Owens Corning’s FOAMULAR Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Insulation received a UL-certified Environmental Product Declaration (EPDs). It was the first XPS rigid foam insulation to be given the designation, according to the company.
EPDs describe products’ environmental impact based upon an established set of product category rules and independently-verified life cycle assessment data from cradle to grave. Raw materials extraction, transportation, manufacturing, packaging and use and disposal at end of life are included in the product’s environmental impact assessment.
Gale Tedhams, director of sustainability at Owens Corning, says EPDs help architects, designers and specifiers make informed purchasing decisions and meet industry standards, including the new LEED v4 requirements.
“Insulation is a key contributor to a building’s overall energy-efficiency, helping to reduce the energy required to maintain a comfortable living or work environment,” Tedhams says.
Additionally, Owens Corning gave lifecycle data for its Thermafiber® Mineral Wool Insulation to the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association for its development of an EPD for light and heavy density mineral wool insulation in North America. The new classification was presented at Greenbuild 2013.