Knauf Insulation Selected for EPA Grant

Knauf Insulation Selected for EPA Grant

Knauf fiberglass insulation with exclusive formaldehyde-free, plant based, ECOSE® technology.

07/22/2024

Knauf leads the way in product transparency.

Shelbyville, IN, July 22, 2024 - Knauf Insulation, Inc. (Knauf), a family-owned business and one of the largest fiberglass insulation manufacturers in the U.S., was selected to receive a $3.28 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) titled Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Construction Materials and Products.

The grant-funded project will aim to improve the quantity, quality, and robustness of data used to develop Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). The project will exemplify best practices relating to data disclosure and verification to spur market demand for low embodied carbon construction products. Embodied carbon refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, transportation and disposal of a product or material. EPDs are standardized documents that disclose embodied carbon data, alongside other environmental impacts, based on comprehensive Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). LCAs evaluate a product's environmental footprint from cradle to grave, considering raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use and end-of-life phases. Construction industry professionals use EPDs to calculate the full lifecycle impact of a built environment, including the embodied carbon.

Knauf will use the grant funds to leverage technical expertise to perform LCAs which will then be used for EPD development and verification. By making EPDs and LCAs readily available, Knauf enables consumers and industry professionals to make informed choices, favoring products with lower embodied carbon and contributing to a more sustainable built environment.

Knauf recently made a significant capital investment into facility energy monitoring equipment that will measure individual processes and reveal efficiency improvement opportunities, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing. This energy data will now be available to improve the granularity and quality of data used for the development of EPDs.

Knauf North America's Director of Sustainability, Gabriela Fleury further explained, "Transparency is embedded in our core values and a key component of our business conduct. It is imperative that our product documentation provides accurate, reliable and updated information to our stakeholders. This grant will leverage the development and improvement of EPDs which not only allows clients to make informed decisions about lower embodied carbon products, but also indicate areas of improvement to lower greenhouse gas emissions throughout our operations."

In cooperation with the EPA, Knauf's team will begin this five-year project in 2024. The goal is to have updated EPDs for 100% of Knauf's product portfolio, including new and optimized versions of current EPDs. In addition, Knauf will produce a best practice manual on EPD development for industry stakeholders and provide educational seminars to its employees at manufacturing facilities on greenhouse gas reductions. "This grant represents a significant sustainability leap for all of our stakeholders," said Knauf Insulation North America CEO, Matt Parrish. "It enables us to enhance our EPD portfolio, meeting increasing market demands for product transparency."

ABOUT KNAUF INSULATION

Knauf Insulation North America is part of Knauf Group, a family-owned global manufacturer of building materials based in Iphofen, Germany. As a multi-billion-dollar company, Knauf leverages the expertise of over 40,000 employees across 300 production facilities in 90 countries. In North America, Knauf Insulation is a leading manufacturer of thermal and acoustical fiberglass insulation for residential, commercial, industrial, OEM, and metal building applications. Knauf's mission is to challenge conventional thinking and create innovative solutions that shape the way we live and build in the future, with care for the people who make them, the people who use them and the world we all depend on. For more information, visit www.knaufnorthamerica.com.

Media Contact:

Josh Leitman
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317-391-7170
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