Armstrong taps into new recycling market

Armstrong World Industries Inc. (AWI), a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based building products maker, has struck a partnership with Canada-based tissue papermaker Irving Consumer Products involving their respective Macon, Georgia, facilities they say will “improve both companies’ environmental footprints.”

Earlier this year, Irving Consumer Products began diverting its tissue fiber byproducts to Armstrong’s mineral fiber plant, reducing Armstrong’s need to source and purchase recycled old newspapers (ONP) as an input raw material for its ceilings. As newspaper circulation has declined nationally, ONP has become a scarce grade.

In Macon, AWI and Irving Consumer Products expect to divert more than 3,500 tons of fiber byproducts annually from landfill disposal, supporting each firm’s waste diversion sustainability goals.

AWI says it is committed to circular manufacturing as an element in its effort to grow profitably and sustainably. Since 1999, AWI has been using recycled paper as raw material and recycling old ceiling tiles back into its manufacturing process through the Armstrong Ceiling Recycling Program. The company estimates that more than 200 million square feet of used ceiling materials have been diverted from landfills through the program.

Irving Consumer Products’ manufacturing operations already divert ash and lime to local farmers to enrich their fields and use recycled-content cardboard to pack its products.

AWI Macon Plant Manager William Woolard says, “This partnership is a win-win, and a great example of companies working together at a local level to help solve a global problem while improving our own processes. We diversify our raw material stream and save in cost and energy related to shipping heavy material like paper. Irving Consumer Products saves on landfill costs and its fiber by-product can live another life as Armstrong ceiling tile.”

Irving Consumer Products Macon Finance Manager Greg Kinsman says, “The partnership demonstrates our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint. Continuous improvement and innovation are important parts of our company’s values. We are always looking for new ways to become more efficient, and this partnership will help us move toward even more sustainable practices.”

AWI describes its Macon ceiling tile plant as one of its largest mineral fiber facilities, with more than 400 employees. Irving Consumer Products’ Scotties brand and private-label household tissue products manufacturing plant in Macon employs more than 320 people.