Owens Corning Publishes 2016 Sustainability Report
Efforts Gaining Momentum in Reducing Emissions, Helping Communities, and Certifying Products
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) today published its 2016 sustainability report. The company’s 11th annual report, themed It All Adds Up, documents the actions and efforts driving its global “handprint” and environmental footprint progress. Owens Corning has a long history of expanding its positive impact through sustainability. It is a core value of the company, exemplified through the actions of its 16,000 employees around the world.
“I am proud of the progress our employees have made toward advancing our sustainability goals and in doing our part to make a positive impact on the world,” said Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Frank O’Brien-Bernini. “Our unwavering commitment to sustainability has been broadened and deepened as we continually challenge ourselves to collaborate more with others to amplify our impact around the globe. We look forward to continuing this momentum for the benefit of our company and the planet.”
The report features progress of the past year against four strategic sustainability pillars. Highlights of 2016 include:
Operations Sustainability
- Continued to focus on environmental footprint reduction with particulate matter emissions and water use down 23% and 37%, respectively, relative to 2010 levels, which exceed the company’s 2020 goals
- Began purchasing power from 250 megawatts of new wind power capacity, the equivalent of the yearly electricity use of 65,000 U.S. homes
Product and Supply Chain Sustainability
- Earned the following product certifications:
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s asthma & allergy friendly™ certification for Pure Safety® insulation
- Living Product Imperative certification and Declare Labels for unfaced batt insulation and unbonded loosefill
- Cradle to Cradle Material Health certification for extruded polystyrene foam insulation
- Facilitated the recycling of 2.5 billion pounds of roofing shingles, and 1.3 billion pounds of glass (used in Owens Corning insulation)
Energy Efficiency and Durable Material Solutions at Scale
- Helped apply insulation solutions in low-income housing in Chile, reducing the need to heat homes by burning wood, which is the country’s main source of air pollution
- Worked with wind turbine manufacturers to help make this renewable energy more economical via Owens Corning’s composites portfolio, material science experts, and rapid prototyping capability
Safety, Health, Employee Engagement and Community Vitality
- Launched a science-based global wellness program for employees and their families
- Initiated a global program – including education, counseling, and medication – to help all employees and family members live tobacco-free
- Partnered with Habitat for Humanity and World Vision to provide safe, energy-efficient housing for 1,500 families in need in the U.S., Canada, and China
- Began work with the Concrete Preservation Institute to restore the historic Battleship Row mooring quays and help U.S. military personnel transition to civilian jobs
Owens Corning's 2016 Sustainability Report is consistent with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines known as GRI-G4. GRI's Sustainability Reporting Guidelines set a globally applicable framework for reporting the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of an organization's activities, products, and services.
The full report is available online at: https://w.owenscorning.com/corporate/sustainability.
About Owens Corning
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) develops, manufactures, and markets insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites. Global in scope and human in scale, the company’s market-leading businesses use their deep expertise in materials, manufacturing, and building science to develop products and systems that save energy and improve comfort in commercial and residential buildings. Through its glass reinforcements business, the company makes thousands of products lighter, stronger, and more durable. Ultimately, Owens Corning people and products make the world a better place. Based in Toledo, Ohio, Owens Corning posted 2016 sales of $5.7 billion and employs about 16,000 people in 26 countries. It has been a Fortune 500® company for 63 consecutive years. For more information, please visit www.owenscorning.com
