Australia: Swinburne University of Technology researchers have developed a novel insulation using fungi grown with shredded mattress foam, Tech Xplore News has reported. The fungal roots in the foam reportedly form a lightweight material with comparable thermal resistance to current commercial insulation products and capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1000°C.
Uzbekistan: Qoraqalpoq Basaltwool has launched a new US$52.4m, 50,000t/yr stone wool insulation plant in Nukus. The project is one of 437 construction sector projects worth a combined US$3.6bn in 2025 – 2026.
Denmark: Rockwool recorded full-year sales of €3.88bn in 2025, up by 1% year-on-year from €3.86bn in 2024. Nonetheless, group earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 8% year-on-year from €940m to €864m in 2024. The producer partly attributed this to two plant closures, a ‘production incident’ at a plant in Switzerland and ‘lower performance’ in its former Russian business, which the Russian government forcibly transferred to Rozvitok Stroitelnykh Aktivov in January 2026.
Rockwool reduced its absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 CO₂ emissions by 20% between 2019 and 2025, against a 2034 goal of 38%. Its insulation products sold in 2025 will, over their lifetime, save more than 100 times the energy used to produce them, according to the producer.
Looking ahead to 2026, Rockwool forecast 2 – 4% sales growth in local currencies. Capacity expansions are underway in India, Romania and the US, with a new plant project in France scheduled to recommence later in the year. ‘Several large plants’ are also undergoing conversion to electric melting, bringing total investments for the year to €650m, excluding acquisitions.
UK: Local development body Ambition North Wales has approved Knauf Insulation UK’s outline business case for €16.6m in funding under the government’s UK Growth Deal for its upcoming 100,000t/yr Shotton mineral wool insulation plant in Flintshire, Wales. The plant will be equipped with a submerged arc furnace. When operational, it will employ 137 people. Local press has reported that the Shotton plant occupies the site of a former Tata Steel facility.
