GAF Materials Corporation Drives to Greener Operations
WAYNE, NJ (09/2010) - GAF Materials Corporation, the nation's largest roofing and ventilation manufacturer, is pleased to announce that all of its roofing plants now recycle manufacturing shingle waste, diverting thousands of tons of material from landfills annually. The highly engineered roofing shingle manufacturing process generates very little waste or by-products other than tabs or punch-outs, in addition to any shingles that do not meet the company's rigorous specifications. These unsuitable materials have previously ended up in landfills; however under GAF's new arrangements, they will be recycled, generally for use in asphalt pavement.
GAF continues to take steps to implement sustainable business practices across the organization. States Martin Grohman, Director of Sustainability, "The shingle manufacturing process is very resource-efficient. In addition to shingles, our plants recycle metal, cardboard, and oils, as well as everyday items like batteries, paper, inks and toners, and CFL's."
GAF offers a wide array of Energy Star qualified roofing products, and products that contain post-consumer or post-industrial recycled materials. Timberline® Cool Series Shingles are specially designed to reflect sunlight and can reduce energy consumption by up to 15%, depending on geography, structure and climate. Additionally, every shingle produced by GAF is made with proprietary Advanced Protection technology which optimizes the placement of protective asphalt while reducing overall resource consumption. This results in a lower weight shingle that is easier to transport and handle on the jobsite, yet maintains protection against cracking, tearing, and severe winds.
Asphalt shingles remain a durable, sustainable choice that can conserve natural resources, improve indoor air quality, and easily accommodate renewable energy. And according to the National Asphalt Paving Association, asphalt is America's most recycled material; with their high quality fibers, asphalt and granules, recycled asphalt shingles can actually improve the qualities of roads.
For more information about GAF Materials Corporation and its sustainability efforts, please visit www.gaf.com.
About GAF Materials Corporation
GAF Materials Corporation is the largest roofing and ventilation manufacturer in North America, with sales of nearly $3 billion annually. The company's products include a comprehensive portfolio of steep-slope roofing systems (marketed under the GAF-Elk brand) and low-slope roofing systems (marketed under the GAF brand), as well as composite decking systems, which are supported by an extensive national network of factory-certified contractors. Its success is driven by a commitment to provide property owners and specifiers with the best and safest choice in roofing and by helping supportive contractors and distributors to build their businesses and avoid hassles.
With a focus on social responsibility, GAF-Elk has developed Advanced Protection shingle technology, which provides superior durability and wind resistance, while reducing the use of scarce natural resources.
The Company also supports the industry through CARE, the Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence, which has provided education to over 100,000 professionals. CARE's mission is to help professional contractors and distributors build their businesses through sales and management education, and to provide product and installation training to contractors, distributors, architects, property owners, and related industry personnel. For more information about GAF-Elk, visit www.gaf.com.
