Knauf Insulation showcases achievements in sustainability at Carbon Tr

Knauf Insulation, the UK’s leading manufacturer of insulation products, showcased its sustainable product range and environmentally responsible practices to business leaders at the Carbon Trust’s annual conference at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff last month.  The company employs almost 600 people in the UK with around 40 per cent at its manufacturing plants in Queensferry and Cwmbran.

The conference was an opportunity for local organisations and businesses to take advantage of support from the Carbon Trust and leading low carbon companies about how to implement the changes necessary to help cut carbon emissions and reduce costs and support them in their low carbon journey. 

Lydia Sharples, head of communications at Knauf Insulation comments: “As one of the main contributors to the thermal efficiency of a building, insulation is a primary driver in making the UKs building stock more energy efficient.  As a result we have a responsibility as a large employer to commit to saving energy and to understand and minimise the impact of the manufacturing process on the environment.”

She continues: “Since 2000, the glass mineral wool sites in St Helens and Cwmbran have reduced their carbon emissions significantly. We are proud of our achievements as a sustainable business.  It was great to be able to showcase some of our products at this year’s conference and support other businesses as they seek to drive energy efficiencies and become more cost efficient.”

Knauf Insulation manufactures the UK’s widest range of insulation materials, including glass mineral wool insulation at its plant in Cwmbran, and rock mineral wool insulation at a site in Queensferry. The company showcased its low carbon achievements at the conference and staff were on hand to provide an insight into the actions taken to reduce environmental impact across all areas of the business.

Knauf Insulation’s ongoing energy saving initiatives include the procurement of energy efficient equipment, development and implementation of low carbon technologies such as ECOSE^® Technology, a revolutionary, new, formaldehyde-free binder technology, based on rapidly renewable materials, instead of petro-based chemicals which is up to 70 per cent less energy intensive than traditional binders, and the procurement of raw materials from local sustainable sources where possible.  The company also has established partnerships with sustainable suppliers, including responsible waste management companies with strong recycling, reuse and reduce policies.

The Carbon Trust is a not for profit company providing specialist support to help businesses and the public sector boost business returns by cutting carbon emissions, saving energy and commercialising low carbon technologies.

For more information about Knauf Insulation please visit www.knaufinsulation.co.uk

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Notes to editors:

Knauf Insulation is the UK’s leading manufacturer of insulation products, and the only producer of four types of insulation: Earthwool, encompassing glass and rock mineral wool with the revolutionary ECOSE^â Technology, extruded polystyrene (XPS) under the Polyfoam^® brand name and extruded polyethylene (XPE).

Knauf Insulation mineral wool products with ECOSE Technology are made with a formaldehyde-free binder based on rapidly renewable materials, instead of traditional petro-based chemicals. ECOSE Technology is up to 70 per cent less energy intensive than traditional binders. Complementing the new sustainability benefits, the patented ECOSE Technology also produces a ‘super-soft’ and easier to handle wool.

In the UK, the company employs around 500 people at its four manufacturing plants at St Helens, Queensferry, Cwmbran and Hartlepool. Knauf Insulation is part of the Knauf Group – a global corporation delivering products and services including: building materials and systems based on gypsum and gypsum-related products, thermal insulation, sound insulation and fire protection materials, limestone and lime products, chalk and cement related products and plant engineering.