Rockpanel has increased its commitment to climate impact reduction by achieving Cradle to Cradle Silver certification for the Rockpanel Colours cladding range.

Rockpanel considers the circular economy and responsible production methods to be crucial initiatives in securing a more sustainable future within the construction industry. As the latest step on its journey, Rockpanel has received external validation of its improvements by becoming Cradle to Cradle Certified¹ Silver on the Rockpanel Colours product range. The company firmly believes that building materials should have as little impact on the environment as possible. Therefore, its facade claddings are made from an abundant volcanic stone, as well as recycled materials, and the company constantly strives to limit its environmental impact throughout the entire life cycle of the products.

As a result of this approach, Rockpanel has recently become Cradle to Cradle Certified at the Silver level for its most popular range, Rockpanel Colours. The certification Cradle to Cradle Certified® is made on the basis of Product Standard Version 4.0, which is the most ambitious and actionable global standard yet for developing products that are safe, circular and responsibly made. Jeroen Ebus, Managing Director of Rockpanel, describes it as yet another initiative consolidating Rockpanel’s position as a responsible manufacturer:

“Becoming Cradle to Cradle Certified is crucial to our ambition of contributing to circular economy and a more sustainable construction industry,” says Ebus. “We constantly use our knowledge to implement measures that can help meet the sustainability goals of the ROCKWOOL Group, and the new certification allows us to measure results.”

Close collaboration with partners led to certification
In order to become Cradle to Cradle Certified, Rockpanel has had to demonstrate that its products meet a wide range of sustainability requirements within five categories: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air and Climate Protection, Water and Soil Stewardship and Social Fairness. In total, Cradle to Cradle Certified has four levels, from Bronze to Platinum, with Rockpanel receiving a certification at the Silver level.

“We have worked closely with all our partners in the supply chain and all aspects of our products and operations. Adds Ebus. “We are immensely grateful for their collaboration and openness in helping us achieve this. Reducing our environmental impact is at the top of our agenda every day, both at Rockpanel and ROCKWOOL Group. Our continuous commitment is now documented with us becoming Cradle to Cradle Certified, and this will make it far more transparent and simpler for our customers and partners and help them make choices with a reduced climate impact.”

Ambition to advise on aesthetics and sustainability
Jeroen Ebus mentions that both architects and specifiers will be given the best conditions to build sustainably with Rockpanel’s core product, facade claddings. “We have an explicit ambition to strengthen our position as the architect’s favoured advisor, which includes being able to supply them with advice on how aesthetics and sustainability complement each other with Rockpanel,” he says.

Ebus adds that the circularity approach is firmly rooted in the Rockpanel mindset. In addition to becoming Cradle to Cradle Certified, Rockpanel offers a recycling service that enables products to be taken back and recycled when producing new stone wool products. Rockpanel thus consists of up to 50 per cent recycled materials.

“A sustainable approach will always be a core value at Rockpanel, says Ebus. “And when we talk to our business partners and collaborators, we experience an increased demand in both knowledge and the right measures to be able to invest in sustainability. This makes us confident that Rockpanel is moving in the right direction.”

Facts
Cradle to Cradle Certified is the leading multi-attribute standard used globally across industries by designers, brands, and manufacturers for designing and making products that enable a healthy, equitable and sustainable future. For more than a decade, Cradle to Cradle Certified has been helping companies to innovate and optimise materials and products according to the world’s most advanced science-based measures (source: https://www.rockpanel.co.uk/product-benefits/sustainability/cradle-to-cradle/).

Contact Details
For more information, please contact Mark Snowden, Business Manager UK & Ireland, Rockpanel, or visit the Rockpanel website.

¹Cradle to Cradle Certified® is a registered trademark of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute