It is so interesting to hear about someone’s journey. To understand what molded and shaped them into what we see today. Armstrong started as a cork company back in 1860! They started with the manufacturing of bottle caps. The under part of the cap was a cork seal. This has since been replaced with plastic, but at the time it was made of cork. Like most manufacturing processes, there was scrap. Armstrong became one of the first large scale recyclers in the U.S. by turning the cork scraps into a new product that absorbed sound. They were not only making a recycled product, but an environmentally friendly one! From the very beginning Armstrong has had an ingrained mission to use recycled materials. 

Our CDRA members are more familiar with Armstrongs Ceiling tiles, which are made from recycled paper and recovered ceiling tiles. Armstrong has a National take back and recycling program for their ceiling tiles. They are actively seeking contractors and recyclers to participate in their program. They have some specific requirements, so it is best to coordinate directly with them if you would like to participate in this program. The recycling of ceiling tiles can be difficult because they break easily and therefore, the best chance of success is to have them segregated and palletized on the job site.

I met with Amy Costello, Product Stewardship and Sustainability Manager who gave me a tour of their impressive showroom. They now make thousands of products, many out of recycled materials including products that can be returned to them and recycled back into new products. They work with contractors and customers who have sustainable initiatives to help divert these materials from the landfill. If you would like to learn more about their program, please reach out to cjswentner@armstrongceilings.com for more information.