CertainTeed Corporation, North America“s leading manufacturer of exterior and interior building products, has issued its first Corporate Sustainability Report. The 28-page report highlights recent st…
CertainTeed Corporation, North America“s leading manufacturer of exterior and interior building products, has issued its first Corporate Sustainability Report. The 28-page report highlights recent steps the company has taken – and achievements made – on the path to becoming an increasingly sustainable company. We believe strongly in setting sustainability goals, tracking our progress and sharing the results with our employees, suppliers, customers and the communities that we all live in, says Chris Altmansberger, vice president of operations support and process sustainability at CertainTeed Corporation. We continue to demonstrate our commitment by creating a culture which is more responsible to our surrounding environment. One of CertainTeed“s most notable environmental achievements was a substantial reduction in energy use by its facilities – a savings that kept more than 70,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere. The savings is the equivalent of the carbon dioxide absorbed by three million trees in a year. We“re extremely proud of the significant reductions we“ve made in this area in addition to water usage and the amount of waste that our facilities generate, adds Altmansberger. As a result of the company“s accomplishments and leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency, CertainTeed has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2009 and 2010. In addition to responsible manufacturing processes, influencing the entire life cycle of our products through stewardship and innovation is inherent to CertainTeed“s commitment to sustainability, says Aman Desouza, director of innovation and product sustainability at CertainTeed. Doing our part for the environment is one of the best ways we can serve our customers and our world today and for generations to come. In recent years, CertainTeed has developed several innovative, new products that contribute to sustainability of homes and buildings. Many of these products include high-recycled content, help conserve energy and improve indoor air quality (IAQ). Products include: Sustainable Insulation, manufactured to improve energy efficiency without any added formaldehydes, acrylics, dyes or unnecessary fire-retardant chemicals; EnerGen photovoltaic roofing panels, a renewable energy source that also offers aesthetic curb appeal; and AirRenew gypsum board, a revolutionary product that actively improves indoor air quality. The evaluation of life cycle impacts of CertainTeed products has also played a leading role in maximizing their sustainability. For example, CertainTeed Corporation is one of the first building product manufacturers to develop programmes to reclaim vinyl siding and roofing shingles at the end of their lives and recycle them into new, useful products.