Biodiversity and Habitat
Owens Corning is committed to preserving the natural habitats that surround our operations around the world. We have compared the proximity of our manufacturing facilities to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Sites, including forests, mountains, lakes, deserts, monuments, buildings and cities considered by UNESCO to be of special cultural or physical significance. We’ve found that none of our global facilities are on or adjacent to any of these nature sites or mixed cultural/nature sites.
We have also evaluated our global operating locations with respect to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) — called the "Ramsar Convention" and the Convention’s List of Wetlands of International Importance. Owens Corning has no facilities that are either on or adjacent to any of the listed wetlands recognized by the international community as being of conservation value.
Lastly, we have evaluated our global operating locations with respect to the Alliance for Zero Extinction’s (AZE) list of epicenters of imminent extinctions. AZE is a joint initiative of biodiversity conservation organizations from around the world. The list includes endangered species and critically endangered species that are restricted to single remaining sites around the globe. AZE uses the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species™ in determining the sites. Owens Corning has no facilities either on or adjacent to any of the AZE-listed sites.
When Owens Corning evaluates potential properties and operations for acquisition purposes, environmental consultants are retained to review the subject property and surrounding areas to assess existing environmental damage. Although these are not specific studies for identifying endangered species, they are visual evaluations looking for stressed vegetation and evidence of contamination on the site and at the property line from the past activities of current or historical owners. Corrective measures are sometimes required as a matter of course and as part of acquisition negotiations with owners if significant issues are encountered.
