VIEWPOINT SQUEEZING MORE VALUE OUT


OF COMPRESSION PACKAGING Matt Neary, sales director Knauf Insulation


SPACE IS MONEY for builders’ merchants, whether that’s in the warehouse, on the yard, or in the back of a delivery truck. While some construction products store neatly, insulation can be awkwardly bulky, limiting stock capacity and tying up transport resources. But advances in compression packaging are changing the game, helping merchants store more, deliver more, and sell more – all while cutting carbon emissions.


Maximising storage with compression packaging


The key is understanding how compression ratios work. Glass mineral wool’s flexible, air-filled structure can be compressed far more than rigid insulation materials, which simply can’t be reduced in size. At Knauf Insulation, our industry-leading technology achieves up to a 10:1 compression ratio on certain products – meaning packs take up just one-tenth of their original size until opened.


This has a direct impact on stock capacity. For example, a pallet of our OmniFit®


Slab 35


(100mm x 600mm) contains 167% more insulation than a pallet of an equivalent low-density


rock mineral wool product. For merchants, that means the same warehouse bay can hold significantly more product, without extra racking or yard space. Fewer pallets also make stock easier and quicker to handle. Staff spend less time moving and re- stacking, and there’s less risk of damage from repeated handling. On site, customers can store more insulation in the same footprint – a real advantage where space is tight or phased delivery schedules are in place.


Boosting transport efficiency


Compression technology also pays dividends once the product leaves the warehouse. By fitting more insulation into each load, fewer delivery runs are needed to move the same volume of material. This delivers a triple benefit. First, it frees up space on vehicles for other customer orders, improving delivery scheduling. Second, it reduces fuel use and the associated CO₂emissions – directly contributing to merchants’ sustainability targets. Third, fewer loads mean less packaging overall, cutting plastic use as well as disposal costs. These benefits can help merchants with sustainability


targets to reduce Scope 3 emissions. These emissions can account for more than 70% of a business’ carbon footprint, and include all indirect and non- owned emissions except for those generated by purchased energy.


Sustainability and commercial advantage Demand for products with strong environmental credentials is growing fast – from contractors chasing project sustainability ratings, to homeowners looking for greener solutions. Stocking insulation that combines compression benefits with low embodied carbon and proven sustainability credentials helps merchants stay ahead of that curve.


Glass mineral wool already has the lowest levels of embodied carbon of any mainstream insulation manufactured in the UK. Our glass mineral wool products are manufactured with up to 80% recycled content and ECOSE, Knauf Insulation’s unique plant-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde and emits low levels of VOCs. There’s also a commercial


20


benefit. Packaging innovations are a


conversation starter with customers, whether you’re highlighting the extra stock they can hold on site, the savings in delivery costs, or the reduced environmental impact. Positioning these benefits alongside product performance – such as thermal efficiency, fire safety, and acoustic properties – helps merchants differentiate themselves from competitors.


Making space work harder


In a market where efficiency, performance, and sustainability increasingly go hand in hand, compression packaging offers merchants a practical way to get more from the space and resources they already have. By stocking products that deliver high compression ratios and robust sustainability credentials, you can increase stock density, cut delivery costs, and help your customers meet their own environmental targets. BMJ


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net October 2025


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