The prized goal of all committed building materials manufacturers is 100% recyclability, and Rockwool has demonstrated its ability to deliver true sustainability in a joint trial with Eurobond, Corus and Sims Recycling Solutions.

By developing a recycling process for composite panels, the need for eventual disposal of the panels to landfill could be eliminated. Although the materials are inert, pressure on landfill space is high, so the new process would provide an important environmental saving.

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Around 800 sq ms of Eurobond’s composite panels were taken from a wall demolished during the extension of a bottling hall for Magners Irish Cider, in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. The 2m by 2m panels comprised sheet steel facings with a Rockwool core, which were fed through the Sims plant in Newport. This successfully and economically separated the stonewool insulation and the steel, which were shipped to Rockwool and Corus respectively for recycling and re-use.

"Rockwool is 100% recyclable, so inclusion of the recycled panel material is easy. It could be making its way back to Ireland as composite panel core, within weeks," commented Peter Batchelor of Rockwool.

(CL)