Austria's first recycling system for mineral wool: future of insulation materials!

Austria's first recycling system for mineral wool: future of insulation materials!

Ferndorf, Österreich - Knauf Insulation has announced the construction of the first recycling system for mineral wool in Austria. This facility is built at the Ferndorf location in Carinthia and is intended to recycle both glass wool and stone wool. The company is investing around 30 million euros in the project, which should have a significant influence on the recycling of insulation materials in the region. The recycling system will not only revolutionize our waste management, but also create new, sustainable jobs.

in Ferndorf has already an established production facility for insulation materials that has a good infrastructure with its own railway connection. The new facility will enable all types of mineral wool, also to effectively prepare those from dismantling and renovation projects. The construction work should begin promptly, with a planned commissioning for the end of 2026. This commitment comes at a critical time, since a landfill ban will come into force in Austria from January 1, 2027, such as Oekonews reported.

sustainability and climate goals

Knauf Insulation relates its values ​​from the principle of sustainability. The company's glass wool products are already up to 80 % of recycled materials. The existing withdrawal system resulation enables easy return of insulation residues directly from construction sites, while the web shop mineral wool-Recycling.com promotes a variety of collection of construction site waste. These measures not only support the company's recycling goals, but also the climate goals of the Austrian government, which want to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the building sector.

Further information on the importance of recycling in the construction industry shows that the building sector in Germany is responsible for around 35 % of energy consumption and a third of CO2 emissions. Here it becomes clear how important increased insulation and the use of recycled insulation materials are. According to BVSE is the annual need for insulation materials with about two million tons, while over 200,000 tons from dismantling or to be burned. Innovative approaches to reuse insulation materials are therefore essential.

recommendations for action and future prospects

The German Environmental Aid (DUH) also presented various solutions for the sustainable design of the construction industry. Political recommendations for action are drawn up, which include, among other things, mandatory component sightings before dismantling and renovation as well as extended manufacturer's commitment for insulation materials. These measures aim to save valuable materials and improve recycling in the construction industry. One of the suggestions is that manufacturers should be responsible for the transport and disposal of their products at the end of life.

Overall, the Knauf Insulation project shows that Austria wants to take on a pioneering role in the recycling of insulation materials. The planned innovative solutions not only reduce waste, but also an important step towards climate -neutral building stands. These developments are a positive sign of environmental protection in the construction industry.

For further information on these topics and the progressive developments in the industry, please also visit ORF Carinthia .