Fiberglass Insulation (per sqm)

Material Composition Assumptions

The CCI score assumes a standard fiberglass insulation batt weighing approximately 1.2 kg per square meter with typical thickness. The material composition consists primarily of silica serving as the fundamental glass component at roughly 65% by weight, contributing approximately 780 grams to the total product mass. Recycled glass content varies significantly between manufacturers but represents an estimated 25% by weight or 300 grams of the material. The phenol formaldehyde binder system provides structural integrity at approximately 8% by weight, adding 96 grams to each square meter. Additional mineral fibers and fire resistance additives comprise the remaining 2% by weight, totaling 24 grams of specialized compounds that enhance performance characteristics.

Manufacturing Geography

Fiberglass insulation production concentrates heavily in the United States due to established industrial infrastructure and proximity to both raw material sources and major construction markets. The US electricity grid operates at an average carbon intensity of 429 gCO2 per kilowatt-hour according to EPA data, which directly impacts the manufacturing carbon footprint through energy-intensive glass melting operations. American manufacturing facilities benefit from abundant silica sand deposits and well-developed recycled glass collection systems that reduce raw material transportation requirements. The domestic production base also minimizes intercontinental shipping emissions for North American construction projects, though this advantage diminishes for international exports.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
United States	429 gCO2/kWh	42 kgCO2e	Baseline (0%)
European Union	310 gCO2/kWh	38 kgCO2e	-9.5%
China	555 gCO2/kWh	46 kgCO2e	+9.5%
Canada	130 gCO2/kWh	33 kgCO2e	-21.4%
Mexico	375 gCO2/kWh	40 kgCO2e	-4.8%

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Factory-specific electricity consumption data per square meter of production including both direct manufacturing energy and facility overhead consumption patterns.

2. Detailed raw material sourcing documentation specifying recycled glass percentage, silica sand transportation distances, and binder chemistry formulations used in production.

3. Plant-level scope 1 emissions measurements covering natural gas combustion for glass melting furnaces and any process-related chemical reactions during fiber formation.

4. Transportation logistics data including shipping distances from manufacturing facility to installation site, delivery vehicle types, and packaging material requirements.

5. End-of-life processing agreements or regional waste management protocols that demonstrate actual disposal or recycling pathways rather than default landfill assumptions.

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-gate embodied carbon for one square meter of standard thickness fiberglass insulation including raw material extraction through factory gate delivery.
• Scope 1 emissions dominate due to high-temperature glass melting requirements, while scope 2 reflects grid electricity for manufacturing operations and scope 3 captures transportation and disposal phases.
• The functional unit assumes typical residential insulation thickness providing R-value performance between 2.9 and 3.8 per inch of material thickness.
• Operational energy savings during building use phase are excluded from the embodied carbon calculation despite rapid carbon payback periods demonstrated in the literature.
• Regional climate variations that affect insulation performance and associated carbon offset potential represent significant data gaps in current assessment methodologies.
• End-of-life carbon storage benefits from non-biodegradable material properties are not quantified in the baseline score due to disposal pathway uncertainties.