Pink Batts maker sustainablity example: Minister

MEDIA RELEASE
18 April 2008

Pink Batts maker a leading example for sustainable business, says Energy Minister

The Minister for Energy, the Hon. David Parker has commended Tasman Insulation for its efforts to reduce its environmental impact by installing a new energy-efficient furnace at its Pink® Batts® manufacturing plant in Penrose.

This week, the Minister officially commissioned the $6M electric furnace, which processes 6,600 tonnes of waste window glass annually to make the insulation – enough to cover 165 rugby fields.

Mr Parker said that as New Zealand’s largest recycler of window glass, Tasman Insulation had long shown leadership to the entire business community to improve environmental sustainability.

“Sustainability is not something you ‘tick off’ as done. There will always be room for improvement as approaches are fine tuned, new options are created and we understand the environment better,” said Mr Parker.

“The key is to have people in companies such as Tasman which are continually asking themselves if they can do it better and are prepared to commit in the knowledge they can.”

In replacing the old gas-fired glass melter, the new machine will reduce the plant’s annual CO2 emissions by 1700 tonnes, using only a third of the equivalent energy.

Tasman Insulation has been manufacturing Pink® Batts® in Auckland since 1960, and today manufactures enough products to insulate 40,000 homes every year, which in turn saves millions of dollars in energy costs.

Tasman Insulation manufactures Pink® Batts® Ultra™, from up to 80 percent recycled glass and is New Zealand’s only insulation that has received the tick from Environmental Choice NZ.

ENDS

About Tasman Insulation and Pink® Batts®
Pink® Batts® have been the market leader in insulation since they began production in New Zealand in 1959. They are manufactured in Auckland and Christchurch using technology licensed from Owens Corning in the USA. Pink® Batts® success has been built on developing high levels of reliability and quality, creating an awareness and preference amongst home owners and builders. Backed up by solid distribution partnerships, Pink® Batts® is a brand that represents value for money. In recent years the Pink® Batts® brand has been extended to incorporate the Pink® Batts® Ultra™, Pink® Batts® Barriers® and Pink® Batts® Silencer® brands that together offer warm, dry and quiet solutions for buildings. Tasman Insulation even has its own PinkFit® installation service with a guarantee of quality installation. In addition to Pink® Batts® insulation, Tasman Insulation is a New Zealand market leader in commercial and industrial insulation products as well as building papers and foils and has a solid export business; mainly to the Pacific and Asia where it is a niche supplier to the project and radiant barrier markets.

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