Sustainable insulation products
Rockwool is an environmentally conscious company with a long track-record of producing, according to independent assessments, one of the most sustainable insulation products available.
During its long lifetime, a typical Rockwool insulation product saves more than 100 times the energy invested in its manufacture, transport and ultimate disposal. Therefore, Rockwool insulation is one of the most practical, cost-effective and environmentally efficient ways that homeowners and organisations can reduce their energy consumption and improve their carbon footprint.
Created from natural and recycled products
Stone wool is made by melting naturally occurring volcanic diabase rock and recycled briquettes, made with carefully selected by-products from our own and other industries. Our high-tech production process employs filters, pre-heaters, after-burners and other cleaning collection systems to ensure an environmentally responsible approach.
And thanks to volcanic activity creating 38,000 times more diabase rock every year than we use, we have an endless supply of raw material that can be extracted without an adverse impact on the natural environment.
Rockwool’s environment commitment
Our Environmental Policy underlines our commitment to:
- Providing a range of environmentally friendly products that reduce energy consumption and costs for our customers
- Operating an effective environmental management system certified to ISO14001:2004
- Continuously monitoring improvements to our environmental management
- Minimising emissions to air, land and water, including reducing energy and consumption as a result of our thermal products
- Encouraging our suppliers to maintain recognised environmental standards
- Informing and consulting local residents about environmental issues relating to our installations
- Complying with all relevant legislation and codes of practice and, where possible, exceeding them.
Reasons why Rockwool products are so sustainable
- Between 2002 and 2008 the amount of waste we sent to landfill decreased by 35%. In 2008 we opened a new £7 million recycling facility at our UK plant in Bridgend to improve this figure even further.
- The energy generated during manufacturing at our Bridgend manufacturing facility is also used to heat our offices and provide hot water across the site.
- We have reduced our water consumption by installing a system that collects rainwater and re-circulates water used in the production process.
- By-products from the manufacturing process are converted into briquettes for use in our furnaces.
- Cut-offs created during the production process are recovered and recycled to reduce our use of virgin raw material.
- Pig iron, a by-product of the production process, is reused by other industries who melt it down to provide new products.
- Molten waste from the Rockwool process can be used as building substrate when it has cooled and hardened and a substantial amount was used to build and extend our Bridgend factory.
- We also provide this material to local landowners for paths and driveways.
- Rockwool works with a pallet management company to ensure that delivery pallets are collected and reused.
When calculated in accordance with ISO 14021, Rockwool products contain 20-30% recycled content1. When calculated in accordance with WRAP’s “Rules of Thumb”, Rockwool products contain more than 50% recycled content2.
- Rockwool insulation produced and installed worldwide this year alone will, in its lifetime, save more than 200 million tonnes of CO2
- Most of Rockwool's building products achieve A and A+ ratings, according to the BRE Green Guide to specification
- Rockwool is 97% recyclable
- We identify waste materials produced by other industries to use in our production process - diverting them from landfill. At present, these residual products help to form 20-30% of the cupola furnace charge
But we are not complacent. We are committed to continually improving the efficiency of our processes and reducing our environmental impact year on year. In fact, Rockwool has some of the most technologically advanced production facilities in the world and actively seeks to exceed and improve on strict Environment Agency performance requirements.
| 1 | 2008 Rockwool UK production data |
| 2 | www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/Rules_of_Thumb1.bcb3f569.4939.pdf |
