Armstrong World Industries Introduces New Product to Reduce Carbon in Commercial Buildings

Rhea-AI Summary

Armstrong World Industries (NYSE: AWI) has introduced new Ultima® Low Embodied Carbon (LEC) ceiling panels, aimed at reducing the environmental impact of commercial buildings.

These panels, along with the recently launched Ultima® Templok®, focus on minimizing operational and embodied carbon through innovative technologies like wood-based biochar. Ultima LEC panels offer a 43% reduction in embodied carbon and are USDA-verified as 100% biobased content.

These products support decarbonization and circularity in building design, construction, and operation. AWI also provides tools and services like ProjectWorks™ to enhance labor efficiency and reduce material waste. The company has a longstanding commitment to sustainability, including a ceiling tile recycling program that has diverted 220 million square feet of old materials from landfills.

Positive

• Ultima® LEC panels reduce embodied carbon by 43%.
• USDA-verified 100% biobased content in Ultima LEC panels.
• Introduction of Ultima® Templok® with phase change materials for energy savings.
• Products designed to lower carbon emissions over a building's lifecycle.
• Tools and services like ProjectWorks™ enhance labor efficiency and reduce material waste.
• Ceiling tile recycling program diverted 220 million square feet of materials from landfills.

Negative

• No immediate financial impact data provided.
• Potential high production costs for innovative, sustainable materials.
• Reliance on market adoption and customer specification for success.

Sustainability Expert

Armstrong World Industries' introduction of the new Ultima® Low Embodied Carbon (LEC) ceiling panels is a significant development in the context of environmental sustainability in the construction industry. By reducing the embodied carbon of their ceiling panels by 43%, Armstrong is addressing a critical aspect of building sustainability. Embodied carbon refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions generated in the production phase of building materials. This makes the Ultima LEC panels a substantial advancement in reducing the overall carbon footprint of buildings.

From a sustainability perspective, the USDA-verified 100% biobased content is a compelling feature. Biobased materials are derived from renewable sources, making them a sustainable alternative to conventional, fossil-based materials. The use of sustainable, wood-based biochar integrates carbon sequestration directly into the product. This not only reduces the carbon footprint but also enhances the role of buildings as active participants in the global carbon reduction effort.

Overall, the Ultima LEC panels align well with the increasing demand for environmentally responsible building practices. They support both regulatory compliance and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives for companies. Considering the growing emphasis on green building certifications and the transition towards a low-carbon economy, these panels could see robust demand.

Market Research Analyst

The launch of Ultima® LEC ceiling panels can be seen as Armstrong World Industries' strategic response to the rising market demand for sustainable building solutions. The construction industry is witnessing a paradigm shift towards sustainability, driven by both regulatory pressures and consumer awareness. As the demand for green buildings grows, products like Ultima LEC are positioned to capture a significant market share.

From a market perspective, Armstrong's innovation may offer a competitive edge. The introduction of products with lower carbon footprints can differentiate the company in a crowded market, especially as building codes and standards increasingly mandate sustainability. Additionally, Armstrong's established recycling program, which diverted 220 million square feet of ceiling materials from landfills, complements the sustainability narrative and bolsters the company's reputation.

Further, Armstrong's holistic approach, which includes tools like ProjectWorks™ for optimizing material usage and reducing waste, enhances overall value proposition for customers. This could lead to stronger customer loyalty and potentially higher market penetration, particularly among environmentally conscious stakeholders.

LANCASTER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE: AWI), a leader in the design, innovation and manufacture of ceiling and wall solutions in the Americas, continues to expand its portfolio of products designed to help building owners, architects and contractors reduce the environmental impact of buildings with the introduction of Ultima® Low Embodied Carbon (LEC) ceiling panels.

With a rich history of product innovation dating to the 1890s and an ongoing focus on sustainable solutions, Armstrong is developing a comprehensive product portfolio for carbon reduction in the built environment. This portfolio includes the newly announced Ultima LEC product and recently launched Ultima® Templok® Energy Saving Ceiling panels, which are manufactured with phase change material that can help maintain thermal comfort and reduce heating and cooling costs in buildings. These products are designed to lower the carbon emissions over the lifecycle of a building by reducing operational and embodied carbon.

Using new technology that includes sustainable, wood-based biochar, Ultima LEC delivers a 43% reduction in the embodied carbon of a ceiling.^* Ultima LEC panels are USDA-verified 100% biobased content and represent the lowest embodied carbon mineral fiber acoustical ceiling panel on the market today.^**

“The importance of reducing the environmental impact of buildings continues to rise, and we are committed to bringing products and services to our customers that support decarbonization and circularity throughout the built environment,” said AWI CEO and President Vic Grizzle. “We believe both Ultima Templok and Ultima LEC will increasingly be specified by customers because of the growing attention our customers and our communities are giving to reducing the environmental impacts of buildings. From design conception to end-of-life product management, Armstrong is giving our customers additional tools to tackle energy efficiency, material waste, construction efficiency and embodied carbon. We are also excited about the impact these products can have in helping building owners, architects and contractors reach their own sustainability goals.”

In addition to Ultima LEC tiles and Ultima® Templok, the company has recently introduced other energy saving solutions that can further reduce operational carbon from commercial buildings, including AirAssure® gasketed ceiling panels, coupled with DynaMax® structural grid for data center applications to reduce cooling costs meaningfully for owners.

Additionally, Armstrong offers tools to enhance labor efficiency and reduce material waste in the construction process, through the use of ProjectWorks™, a design service which optimizes project layouts, saving material and cost at the jobsite. The company was also the first in the building industry to develop a ceiling tile recycling program which was introduced 25 years ago and has since diverted approximately 220 million square feet of old ceiling materials from landfills.

For more information about Ultima LEC, please visit: armstrongceilings.com/ultimalec

To learn more about sustainable building design and carbon reduction in the built environment, please visit: armstrongceilings.com/carbonreduction

^*As compared to the Armstrong standard Ultima® ceiling panels
^**Per EC3 tool data available 2/1/24. Ultima Low Embodied Carbon Ceiling Panels (A1-A3) 0.187 Global Warming Potential, incl. Biogenic carbon [kg CO2 eq./ft2]

About Armstrong World Industries

Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (AWI) is a leader in the design and manufacture of innovative ceiling and wall system solutions in the Americas. With $1.3 billion in revenue in 2023, AWI has approximately 3,500 employees and a manufacturing network of 19 facilities, plus seven facilities dedicated to its WAVE joint venture. For over 160 years, Armstrong has pursued innovation and manufacturing excellence to deliver products and services to our customers that can transform how people design, build and experience spaces with aesthetics, acoustics, well-being, and sustainability in mind.

Uncertainties Affecting Forward-Looking Statements

Disclosures in this release and in our other public documents and comments may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements provide our future expectations or forecasts and can be identified by our use of words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "outlook," "target," "predict," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seek," and other words or phrases of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, address matters that are uncertain and involve risks because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from our expected results and from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. A more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied is included in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” sections of our reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake or assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements beyond what is required under applicable securities law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240522468217/en/

Theresa Womble, tlwomble@armstrongceilings.com or (717) 396-6354

Source: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.

FAQ

What are Ultima® LEC ceiling panels?

Ultima® LEC ceiling panels are new products by Armstrong World Industries aimed at reducing the embodied carbon in commercial buildings by 43%.

How do Ultima Templok® panels save energy?

Ultima Templok® panels utilize phase change material to help maintain thermal comfort, reducing heating and cooling costs.

What is the environmental impact of Ultima LEC panels?

Ultima LEC panels offer a 43% reduction in embodied carbon and are USDA-verified as 100% biobased content.

How does Armstrong help in reducing material waste?

Armstrong offers ProjectWorks™ and other tools that enhance labor efficiency and reduce material waste in the construction process.

What is Armstrong's ceiling tile recycling program?

Armstrong's ceiling tile recycling program, initiated 25 years ago, has diverted approximately 220 million square feet of old ceiling materials from landfills.