Protect people and the planet
Innovate for good
Innovating safer by design
Acting on climate
Lowering Embodied Carbon in Building Materials
Insulation is critical for an energy efficient building. Traditionally, rigid foam insulation boards and spray foams used for sealing cracks and seams that let in air and moisture have utilized blowing agents that have high global warming potentials (GWPs).
In DuPont™ Performance Building Solutions, our innovation focus is delivering low-embodied carbon products, turning waste materials into new products, and applying green chemistry to deliver solutions using less hazardous substances.
Recent product innovations for Styrofoam™ XPS and Low GWP Froth-Pak™ Spray Foam have led to substantial reduction in the GWP of the blowing agent and in the embodied carbon of the products.
The built environment plays a critical role in addressing some of society’s biggest sustainability challenges. Buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the manufacturing of building materials accounts for 11% of global carbon emissions.
At DuPont, we are evaluating the sustainability profiles of our innovation projects throughout the innovation process and are applying life cycle analyses to help guide project decisions to increase sustainability outcomes.
In line with our sustainability goals and commitment to climate action, DuPont innovation has enabled a viable low GWP solution to reduce the embodied carbon of our Styrofoam™ Brand Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam Insulation products. These product still deliver the same thermal performance, moisture resistance, durability, and ease of use expected by our customers.
Additionally, the newly enhanced, innovative Low GWP Froth-Pak™ Spray Foam reformulation utilizes carbon dioxide (CO2) in its spray foam blowing agent package that helps achieve a reduction in blowing agent GWP of more than 99 percent as compared to blowing agents used in past formulations.
Converting production to the Low GWP Styrofoam™ XPS product results in a substantial 94% reduction in carbon footprint for this product line.
DuPont innovation efforts in the reformulation of Low GWP Froth-Pak™ Spray Foam have been recognized with a 2021 American Chemistry Council (ACC) Sustainability Leadership Award for Environmental Protection and a 2021 Adhesive and Sealant Council Innovation Award.
The DuPont team is extremely proud of this innovation and released a short video in which they share the story of how Low GWP Froth-Pak™ was developed intentionally and purposefully as a lower-embodied carbon product innovation.
To learn more about these products are our business specific sustainability goals: https://www.dupont.com/building/sustainability.html
Protect people and the planet stories
Kapton® Helps Modernize Rail in India
The Indian government plans to have India’s railways routes fully electrified by 2023 and fully powered by renewable sources by 2030. DuPont Kapton® FCRC wire insulation coupled with DuPont Nomex® slot liner insulation is the standard for high efficiency traction motor insulation systems for demanding, high temperature rail applications,
Kapton® Helps Modernize Rail in India
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Life-Extending Protection for Renewable Energy Producers
Photovoltaic panels are expected to convert sunlight into energy for 30 years or more, but solar panels in the field often experience degradation and other failures that shorten their useful life, thereby reducing their ability to produce renewable energy. Tedlar-based backsheets have been demonstrated to significantly extend panel lifespan, with multiple examples of installations generating electricity well beyond 30 years.
Life-Extending Protection for Renewable Energy Producers
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Prioritizing Safety Through a Disaster
In August 2021, Hurricane Ida significantly impacted our Pontchartrain, LA manufacturing facility. Preparations for site operations, employee safety and community recovery began days ahead and continued weeks after.
Prioritizing Safety Through a Disaster
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Lowering GHG Emission
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) are used in blowing agents and manufacturing of other building insulation materials. Some HFCs have high global warming potential (GWP) where they end up in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.
Lowering GHG Emission
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Flow of Life
Creating a water-optimized future relies on innovation and action now, and in future generations.
The “Flow of Life” project promotes water science literacy and education across primary and secondary students in China.
Flow of Life
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Water Optimization in High Stress River Basins
Many rivers around the world are now classified as “high stress”. This means that more than 40% of the naturally available water in the basin is removed leading to the risk of water scarcity. Our Zhangjiagang site in China set a sustainability goal to reduce wastewater generation, and address other water usage opportunities.
Water Optimization in High Stress River Basins
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Advancing Low Carbon Mobility
DuPont provides solutions that enable vehicle electrification and expansion of the electronic vehicle (EV) market, including thermal management, battery assembly, and enhanced connectivity