Cradle to Cradle certificate for XPS insulation by Soprema
Once again, one of our solutions is making waves. Following in the footsteps of some of our bituminous products, SOPRA XPS insulation has received a bronze Cradle to Cradle certificate. A worldwide standard, Cradle to Cradle labels products as the preferred solution for responsible purchasing. Our XPS range has its environmental friendliness, sustainable manufacturing process and recyclability to thank for this important recognition.
Let’s recap. What is XPS?
The SOPRA XPS range consists of extruded polystyrene insulation panels with a closed-cell structure. They are available in different compressive strengths, allowing for a wide variety of applications, such as inverted roofs. The superior thermal performance of SOPRA XPS is combined with other advantages, including outstanding resistance to water and moisture.
Five categories of criteria
Before achieving the Cradle to Cradle certificate, our XPS insulation was carefully analysed by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. More specifically, the panel considered:
Material health: which materials is the product made of?
Product circularity: does the product contribute to the circular economy?
Clean air and climate protection: how does the production process impact air quality?
Water and soil stewardship: how are the water reserves and the health of the soil affected?
Social fairness: what are the working conditions like?
SOPRA XPS ticks the necessary boxes
SOPRA XPS insulation received a bronze certificate overall, but it scored even better in the subdomains of ‘material health’ and ‘clean air and climate protection’, for which it earned a silver certification. This has to do with the fact that we reuse old EPS – for example, discarded packaging of washing machines and other large electric appliances, or shipping boxes for fish – to manufacture our XPS panels.
In addition, we apply climate-friendly CO2 technology in our production site in Tongeren (Belgium), as well as adhering to a zero-waste policy to reduce our environmental footprint to an absolute minimum.
Eco-friendly insulation for circular construction
With all these sustainability efforts, SOPRA XPS can safely be called an eco-friendly product, perfectly suitable for circular construction projects. Did you know that XPS is fully recyclable, too? If the recyclability of the material is taken into account in both the design phase and during installation, the insulation panels can easily be reused in the next construction project.
Questions about SOPRA XPS? We love to help
Do you have questions about the Cradle to Cradle certificate? Are you looking for the right material for your circular construction project, or do you need expert advice? Don’t hesitate to get in touch. The Soprema team are happy to help.