Dow Building Solutions Insulation Products Receive Cradle to Cradle® Certification Renewal
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – January 12, 2011 – Building insulation products from Dow Building Solutions have achieved recertification by the Cradle to Cradle® Certification program, a well-known, multi-attribute eco-label that assesses a product’s safety and environmental impact. Originally certified and announced at IBS last year after rigorous analysis, STYROFOAM™ Brand Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam Insulation and SAFETOUCH™ Fiberglass-Free Insulation both recertified at the SILVER level, while STYROFOAM SIS™ Brand Structural Insulated Sheathing, THERMAX™ (ci) Exterior Insulation, and STYROFOAM™ Brand Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Insulation all achieved BASIC recertification.
“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,” said Scott Young, global director of energy efficiency and sustainability for Dow Building Solutions. “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.”
Unlike single-attribute eco-labels, the Cradle to Cradle approach takes a more comprehensive assessment in evaluating 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 process evaluates products in five categories: material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship, and social responsibility.
Dow products that have achieved renewed Cradle to Cradle Certification are eligible for points that contribute toward various building certifications, such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Rating Systems and the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) National Green Building Program.
“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."
About Dow Building Solutions
Dow Building Solutions has a 60+ year legacy of providing energy saving solutions to the global commercial and residential construction industry, which began with the launch of its flagship STYROFOAM™ Brand Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam Insulation, one of the most recognized brands of insulation in the world. A market-facing business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Building Solutions offers exceptional building science expertise to help builders, designers, architects and home/building owners reduce energy costs and protect against wind, rain and moisture, while contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. More information about Dow Building Solutions can be found at www.dowbuildingsolutions.com
About The Dow Chemical Company
Dow combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
About MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, LLC
MBDC is a consulting and certification firm that helps clients become environmental leaders and create a positive footprint on the planet by implementing the Cradle to Cradle framework. The Framework is based on internationally recognized architect/designer William McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart's book Cradle to Cradle - Remaking the Way We Make Things, published in 2002 by NorthPoint Press. MBDC has two primary service offerings: Cradle to Cradle® Certification is a rigorous and comprehensive certification program that evaluates products and materials for human health, environmental health and recyclability. Cradle to Cradle® Consulting helps clients integrate the larger Cradle to Cradle® design framework to optimize product life cycles, organizational operations and decision-making. MBDC works with global clients within various sectors and industries. Cradle to Cradle® is a trademark of MBDC. Cradle to Cradle Certified (CM) is a certification mark of MBDC.
For further information, please contact Jan McKinnon, Sr. Communications Manager, The Dow Chemical Company, at (519) 541-0336, jmckinnon@dow.com; or Elizabeth McDonnell, Gibbs & Soell Public Relations, at (212) 697-2600, emcdonnell@gibbs-soell.com
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