Manufacturers Used 4.1 Billion Pounds of Recycled Materials in 2019-2020

Survey Shows Manufacturers Used 4.1 Billion Pounds of Recycled Materials in the Production of Fibre Glass and Slag Wool Insulation

August 5, 2021

ALEXANDRIA, VA (August 5, 2021) — The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) has announced the results of a recent survey of its members’ use of pre- and post-consumer recycled materials in insulation and acoustical products in 2019 and 2020.  The survey includes data from both U.S. and Canadian manufacturing facilities.

According to the survey, U.S. manufacturers used 4.1 billion pounds of recycled glass in the production of residential, commercial, and industrial thermal and acoustical insulation in 2019 and 2020.

NAIMA Canada members together used 633 million pounds of recycled glass in the production of residential, commercial, industrial, and air handling thermal and acoustical insulation.

U.S. and Canadian facilities used more than 1,333 million pounds of recycled blast furnace slag in the production of thermal and acoustical insulation.  Since the industry’s recycling program began in 1992, NAIMA members’ plants have diverted an estimated 67.9 billion pounds of recycled materials from the waste stream.

“Our industry is tremendously proud of the substantial use of recycled content in the production of energy saving insulation products,” said Curt Rich, President and CEO of NAIMA. “These products ultimately reduce building energy use and decrease our carbon footprint. Over the long term, the fiber glass and mineral wool insulation industry expects to continue using substantial amounts of recycled content in the production of insulation products.” 

While recycled content is just one indicator of a product’s environmental impact, the survey results illustrate the significant impact that an industry can have through the conscientious use of materials.