Rockwool products sold in 2021 will save energy consumption for over XNUMX million homes

With the new environmental regulations for new buildings RE2020 which are gradually being put in place and the FranceRénov' plan launched by the public authorities who wish to accelerate energy renovation, the greening of the economy must take a new step. An ambition to which the ROCKWOOL group fully contributes as shown by the 2021 Sustainability Report which describes in detail the contribution of the company's products to the achievement of environmental objectives.

Jens Birgersson, CEO of ROCKWOOL comments: “Buildings are responsible for 28% of global CO2 emissions and in the European Union alone, around 75% of them are energy inefficient. Our products therefore play a key role in the fight against climate change by reducing energy consumption in buildings. The insulation sold in 2021 will thus continue to reduce the annual energy consumption of more than one million households, and this for the life of the insulation.

Undertake deep renovations for better energy savings

To achieve a significant impact, the renovations must be qualified as "deep", i.e. allowing energy savings of at least 60%, and the materials used must be healthy, fire-resistant and circular. . This is the case of rock wool, a natural material derived from basalt, an almost inexhaustible geological resource, infinitely recyclable and more fire resistant than any other insulation solution.

About deep renovations at ROCKWOOL, Jens Birgersson explains: “In 2021, we made good progress towards our goal of energy efficiency in our own premises. We completed the renovation of five additional buildings, including our headquarters in Gladbeck, Germany, where we managed to reduce energy consumption by 83%. What we want to prove is that it is possible to renovate existing buildings until they reach the energy efficiency standards of new buildings”.

Also in 2021, ROCKWOOL has taken significant steps towards its decarbonization target of reducing its global absolute greenhouse gas emissions by one-third by 2034. Targets all verified and validated as part of the Science project Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Jens Birgersson says: “In 2021, we converted three production lines which now use fusion technology and low carbon energy sources. We also announced plans to build and convert additional low-carbon lines. The emissions reduction effects of these items and other planned investments over the next few years will help us achieve our decarbonization ambitions.”

The ROCKWOOL Group ahead of its targets

In 2021, ROCKWOOL achieved four of its interim sustainability goals before the 2022 deadline.

• One such focus is ROCKWOOL's waste-to-energy offering, Rockcycle. This service facilitates the return of ROCKWOOL stone wool products from construction or demolition sites and ensures that the material is reused or recycled. Thus, Rockcycle makes it possible to meet the challenge of reducing construction waste, which represents more than a third of all solid waste in the world. Rockcycle now operates in 17 countries, against the interim goal of 15 countries, with a 2030 goal of operating in 30 countries.
• In 2021, ROCKWOOL's share of net sales associated with taxonomy-eligible activities reached 85%, underscoring the company's positive contribution to sustainable development in Europe
• Rockwool used in greenhouse cultivation (greenhouse cultivation of plants) in 2021 allowed growers to use 53% less water and produce 76% more yield compared to traditional soil solutions
• Also in 2021, ROCKWOOL was one of the first companies to evaluate its products against the certified Cradle to Cradle pilot standard version 4.0. The rock wool acoustic solutions used have notably improved learning conditions for 1,7 million students in 2021.

At all ROCKWOOL sites around the world, many other investments are already planned to continue the decarbonization of the group's operations and thus contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2050.

Read the ROCKWOOL Sustainability Report 2021 at this address.