URSA at the heart of sustainability

URSA at the heart of sustainability

URSA is at the forefront of global sustainability efforts and provides solutions proven to work. We are committed to promoting and contributing to sustainable development, being active in all three pillars of sustainability – environment, economy and people – both as a company and through our product range.

A unique win-win proposition for the planet, the economy and society

Energy savings that generate a net positive impact

Our insulation materials tick all the boxes. Energy efficiency in buildings is a vital part of the European 2020 energy efficiency plan and the 2050 roadmap for a low-carbon economy. Of all energy consumed in the European Union, 40% is used by buildings, of which two-thirds for heating and cooling. In this sense, insulation materials guarantee significant energy savings and a drastic reduction of CO2 emissions. The energy savings through the use phase of URSA’s insulation materials are so huge, that they by far outweigh the energy needed for their production, generating a net positive impact.

Cost-effective solutions

Throughout the life of a building, approximately 80%* of total energy used is consumed in the use phase (heating, cooling and hot water), while the remaining 20% is distributed between energy used in construction and demolition. Your initial investment can be recouped in less than 4 years, and multiplied by 7 in 30 years, according to a EURIMA research. Insulation materials are highly cost-effective. URSA’s products offer high-quality insulation, and their durability makes maintenance costs unnecessary.

Comfort

Most people spend 80% of their time indoors. Their homes and places of work need to be comfortable, quiet, healthy and safe. Sustainable buildings offer a pleasant indoor climate, increasing comfort for their occupants. The positive impact of URSA’s glass mineral wool products on the indoor climate of buildings includes thermal resistance, high acoustic insulation, improved indoor air quality and fire resistance.

External recognition

A sustainable life cycle

URSA’s insulation products have a net positive impact on building sustainability profile through their life cycle because energy savings made by insulating with our products far outweigh the energy needed for their production.

URSA fully supports Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as the best way to scientifically assess the environmental impact of products and processes. Life Cycle Assessment is a way of evaluating the effects that a product has on the environment over the entire period of its life: from extraction of the raw materials through to the manufacturing process, the use phase of the product and the end of its life.

A sustainable life cycle

Life cycle of URSA glass mineral wool

01

Raw materials

Silica sand, a natural resource coming from the most abundant material on earth, and classified as rapidly renewable.

Post-consumer recycled glass (around 50%).

02

Production phase

In all our manufacturing plants, we make considerable efforts to minimize production waste. We are also increasing the rate of recycling materials year by year. This helps to reduce the intake of virgin raw materials. Production waste from extruded polystyrene (XPS) is, for instance, almost entirely recycled.

03

Transportation of our insulation materials

The compressibility of URSA’s glass mineral wool allows for substantial energy savings along the logistics chain. An unpacked roll can be compressed more than 10 times, so fewer trucks are necessary to transport more energy saving products and we can store more of our insulation materials on a warehouse floor, as opposed to the less compressible stone mineral wool products.

04

Installation

Product waste and costs are reduced and time shortened due to the flexibility and easy handling of URSA’s glass mineral wool. Also the lightness and compressibility of our glass mineral wool are very helpful for the installers, who can save time and do more projects.

05

Use phase

This is usually the longest part of the Life Cycle and energy savings here by far outweigh the energy required to produce the insulation – on average from 200 to 600 times.

06

End of life

There are different scenarios of end of life, depending on each product and its final application during the use phase. Our glass mineral wool and extruded polystyrene (XPS) can be recycled and in such way, reduce the environmental loads. Also, URSA’s insulation materials are considered as non-hazardous waste,* and are helping to reducethe cost and complexity of disposal at the end of their life, should this be needed.

* European List of Waste (Commission Decision 2000/532/EC) and Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC.

Health and safety

The most rigorous health and safety standards are part of everyday life at all URSA plants. All our people are trained on an ongoing basis to achieve zero accidents.

Euceb

URSA’s products are certified by the European Certification Board for Mineral Wool Products (EUCEB) — which means that our insulation materials are manufactured to standards set by Note Q of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.

Ral

We are a member of RAL, the German Institute for Quality Safeguarding and Labelling. URSA’s insulation products carry the RAL quality mark of “products made from mineral wool.” This certifies that our products are environmentally friendly, sustainable and high-quality that, and can be handled without any health risk.

Environment, Health, and Safety Requirements for Contractor Commissioning

URSA sustainability reports

URSA publishes sustainability reports following Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. These reports focus on non-financial information, and cover those key indicators that have the largest impact on sustainable development.

Sustainability Report Second edition

Sustainability Report First edition