Celebrating Earth Day 2023 with Armstrong Ceilings
The theme of this year's Earth Day is "Invest in Our Planet," and you don't need to have the budget of a multinational corporation to make a difference. Architects and designers can have a measurable impact on the environment through the projects they design and the products they specify. In this episode, we sit down with Armstrong World Industries' Environmental Sustainability Manager, Anita Snader, to discuss where we are as an industry in the battle against climate change, how manufacturers like Armstrong are stepping up their sustainability commitments and some tools the design professionals have at their disposal to more accurately measure their carbon footprints.
Resources discussed in this episode:
https://www.aia.org/pages/6351155-materials-pledge
https://armstrongceilings.com/sustainability
https://www.buildingtransparency.org/tally/tallycat/
https://carbonleadershipforum.org/ec3-tool/
https://portal.mindfulmaterials.com/
Meet Our Guest
Anita Snader, LEED AP BD+C, Environmental Sustainability Manager at Armstrong World Industries
She has led Armstrong’s commitment to material health, transparency and carbon reduction efforts through Armstrong’s SUSTAIN™ portfolio of high-performance ceiling systems. A key area of focus is on Circularity, both in our operations and product, which continues Armstrong’s leadership in this area in the ceiling industry. As a LEED AP, she chaired the LEED EB Platinum certification for the Armstrong Headquarters in June 2007, and recertification in 2014 and 2020. She has also led the FitWel Certification and WELL Health Safety Rating for our Customer Avenue on the Armstrong Campus in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Anita also serves as the connector to various industry initiatives. She has provided industry education through articles, courses, and has presented extensively both in person and virtually.
About the Author
Robert Nieminen
Market Content Director
Market Content Director, Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources
Robert Nieminen is the Market Content Director of three leading B2B publications serving the commercial architecture and design industries: Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources. With a career rooted in editorial excellence and a passion for storytelling, Robert oversees a diverse content portfolio that spans award-winning feature articles, strategic podcast programming, and digital media initiatives aimed at empowering design professionals, facility managers, and commercial building stakeholders.
He is the host of the I Hear Design podcast and curates the Smart Buildings Technology Report, bringing thought leadership to the forefront of innovation in built environments. Robert leads editorial and creative direction for multiple industry award programs—including the Elev8 Design Awards and Product Innovation Awards—and is a recognized voice in sustainability, smart technology integration, and forward-thinking design.
Robert's work has earned him industry-wide recognition throughout his career, including:
- ASBPE Award (2019, 2018, 2017, 2015)—Best Regularly-Contributed Column; retrofit
- TABPI Award (2017, 2016)—Top 25 Entries, Cover Story; Retail Environments
- WPA Maggie Award (2011, 2010, 2008)—Best Publication, Trade; interiors+sources
- FOLIO: Eddie Gold Award (2022, 2007)—Best Feature Article & Special Section; interiors+sources
- Contributing author of ASID’s 2020 Outlook and State of Interior Design repor, as well as The State of the Interior Design Profession (Fairchild Books, 2010), which earned a place on the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers’ “50 Must Read, Must Have” book list.