Knauf Insulation Launches EarthWool™ Insulation with ECOSE® Technology
NEWS RELEASE
(BRISBANE, Queensland, 1 June 2009) – Knauf
Insulation, one of the leading and fastest-growing global
insulation manufacturers, has recently launched a range of
revolutionary new glasswool products in Australia. The products,
marketed under the EarthWool™ brand deliver superior environmental
credentials using patented ECOSE® Technology.
With most glasswool insulation made using
recycled glass bottles and also highly compression packed, it is
already considered by independent sustainability rankings as
the best performing insulation in terms of low environmental impact
– even better than sheep’s wool according to the Green Guide for
Specification in England. ECOSE® Technology extends the
leading position of glasswool and as a result, Knauf Insulation’s
EarthWool products provide Australia with a new choice of highly
sustainable insulation.
EarthWool products made using
ECOSE® Technology benefit from a binder which has no
added formaldehyde which is based on rapidly renewable bio-based
materials instead of traditional petroleum-based chemicals. The
technology has been developed for Knauf Insulation’s glasswool as
well as for their rock mineral wool products, enhancing their
environmental credentials whilst maintaining the thermal, acoustic
and fire performance and mechanical properties.
ECOSE® Technology gives a
distinctive new look of Knauf Insulation’s EarthWool™ products – a
natural shade of earthy brown, with no added dyes, bleaches or
artificial colours. EarthWool is also less dusty and has a much
softer and friendlier feel whilst retaining its rigidity and
stiffness properties. The ECOSE® Technology binder is up
to 70% less energy intensive than the formaldehyde binders used in
traditional glasswool insulation. As there is no formaldehyde or
phenol used in the manufacturing process for EarthWool, it also
improves the indoor air quality of buildings where these products
are installed (compared to conventional glasswool products).
The new generation of glasswool has already
been introduced throughout North America, in the UK and also in
Spain and it is scheduled to be launched everywhere else in Europe
over the coming months. With the worldwide increase in formaldehyde
free specifications, Knauf Insulation is experiencing significant
demand for glasswool made using ECOSE® Technology.
Regarding the acceptance of the market of this
innovation in the USA, Jeff Brisley, Senior Vice President of Sales
& Marketing of Knauf Insulation, said: “The market response so
far has been absolutely overwhelming and this in markets where
construction output is down significantly. Architects are very
enthusiastic about the sustainability aspects of this new product
and we already see glasswool specifications in building projects
referring to glasswool with ECOSE® Technology. Also,
contractors and installers are now specifically requesting
glasswool from the trade because of the superior handling
characteristics compared to conventional glasswool products”.
Knauf Insulation’s launch of EarthWool with
ECOSE® Technology in Australia is in line with Knauf
Insulation’s long-held culture of environmental stewardship and
commitment to be at the forefront of sustainability. "We see
sustainability as an evolutionary process, based on continuous
improvement and pushing technical boundaries", said Tony Robson,
CEO of Knauf Insulation. "This development is the result of five
years of intensive research and testing and is aimed to fulfill our
desire to provide customers with innovative products which also
meet the growing market demand for more sustainable construction
materials".
ECOSE® Technology is protected by a
number of global patents. This revolutionary new binder technology
is not only used for glasswool and rock mineral wool, but it offers
similar benefits to other products where resin-substitution would
be an advantage, such as wood based panels, abrasives and friction
materials (http://www.ecose-technology.com/).
Knauf Insulation is a leading global
manufacturer of thermal and acoustical insulations for residential,
commercial and industrial applications. For more information about
Knauf Insulation sales and products, visit
www.knaufinsulation.com.au.
# # #