Building insulation products from Dow Building Solutions, distributed by Dynamic Composite Technologies in Australia, have achieved recertification by the Cradle to Cradle Certification program, a renowned eco-label that assesses a product's safety and environmental impact.
The Styrofoam brand extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam insulation was originally certified and announced at IBS in 2010, receiving a Silver Lion and Dow Thermax™ Exterior Insulation achieved BASIC recertification.
Scott Young, global director of energy efficiency and sustainability for Dow Building Solutions says; "We feel that recertification of our building insulation products under a holistic analysis like Cradle to Cradle is a preferred approach to product certification and selection versus a single-attribute assessment.”
"It provides a stronger indication of a product's comparative value in helping to build a more energy-efficient world, and a clear signal of our commitment to meeting Dow's 2015 Sustainability Goals, including energy efficiency, climate change, community success and local protection of human health and the environment."
The Cradle to Cradle approach is more thorough than single-attribute eco-labels, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the sustainability attributes of a product, as well as the practices employed in manufacturing the product. Administered by MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, LLC), a global sustainability consulting and product certification firm, the Cradle to Cradle Certification consists of analysing products in five categories: material health, material reutilisation, renewable energy use, water stewardship, and social responsibility.
"We believe that the holistic, multi-attribute approach the Cradle to Cradle Certification program takes is an invaluable guide for making high-performance, 'net-zero energy' homes and buildings a practical, affordable option for mainstream new construction builders and retrofitters around the world," said Young. "In order for Green to become mainstream, solutions will need to evolve so that they remain affordable, accessible, sustainable, repeatable, durable, and easy to use and install."
Dow Building Solutions has a been providing energy saving solutions and to the global construction industry for over 60 years, commencing with the launch of Styrofoam building insulation. Dow Building Solutions offers building technology to help builders, designers, architects and home owners protect against wind, rain and moisture, while contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and energy expenses.
