CertainTeed secures Environmental Product Declaration for Sustainable Insulation

CertainTeed has strengthened its commitment to sustainability and product transparency by issuing its first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for Sustainable Insulation.

In issuing the new EPD, CertainTeed becomes one of the first insulation manufacturers to provide third-party verification of its product's environmental performance from manufacturing to end-of-life impact.

To create the EPD, UL Environment evaluated life cycle assessment data for CertainTeed’s fiber glass Sustainable Insulation on critical environmental impacts, such as raw material extraction and use, production processes, packaging, logistics, through end-of-life —providing independent verification of the data in accordance with ISO 14025. The new EPD joins CertainTeed's industry-leading library of EPDs for acoustical ceiling solutions, which includes transparent data on more than 21 of the company's ceiling product families.

"EPDs are critical in helping architects and specifiers meet the newest generation of green building codes, including LEED v4, which emphasize a product's overall environmental impact rather than individual attributes like recycled content or VOC emissions," said Drew Brandt, vice president of marketing and R&D for CertainTeed's Insulation Group. "By issuing an EPD for Sustainable Insulation, we are providing transparent, reliable environmental information on the product's performance so our customers can be confident in its true environmental performance from cradle to grave. The EPD positions CertainTeed as a leading manufacturer that is prepared for the release of LEED v4, as new credits are available for published life cycle data."

Sustainable Insulation is produced at CertainTeed's Athens, Ga., and Chowchilla, Calif. manufacturing facilities. Its main raw material is sand, an inert, abundant and naturally renewing resource. In addition, Sustainable Insulation includes both pre- and post-consumer recycled glass and a sustainable, plant-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde, acrylics, dyes, or unnecessary fire retardants and is GREENGUARD Gold Certified for low chemical emissions. Rigorous monitoring and energy management at the plants has reduced the amount of energy needed to manufacture the product, and Sustainable Insulation's highly compressed packaging allows CertainTeed to transport more products on one truck from strategically located distribution centers, minimizing transportation impacts.

Sustainable Insulation can reduce energy costs throughout the life of a structure with no additional energy or maintenance. It is available in a variety of R-values ranging from R-11 to R-38 and is designed for use in standard wood stud and steel-frame wall and ceiling assemblies. Sustainable Insulation resists moisture absorption and won't settle or lose its R-value over time. Kraft-faced batts and rolls also act as a vapor retarder to help prevent condensation and mold growth in the wall cavity. 

For more information and to view the full EPD, visit www.certainteed.com/InsulationEPD.