Armstrong World Industries Introduces New Product to Reduce Carbon in Commercial Buildings
Armstrong World Industries (NYSE: AWI) has introduced new Ultima® Low Embodied Carbon (LEC) ceiling panels, aimed at reducing the environmental impact of commercial buildings.
These panels, along with the recently launched Ultima® Templok®, focus on minimizing operational and embodied carbon through innovative technologies like wood-based biochar. Ultima LEC panels offer a 43% reduction in embodied carbon and are USDA-verified as 100% biobased content.
These products support decarbonization and circularity in building design, construction, and operation. AWI also provides tools and services like ProjectWorks™ to enhance labor efficiency and reduce material waste. The company has a longstanding commitment to sustainability, including a ceiling tile recycling program that has diverted 220 million square feet of old materials from landfills.
- Ultima® LEC panels reduce embodied carbon by 43%.
- USDA-verified 100% biobased content in Ultima LEC panels.
- Introduction of Ultima® Templok® with phase change materials for energy savings.
- Products designed to lower carbon emissions over a building's lifecycle.
- Tools and services like ProjectWorks™ enhance labor efficiency and reduce material waste.
- Ceiling tile recycling program diverted 220 million square feet of materials from landfills.
- No immediate financial impact data provided.
- Potential high production costs for innovative, sustainable materials.
- Reliance on market adoption and customer specification for success.
Insights
Armstrong World Industries' introduction of the new Ultima® Low Embodied Carbon (LEC) ceiling panels is a significant development in the context of environmental sustainability in the construction industry. By reducing the embodied carbon of their ceiling panels by
From a sustainability perspective, the USDA-verified 100% biobased content is a compelling feature. Biobased materials are derived from renewable sources, making them a sustainable alternative to conventional, fossil-based materials. The use of sustainable, wood-based biochar integrates carbon sequestration directly into the product. This not only reduces the carbon footprint but also enhances the role of buildings as active participants in the global carbon reduction effort.
Overall, the Ultima LEC panels align well with the increasing demand for environmentally responsible building practices. They support both regulatory compliance and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives for companies. Considering the growing emphasis on green building certifications and the transition towards a low-carbon economy, these panels could see robust demand.
The launch of Ultima® LEC ceiling panels can be seen as Armstrong World Industries' strategic response to the rising market demand for sustainable building solutions. The construction industry is witnessing a paradigm shift towards sustainability, driven by both regulatory pressures and consumer awareness. As the demand for green buildings grows, products like Ultima LEC are positioned to capture a significant market share.
From a market perspective, Armstrong's innovation may offer a competitive edge. The introduction of products with lower carbon footprints can differentiate the company in a crowded market, especially as building codes and standards increasingly mandate sustainability. Additionally, Armstrong's established recycling program, which diverted 220 million square feet of ceiling materials from landfills, complements the sustainability narrative and bolsters the company's reputation.
Further, Armstrong's holistic approach, which includes tools like ProjectWorks™ for optimizing material usage and reducing waste, enhances overall value proposition for customers. This could lead to stronger customer loyalty and potentially higher market penetration, particularly among environmentally conscious stakeholders.
With a rich history of product innovation dating to the 1890s and an ongoing focus on sustainable solutions, Armstrong is developing a comprehensive product portfolio for carbon reduction in the built environment. This portfolio includes the newly announced Ultima LEC product and recently launched Ultima® Templok® Energy Saving Ceiling panels, which are manufactured with phase change material that can help maintain thermal comfort and reduce heating and cooling costs in buildings. These products are designed to lower the carbon emissions over the lifecycle of a building by reducing operational and embodied carbon.
Using new technology that includes sustainable, wood-based biochar, Ultima LEC delivers a
“The importance of reducing the environmental impact of buildings continues to rise, and we are committed to bringing products and services to our customers that support decarbonization and circularity throughout the built environment,” said AWI CEO and President Vic Grizzle. “We believe both Ultima Templok and Ultima LEC will increasingly be specified by customers because of the growing attention our customers and our communities are giving to reducing the environmental impacts of buildings. From design conception to end-of-life product management, Armstrong is giving our customers additional tools to tackle energy efficiency, material waste, construction efficiency and embodied carbon. We are also excited about the impact these products can have in helping building owners, architects and contractors reach their own sustainability goals.”
In addition to Ultima LEC tiles and Ultima® Templok, the company has recently introduced other energy saving solutions that can further reduce operational carbon from commercial buildings, including AirAssure® gasketed ceiling panels, coupled with DynaMax® structural grid for data center applications to reduce cooling costs meaningfully for owners.
Additionally, Armstrong offers tools to enhance labor efficiency and reduce material waste in the construction process, through the use of ProjectWorks™, a design service which optimizes project layouts, saving material and cost at the jobsite. The company was also the first in the building industry to develop a ceiling tile recycling program which was introduced 25 years ago and has since diverted approximately 220 million square feet of old ceiling materials from landfills.
For more information about Ultima LEC, please visit: armstrongceilings.com/ultimalec
To learn more about sustainable building design and carbon reduction in the built environment, please visit: armstrongceilings.com/carbonreduction
*As compared to the Armstrong standard Ultima® ceiling panels
**Per EC3 tool data available 2/1/24. Ultima Low Embodied Carbon Ceiling Panels (A1-A3) 0.187 Global Warming Potential, incl. Biogenic carbon [kg CO2 eq./ft2]
About Armstrong World Industries
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (AWI) is a leader in the design and manufacture of innovative ceiling and wall system solutions in the
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Theresa Womble, tlwomble@armstrongceilings.com or (717) 396-6354
Source: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
FAQ
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