The Environment & IKO
IKO seeks to Set the Standard in all that we do, and our
commitment to responsible environmental activity is no exception.
In many ways IKO has been ahead of the trend on the subject
since our recycling and other environmental efforts go back
decades.
Fifty years ago IKO substituted sawdust and waste wood as
replacement for green wood chips in the manufacture of
roofing felt. About the same time, IKO set up a recycling
program for our facilities in Calgary and Brampton. They were
among the first to engage in large scale paper recycling,
collecting and reusing corrugated cardboard and waste paper in
the production of roofing felts.
RECYCLING MATERIALS
Forty years ago we set up an operation to convert what was
waste boiler slag into the granules used to surface shingles.
Thirty years ago IKO was the first Canadian manufacturer to
introduce waste roofing products into asphalt paving, gaining
approval from the Ontario government. At present, waste from
all our roofing manufacturing plants are used for paving
construction throughout North America.
Today we are doing even more to lessen our impact on the
environment. Our company’s shingle production plants place a
significant emphasis on the reduction of waste materials
generated in the manufacture of our products. Waste raw
materials are collected, screened and separated to be reused in
the manufacturing process. A good example is waste granules
which are lost from the sheet in the production process These
granules are captured and recycled to be used in shingle
headlap. Asphalt oils are captured and reintroduced into the
oxidizing process for our asphalt, significantly reducing waste.
Cooling water is recirculated and reused within the production
process reducing our overall water usage within the facility.
Even waste that cannot be used within the plant represents an
opportunity. Scrapped or damaged shingle wrappers, fiberglass
matting, and cores from wrapper rolls are sent back to the
manufacturing source to be reprocessed and re-used wherever
possible. We also use shingle waste materials to produce a
recover board for the commercial roofing market. Currently,
there is a project to develop the use of recycled shingles in the
manufacturing process for new shingles.
REUSING GRANULES ON HEADLAP
REUSING FIBERGLASS MATTING
IKO continually seeks new opportunities to reduce waste and
energy use. Our company is working with local utilities to
identify energy savings options, such as heat reclamation
projects, to reduce our resource usage. We are also looking into
options to reduce our carbon footprint by changing over
equipment, such as forklifts, to natural gas powered options.
Green may be the new black in business; but few
manufacturing companies can claim both the history and
ongoing commitment that IKO has shown in its operations as
we continue to work towards being a leader in environmentally
responsible manufacturing within our industry.
RE-PURPOSING SHINGLE SCRAP & WASTE
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