The renewal of Actis Hybris’ Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze certification means it meets stringent sustainability criteria and retains its place as the only reflective insulation product in the whole of Europe to have achieved such recognition
The accreditation, awarded by global circular economy organisation, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, saw Hybris measured against five rigorous criteria – product circularity, material health, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship and social fairness.
The fact that Hybris is 100% recyclable, combined with its zero-waste production process which sees all off-cuts recovered, crushed and reintroduced into the manufacturing process, enabled it to achieve a silver level in the product circularity category.
On the material health front Hybris also scored well. As it contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or harmful chemical components such as formaldehyde, it fulfilled the requirement for a product to be safe for human health and the environment.
Actis Hybris achieves A+ for indoor air quality
Hybris also met the Institute’s strict criteria for clean air and climate protection, as it is guaranteed non-irritant and classified A+ for indoor air quality according to the NF EN ISO 16000 standard.
Reduced fuel consumption during transportation also fed into the scoring. The lightness and compactness of air-filled Hybris means more thermal capacity can be carried per lorryload than traditional solid insulation or fibreglass.
The fact that minimal water is used during its production was among factors which enabled it to meet the water and soil stewardship criteria.
Actis sustainability credentials
The Cradle to Cradle Certified® certification underlines Actis’ pledge to encourage the construction industry to minimise its negative impact on the environment.
A video, Doing More with Less, created by the insulation specialist, highlights its sustainability credentials.
The video examines Actis’ threefold approach to sustainability – using fewer raw materials during the production process and using minimal energy during manufacture.
Additionally, it offsets an element of its carbon use by planting native mature plane trees along the Canal du Midi, near its manufacturing plant in south west France.
Actis UK and Ireland sales director Mark Cooper said: “We are in earnest about striving for environmental excellence and share the Institute’s vision to increase the circular economy worldwide from its current figure of just 7.2%. We’re thrilled that Hybris has been Cradle to Cradle Certified® – and hope other construction materials manufacturers join us in our quest.
“We’ve been at the forefront of designing and manufacturing innovative insulation products which not only reduce the users’ carbon footprint through minimising their energy use, but are themselves created in as environmentally friendly way as possible.”
