Owens Corning successfully manufactures shingles from extracted asphalt

Owens Corning, a Toledo, Ohio-based building products manufacturer, has announced a significant industry milestone with the successful completion of a commercial-scale trial to manufacture shingles using extracted asphalt from recycled shingles. The trial, which was completed at Owens Corning’s Summit, Illinois, shingle plant, is the company’s most recent step toward its aspiration to divert 2 million tons of shingles from landfills annually through shingle recycling efforts.

The extracted asphalt used to manufacture the trial shingles was extracted from waste shingles at an Indiana-based shingle recycling pilot plant, announced in 2022 and owned by technology company and partner Redivius, Jeffersonville, Indiana, a strategic spin-off from CRS Reprocessing Services. The pilot—which has continued to scale since its opening in early 2023—utilizes several proprietary, patent pending processes for deconstructing postconsumer and postindustrial shingles to extract and reuse individual component raw materials, Owens Corning says. 

“As a market leader, we take our responsibility to solve our industry’s biggest challenges and make the world a better place seriously, and we remain committed to our shingle recycling aspiration,” says Gunner Smith, roofing president for Owens Corning. “I’m incredibly proud of our team’s success in manufacturing the industry’s first shingle made with extracted asphalt from recycled shingles—a great testament to Owens Corning’s leading technology and product expertise.”

RELATED: Owens Corning reports progress on shingle recycling initiatives

The completion of the first commercial-scale trial to manufacture shingles using extracted asphalt from recycled shingles builds on the company’s previously announced shingle recycling milestones.

• November 2022 – Owens Corning announced enhanced shingle recycling efforts and intention to divert shingles from landfills through two workstreams: recycling shingles into new shingles and recycling shingles into asphalt pavement. 
• December 2022 – Owens Corning held a ribbon-cutting for an Indiana-based shingle recycling pilot facility operated by key partners. The pilot sought to deconstruct waste shingles and reclaim components for use in applications, including new shingles, asphalt paving and other industrial applications.
• October 2023 – Owens Corning announced the recycling pilot achieved deconstruction of waste shingles, extracting asphalt, granules and filler. The company also announced a partnership with the National Center for Asphalt Technology, Auburn, Illinois, to conduct research studies on the usage of recycled shingles in pavement.
• February 2024 – Owens Corning displayed an early-stage prototype shingle made with recycled content at the 2024 International Roofing Expo.

Laurand Lewandowski, Owens Corning Director of Asphalt Innovation, will speak on the company’s leadership in turning post-consumer shingles into a circular model at the REMADE Circular Economy Tech Summit and Conference on April 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Technology partnership

The company’s efforts to deconstruct tear-off shingles and repurpose components into new shingles are being completed in partnership with Redivius, Owens Corning’s partner in the advancement of shingle recycling efforts since launch of the work in 2022, the company says.

“Owens Corning brings unmatched industry expertise and building products leadership to our partnership, with a shared commitment to sustainability,” says Shawn Anderson, Redivius CEO. “We’re excited to continue developing innovative solutions, reducing the impact of used roofing shingles in landfills, and progressing closer toward our shared vision of a circular shingle economy.”

Following the successful commercial-scale shingle trial using extracted asphalt from recycled shingles, Redivius and Owens Corning will continue to optimize and scale commercial trials, the company says.