The Case for Sustainable versus Natural or Organic Materials
When you're integrating specialty materials into manufactured goods, so-called "natural" products are likely to catch your eye. But often these products are neither natural nor the best choice overall. Just because a product is bio-based doesn't mean it's truly a sustainable solution.
According to U.S. regulators, natural means that a product comes from biological sources (plants and animals) and that its bio-based materials are minimally processed (think of what you could accomplish with the tools in your kitchen). Some true examples of natural products would be raw dairy products like milk and eggs. Most bio-based specialty products would have difficulty meeting the definition. In fact, most fibers like hemp, cotton and kenaf wouldn't qualify.
For OEM applications, there are many reasons why bio-based products may not be as wise a choice as they might appear. A quick review of the biological lifecycle of such products raises many important questions. Were carbon-intensive chemical fertilizers and pesticides used to grow the plants? How much water was used and what type of water pollution was generated? Are workers given safe working conditions and a fair wage?
For a bio-based product to be considered truly sustainable, its entire production process must meet well-established standards for sustainable agriculture. This is seldom the case with so-called natural manufacturing materials. And the same holds true for many products that claim to be "organic." Most bio-based fibers would have difficulty meeting the USDA's strict organic standards, yet false claims persist because consumers simply can't tell the difference.
Although fiber glass is synthetic, it is considered a highly sustainable product. Fiber glass is made mostly from silica sand—the most abundant mineral resource on earth. It's natural, continuously replenished and easy to distribute regionally. The rest of the formulation is mostly recycled glass, which explains why fiber glass is the world's largest secondary market for recycled glass containers, saving more than 27 million cubic feet of landfill space every year.
Johns Manville's sustainability record speaks for itself. It uses the highest certified post-consumer recycled content of all the major fiber glass manufacturers. Its large number of regional facilities helps minimize fuel consumption and environmental impact. And its products are made in plants that live up to the highest EPA environmental standards. JM workers also enjoy safe working conditions and full benefits, including health insurance and retirement.
Johns Manville is a Climate Action Leader that has reduced its hazardous emissions by 200,000 pounds annually. In fact, JM building insulation plants are now so low emitting that they are exempt from EPA Hazardous Air Pollutant regulations. The company has further reduced its carbon footprint by decreasing its energy consumption by an estimated 11% since 2005.
If you're looking for a safe, high-performance material for commercial applications, JM fiber glass insulation solutions are a workable, sustainable choice. JM is also an excellent partner for developing innovative technologies and meeting exact commercial specifications. And as a charter member of the United Sates Green Building Council, JM is an ideal source for LEED® credits in recycled materials, thermal energy performance and indoor air quality.
