Kingspan Insulated Panels North America has just released its 2024 Sustainability Report, showcasing the company’s commitment to its ambitious Planet Passionate sustainability program. This report highlights progress across key sustainability pillars – carbon and energy reduction, circularity, and water management – marking the fourth year of the company’s Planet Passionate journey.
In 2024, Kingspan’s North American insulated panel operations made substantial strides toward these goals, with achievements in carbon reduction, energy efficiency, and waste diversion.
2024 key highlights include:
- 13.5% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions
- 61.6% reduction in landfill waste
- 37.6% of total direct nonrenewable energy used
- 500,000 mega liters of rainwater harvested
- 100% wholly owned sites with solar PV
- 92% electric vehicle fleet
- 16 community events across 6 sites
A Commitment to Decarbonization
The built sector has a growing role in addressing climate change, with embodied carbon becoming a significant portion of the industry's overall carbon footprint. Kingspan is making concerted efforts to decarbonize its operations and reduce the embodied carbon of its products.
One of the company’s major moves in 2024 was a 13.5% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources). This progress reflects Kingspan's commitment to decarbonizing its manufacturing processes and supply chain. Additionally, renewable energy use has been a central focus for Kingspan, with the company consuming 8.3 GWh of direct renewable energy, a 37.6% increase over previous years. The company also generated 2.62 GWh of renewable energy, further demonstrating its dedication to reducing emissions and supporting energy security.
Reducing Waste and Maximizing Resources
Circularity is another cornerstone of Kingspan’s sustainability efforts. The company has long been committed to circular processes and is continually investing in ways to recycle and reuse materials.
Kingspan has also made headway in managing production waste, diverting over 6,500 metric tons of waste from landfills in 2024 alone. With a 61.6% reduction in waste to landfill compared to 2020, the company’s focus on circularity continues to yield impressive results. Across all sites, Kingspan achieved a 76% waste diversion rate in 2024.
Water Management: Tackling Scarcity with Innovative Solutions
Water scarcity is a growing global concern, particularly as climate change exacerbates droughts. Kingspan is addressing this challenge head-on with its water efficiency initiatives, which include rainwater harvesting and waterless manufacturing processes. By implementing rainwater harvesting systems at its wholly owned sites, the company collected 500,000 mega liters of rainwater in 2024. Additionally, Kingspan gathered 20,000 gallons of HVAC condensation, further reducing its water consumption.
Kingspan’s waterless IMP manufacturing process also eliminates the need for water in production, focusing consumption only on sinks, toilets, and irrigation systems. These efforts demonstrate the company’s commitment to preserving vital water resources while reducing operational costs.
Looking Ahead: A Continuing Commitment to Sustainability
The release of Kingspan’s 2024 Sustainability Report marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing sustainability journey.
As Brent Trenga, Director of Sustainability for Kingspan Insulated Panels North America, puts it: “Planet Passionate is more than a commitment – it’s a transformative journey that’s reshaping our entire business, from leadership to on-the-ground operations. In 2024, we continued to build on our successes, driving substantial progress in energy efficiency, circularity, and water management. Our team is dedicated to delivering on our sustainability targets, and we’re excited to push even further in the years ahead.”
To learn more about Kingspan’s sustainability efforts and to read the full 2024 Sustainability Report, click here.