Released June 26, 2024
Submitted by Owens Corning
Our employees making a difference are featured throughout Owens Corning’s 2023 Sustainability Report.
With over 25 years of experience in environmental stewardship, circularity, decarbonization and policy, Petra Inghelbrecht brings a wealth of insight to Owens Corning. She has unique insight into sustainability at a global level, including how major brands are driving trends, encouraging stronger legislation in the region and expanding from Europe to the rest of the world. Petra shares some of her insights here and provides insight into the company’s approach to building a circular economy.
The need to rethink our approach to waste
We need to turn waste into raw materials. That way we can grow without being so dependent on resources. There is a sustainability element to this, but it is also strategic, because we cannot keep mining and extracting raw materials. In Europe, this is exactly what the market expects from us. A circular business model also allows us to work with our customers and their value chains in a closed-loop system. If we take waste and put it back into our products as recycled material, we are working in a closed loop. This is good from a sustainability point of view, but it is also very strategic in that we work with our customers to strengthen both. It’s a double win in circularity.
Owens Corning’s Strengths in the Circular Economy
First and foremost, we have a strong, innovative, technology-led focus, combined with a market-led approach. We work with our customers and their value chains to see things from their perspective. We understand the market and regulations, and this is the basis of the strategies we set out.
Secondly, we are a very agile, innovative company, and we are able to develop, test and implement new things. This combination is very powerful. It’s collaboration across teams and businesses, there’s a lot of interaction and overlap, and we’re doing very well. The team is very engaged, and I’m amazed at the level of engagement of people. They’ve really grown and driven the leadership even further. This is a really positive dynamic that I see at Owens Corning and in circularity, and I love it.
The need for an integrated strategy for sustainability
Circularity is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We need to be circular, decarbonize, and reduce our environmental impact. With circularity, it’s all about winning together. We provide a solution for our customers’ waste and then we give it back as a solution to our customers. We focus on their waste first, and our customers and end markets win. We are a critical part of that chain. We need to do it together. Circularity is not just about working within Owens Corning. It’s about working together across the value chain – with our customers, recyclers, transporters, and end markets. Working together, we can have a positive impact on the market.
Owens Corning
Owens Corning
Owens Corning is a global leader in building and construction materials, committed to building a sustainable future through materials innovation. Our three integrated businesses – Roofing, Insulation and Composites – deliver durable, sustainable and energy-efficient solutions that leverage proprietary materials science, manufacturing and market knowledge to help our customers succeed and grow. With global scope and human scale, and approximately 18,000 employees in 30 countries, we are dedicated to creating value for our customers and shareholders and serving the communities where we work and live. Founded in 1938 and based in Toledo, Ohio, USA, Owens Corning had sales of $9.7 billion in 2023. For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com.
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