Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

UK/Ireland: The UK Housing Secretary Michael Gove has invited Ireland-based Kingspan to enter into discussions over a possible contribution by the company towards fire safety renovations on unsafe buildings across the UK. Following the deadly Grenfell Tower fire of June 2017, extensive UK housing stock was found to be unsafe due to the presence of flammable materials in exterior insulation systems. In an open letter, Gove said “Those companies who do not share our commitment to righting the wrongs of the past must expect to face commercial consequences.”

The Irish Times newspaper has reported that Kingspan previously said that it would contribute to 'an appropriate joint government and industry-wide funding mechanism' for the policy. Kingspan's Kooltherm K15 phenolic insulation accounted for 5% of Grenfell Tower's insulation. Kingspan clarified that it was not responsible for the supply of the insulation used in construction of the tower.

Russia: Denmark-based Rockwool addressed the reasoning behind its decision to keep its Russian business operating, in light of the on-going Russian invasion of Ukraine since February 2022. Rockwool's Russian subsidiary continues to operate four stone wool insulation plants, without receiving any investments or supplies from the parent company. Esmerk M-Brain News has reported that Rockwool described itself as a 'passive shareholder' in the business.

Speaking at Rockwool's annual general meeting, chair Thomas Kähler said that the group's continuing ownership of its activities in Russia is the group’s 'least bad option.' Addressing the purported possibility of nationalisation of any assets abandoned by Rockwool, Kähler reportedly added "It will not benefit Ukraine to send value in the amount of between US$722m and US$877m into the hands of Russia."

In February 2023, The Danish Business Authority announced an investigation into Rockwool's alleged supply of its products to the Russian military, in breach of existing sanctions, between 2015 and 2020. The agency confirmed its launch of its investigation in a statement to Reuters. In a statement of its own, Rockwool said "We fully respect all sanctions applicable at any given time," adding that it is 'impossible for us to know or have any control over' the final destinations of its products.