovate for Ireland doctoral research programme to support postgraduate research into increasing the sustainability of building materials. The Irish Times newspaper has reported the first beneficiary as materials scientist Abhishek Kaitheri Edathil. His work at the Technological University of the Shannon in Athlone, Westmeath, and Kingspan’s Ikon Innovation Centre in Kingscourt, Cavan, explores new avenues for polyurethane (PU) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation recycling. Edathil holds a master’s degree in Materials Science from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, West Bengal, and bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology in Kochi, Kerala – both in India.

Kingspan head of innovation Sandra Del Bove said “By connecting research excellence with industry, we can help transform breakthrough ideas into practical applications with global impact.”

Czech Republic: Rockwool Czech Republic recorded sales of US$92.5m in 2025, up by under 1% year-on-year. Operating costs rose by 6% year-on-year, to US$42.8m. This contributed to a net loss of US$1.27m, as against a net profit of US$2.31m in 2024. Exterior wall systems and technical insulation reportedly contributed notable sales growth, despite a general decline in industrial construction activity locally.

The producer attributed the loss to a scheduled six-week shutdown of its Bohumín stone wool insulation plant for the replacement of equipment in late 2025.

Europe: Rockwool Foundation Berlin has published new research into gender pay gaps in the EU, Reuters has reported. The study found that salary renegotiation accounts for 50% of gender pay gaps, with men more likely than women to use outside job offers to negotiate higher pay. The foundation concluded that the EU Pay Transparency Directive, enacted in June 2026 to mandate salary range disclosure and pay reporting, will not close gender pay gaps on its own.

Croatia: Rockwool Adriatic is building a new, €13m briquetting unit at its Pićan stone wool insulation plant in Istria, SeeNews has reported. When fully operational in mid-late 2026, the unit will employ 10 people and serve the plant’s complete briquette requirements. Formerly, Istarska Ciglana supplied briquettes for use at the plant.

Plant manager Aleks Fonovic said that the unit will offer ‘greater quality control, increased flexibility and efficiency and a stronger focus on sustainability and circular production.”