CONTENTS GLOSSARY iv 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Sector overview 1 Mineral wool insulation 1 Other mineral-based insulation 1 Non-renewab/e organic-based insulation 1 Renewable organic plant/animal-derived insulation 2 1.2 Historical and geographical changes 2 Use of insulation 2 Ozone-depleting blowing agents - CFCs and HCrCs 2 MFC blowing agents 3 1.3 Recycled content 3 2 LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILES AND THE GREEN GUIDE 4 2.1 Explanation of how the updated Environmental Profiles methodology has been applied to insulation 4 Treatment of recycling and secondary inputs 4 Treatment of renewable inputs 5 End-of-life issues for insulation 5 3 OPERATIONAL IMPACTS AND THEIR RELEVANCE 7 4 LINKS TO BREEAM AND THE CODE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMES/ECOHOMES 8 The CWP of insulation blowing agents 9 5 ASSESSING INSULATION WITHIN THE GREEN GUIDE 10 5.1 Insulation as a sland-alone element 10 The functional unit used for comparative analysis of insulation as an dement 10 5.2 How insulation is used in other GYeen Guide elements 10 6 KEY IMPACTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SECTOR 13 6.1 Key impacts 13 6.2 Key opportunities 14 6.3 Where more data arc required 14 7 CONCLUSIONS 15 8 REFERENCES AND FURTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION 16