USG Launches Formaldehyde-Free and Low-VOC Ceiling Panels That Perform to the Highest Level of Antimicrobial Protection.

Company Also Launches Sustainableceilings.com Web Site and Extends Its Leadership In Using Innovation to Support Healthier Indoor Environments

CHICAGO -- USG Corporation (NYSE: USG) announced today that with its newly reformulated ceiling panels, it is the first manufacturer to offer formaldehyde-free ceiling panels and the highest level of antimicrobial protection available today. These USG enhancements will help customers further reduce VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions and increase mold and mildew protection, key strategies in creating healthy, sustainable environments through improved Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). The company also announced the launch of a new Web site - www.sustainableceilings.com - to serve as an industry resource.

"USG offers the widest selection of ceiling panels that outperform or meet the strictest IEQ guidelines for VOC emissions, including the most stringent requirement in the market, the California Office of the Environmental Health Hazard Assessment standard," said J. Mark Kemerling, USG's product marketing manager, Ceiling Panels. "While other manufacturers simply apply additives or surface treatments, USG uses patented formulations and coatings technology to increase mold and mildew protection in our ceiling panels."

Formaldehyde-Free Ceiling Panels an Industry First

More than 25 USG ceiling families now deliver formaldehyde-free or low-formaldehyde performance, which comes standard on these products with no additional charge or lead time.

Of those, eight product lines exceed the California Office of the Environmental Health Hazard Assessment standard. Classified as formaldehyde-free, these products can help qualify and meet the intent of several LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits. These panels and the other USG product lines also meet or exceed the guidelines set by the Collaborative for High-Performance Schools (CHPS), the State of Washington, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute.

"As one of the largest surfaces in an indoor space, a ceiling using no- or low-formaldehyde panels helps create a healthy, sustainable space and meets the needs of the most demanding building and design professionals," said Kemerling.

USG Is the Industry Leader in Mold and Mildew Protection

To further help building professionals in their quest for sustainable design, the company now offers two distinct levels of anti-microbial protection. Most of USG's ceilings in the CLIMAPLUS[TM] product line are designed and formulated to stand up to heat and humidity extremes (conditions that foster mold and mildew growth) and inhibit the growth of both mold/mildew and odor/stain-causing bacteria.

For a superior level of protection, USG's new CLIMAPLUS Superior Performance ceiling panels are the only standard panels on the market to feature a lifetime-warranted, high-performance antimicrobial treatment and achieve a no-growth "10" rating in ASTM International mold/mildew testing.

"Assuring a high level of indoor air quality is critical to achieving sustainability because spaces that deliver comfort and functionality are likely to meet occupant needs long into the future without requiring extensive upgrades or renovations," said Kemerling. "USG has long supported sustainable building by emphasizing innovation, from the raw materials and resources we use to the manufacturing and recycling processes we employ."

USG Launches Sustainableceilings.com

USG has also launched a new Web site, www.sustainableceilings.com, to further educate the building community about sustainability. The easy-to-navigate site includes information on products and issues, including commentary from industry experts Mike Italiano, CEO of The Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability, and Robert J. Kobet, AIA, chair of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED-NC for Schools initiative and co-author of the LEED for Contractors and Construction Managers Workshop.

USG's latest sustainability efforts follow the company's launch this past summer of its Ceiling Panel Recycling Program. USG accepts panels from the continental U.S. and areas of Canada, where customers simply need to stack and wrap the panels, then call for pickup. The company is using the recycled panels to manufacture new ceiling products. Many of USG's ceiling panels also use recycled paper and contain mineral wool made of slag, a byproduct of steel production.

"USG's commitment to health, safety and environmental responsibility is evident at every stage in the product life cycle chain," said Kemerling.

USG Corporation is a Fortune 500 manufacturer and distributor of high-performance building systems through its United States Gypsum Company, USG Interiors, Inc. and L&W Supply Corporation subsidiaries. Headquartered in Chicago, the company serves the residential and non-residential construction markets, repair and remodel construction markets, and industrial processes. USG's wall, ceiling, flooring and roofing products provide leading-edge building solutions for customers, while L&W Supply center locations efficiently stock and deliver building materials nationwide. For additional information, visit the USG Web site at www.usg.com.