2008 VOC Emission Report

2008 Result:
Not on track for meeting 2012 reduction goal.

Major Contributors:
Chemicals in glass fiber forming and sizing, and processing asphalt.

Why it Matters:
They are a local air pollutant contributing to the formation of smog.

Highlights
VOC are challenging for us due in part to the use of this class of compounds in our major manufacturing processes. Teams in the businesses continue to focus on cost effective and innovative solutions to address VOC, especially in our glass fiber forming operations. Until satisfactory technologies are identified and implemented, meeting the 2012 intensity goal of a 25 percent reduction will remain at risk.

We have made nominal reductions of VOC intensity of 4 percent from 2002 to 2008, primarily through ongoing binder and sizing application efficiency improvements and raw material substitutions in manufacturing operations of our composites and insulation businesses. Additional reductions came from changes in insulation product mix to lower VOC products. Absolute emissions are consistent from 2002 to 2008 reflecting the reductions above offset by increases in production in our composites business, which is our highest VOC intensity business.

Our absolute VOC emissions and the correlated intensity are included in the chart below. Also included are charts showing our VOC emissions by business and by region.

Low-VOC Ink
Our plant in Aiken, S.C., changed the ink on its coating line and received in return a more satisfied customer, fewer emissions of VOC, safer working conditions and lower cost. The coating line had been using a high-VOC ink to print the logo for a customer on coated fiberglass mat. During the latter half of 2007, it switched to a water-based, low-VOC ink. The change cut the plant’s VOC annualized emissions by more than 50 percent during 2008.