Our Operations

Overview

Armstrong recognizes the importance of protecting the environment and using resources responsibly as outlined in our Environmental Policy. We are committed to environmental stewardship in our dealings with customers, employees, communities and territories in which we operate.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

  • We believe in environmental stewardship for our work places and communities.
  • We believe in exercising care in the selection and use of energy and raw materials.
  • We believe in being prepared for emergencies and acting responsibly to protect people and the environment.
  • We believe in ensuring our products conform to environmental, safety and quality standards.
  • We believe in reducing waste and embracing recycling in our operations.
  • We believe in disposing of waste materials in an environmentally responsible manner.

 

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

Armstrong and its employees will comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.

Manufacturing

In our plants, we have procedures that focus on the management of energy, emissions, water and waste.

ENERGY & GHG EMISSIONS

We have improvement initiatives in these areas including investing in more efficient technology, equipment, and processes.

Water

Water recycling and infrastructure improvements are a few ways that our manufacturing facilities use less water.  Our mineral fiber manufacturing plants recycle 15-50% of the water they use back into their process.  

 

Waste

We maintain a waste disposal policy that covers all of our company locations. This policy covers hazardous and non-hazardous waste streams to ensure we comply with all regulatory standards. Much of our process waste at our mineral fiber manufacturing locations is recycled back into the process. We also strive to generate as little hazardous waste as possible.  

 

Headquarters

Our headquarters building has received the Energy Star rating for nine years. The Energy Star label recognizes a building as one of the most efficient in the nation.  Energy-saving features of our headquarters include:

  • Occupancy sensors control space lighting
  • Dual-level lighting in perimeter office spaces minimizes use of artificial light and related heat gains
  • Building automation system, part of a campus-wide system, controls comfort levels for all interior spaces
  • CFC-free refrigeration is used in cooling systems and boiler steam energy is used for heating
  • Energy-efficient motors control air handlers and pumps, and automatically adjust speeds during non-occupied periods
  • Carbon dioxide sensors continuously measure CO2 levels and control air ventilation in occupied spaces

Another of our showcase buildings on campus is LEED-EB Platinum Certified. It was the first building outside of California to achieve this certification and the first building in Pennsylvania to be certified and re-certified LEED EB Platinum.

Conservation Programs

HELPING BEES & BUTTERFLIES THRIVE

Starting in 2019, AWI is planting sunflowers, as part of the Great Sunflower Project, and butterfly milkweed (asclepsias tuberosa) on our Lancaster campus to help support the declining populations of bees and Monarch butterflies.  We’ve been headquartered in Lancaster County, a famous agricultural community for well over 100 years.  Using our grounds to build a pollinator friendly environment is a beautiful and practical way we can help our community and the planet; it’s another way we make a difference in spaces where people live, work, learn, heal and play.

Pensacola Manufacturing Facility Implements New Technology

A new process technology has been implemented at the Pensacola ceiling plant in December, 2017.  This new technology not only improves the visual of our ceiling products, but it has also resulted in a water load reduction of about 7% across all the product items.

We expect benefits to continue each year.  This results in a positive handprint for this facility with additional savings per year of MMBTU.   We also plan to implement this new learning in other plants in 2018. 

Lighting Retrofit Project at Marietta Ceiling Manufacturing Facility Reduces Our Plant Footprint

We continue to make our facilities more efficient. In November, 2018, we completed a lighting retrofit project at our Marietta, PA manufacturing facility.

This project delivered an annual savings of 1,403,636 kilowatt-hours (kWh) which is the equivalent of 968.51 Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

This equates to:

  • Annual greenhouse gas emissions from 203.53 passenger vehicles
  • CO2 emissions from 108,909.11 gallons of gasoline consumed
  • CO2 emissions from the electricity use of 133 homes for one year
  • CO2 emissions from the energy use of 88 homes for one year  

AWI CAMPUS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS  

In 2018, we have implemented various conservation programs in many of the buildings on our campus.

  • In our data center we replaced a legacy reciprocating compressor based unit with a new technology delivering $6,200/year in savings, over 75,000 kHW, and lowering our footprint of our data center. 
  • Both interior and exterior lighting retrofit projects have been completed replacing existing  linear fluorescent, and CFL fixtures with new LED fixtures. This makes our buildings more efficient and provides better lighting and a more comfortable environment for our employees.

AWI campus recycling reports 98% landfill diversion rate for 2017

The latest AWI campus recycling report delivered findings of a 98% landfill diversion rate in 2017, demonstrating continued dedication to reuse, recycle and reduce wherever possible.

A detailed waste audit showed that of the 72 tons of campus waste produced last year, 71 tons were diverted from landfills. This translates to 212 cubic yards free landfill space (industry term: landfill airspace). This is enough space to meet the disposal needs of a community of 296 people.

The five biggest recycled materials diverted from landfills at the corporate campus were paper, plastic, aluminum, glass and cardboard.

The campus recycling efforts are part of our business waste management program.