Circular Innovation: Kelsey Herring of Armstrong World Industries On The Role of Zero Waste and Efficiency in Shaping Future Businesses
An Interview with Martita Mestey
Recover products at end-of-life. Build systems to take back and reuse products. Our ceiling tile recycling program does just that, and with Templok, we’re exploring how its components can find second life in other industries.
As businesses face growing pressure to address environmental concerns, the principles of circular innovation have become increasingly vital. By focusing on zero waste and efficiency, companies can not only reduce their ecological footprint but also unlock new opportunities for growth, resilience, and profitability. How can businesses successfully incorporate these strategies to shape a sustainable future? In this interview series, we are talking with industry leaders, sustainability experts, innovators, and entrepreneurs about “Circular Innovation: The Role of Zero Waste and Efficiency in Shaping Future Businesses.” As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kelsey Herring.
Kelsey Herring is the Director of Sustainability and Government Relations at Armstrong World Industries, where she drives the company’s sustainability strategy and engagement with key policy initiatives. She brings experience in corporate sustainability, environmental stewardship, and cross-sector collaboration.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. How did you become involved in the circular economy and zero waste initiatives?
I’ve seen the impacts of waste from a young age. I grew up near a landfill and witnessed how it just kept growing over time as more waste was added. I even remember the legal battles over increasing its height when the local community tried to stop it. That early experience helped shape my consciousness around waste and sustainability.
Early in my career, I worked for a textile manufacturing company, where I helped launch several zero-waste initiatives. Working at a large manufacturing facility, I was struck by how much scrap and packaging waste was being discarded — and that experience opened my eyes to the volumes industries send to landfills. That was really the start of my journey into zero-waste work.
That mindset naturally carried over as I transitioned into the built environment sector. At Armstrong World Industries, I found a company that has long embraced circular economy principles. Our ceiling tile recycling program has been running for over 25 years — it’s the longest-standing program of its kind in the industry. What excites me is how we not only divert our own waste but also incorporate scrap materials from other facilities and industries, turning them into high-quality products. It’s rewarding to be at a company where circular thinking is so embedded into day-to-day operations
Can you share your professional background and how it prepared you to innovate in this space?
I’m an environmental engineer by training, so my education focused heavily on pollution prevention, remediation, and environmental protection. That technical foundation gave me a deeper understanding of systems thinking and lifecycle impacts — skills that have been crucial in driving innovation around waste reduction and sustainability in business. While I don’t do hands-on engineering day-to-day anymore, that mindset and approach still influence the way I think and work across teams.
What drives your commitment to promoting efficiency and zero waste in business?
For me, it comes down to a deep desire to reduce our negative impact on the planet. But beyond that, I also see a clear economic case for circularity. We’ve been stuck in a linear economic model for so long that many people don’t realize how profitable a circular approach can be. There is real business value in rethinking waste — not just from a sustainability perspective, but also in terms of operational savings and long-term resilience. And those who first invest in this approach will see rewards.
How does your organization incorporate the principles of the circular economy into its business model?
Circularity is built directly into our product strategy — we have defined 2030 targets specifically focused on waste reduction and circular practices. That means we’re intentional about how we design, manufacture, and source our materials. In addition to our longstanding ceiling tile recycling program, we integrate recycled materials from both internal and external sources, including recycled paper, metals, and plastics. It’s not just about recycling — it’s about embedding circular thinking throughout our business planning and product innovation.
Can you provide an example of how zero waste practices have improved your business operations or profitability?
Absolutely. Waste diversion has become a standard expectation among many of our customers — some construction companies have even written ceiling tile recycling into their standard practices. That level of integration speaks volumes.
From an operations standpoint, we’ve diversified our material inputs, meaning we don’t rely solely on virgin raw materials. By incorporating reclaimed ceiling tiles and other post-consumer and post-industrial content, we’ve lowered raw material costs and reduced waste disposal expenses. It’s improved our efficiency and strengthened our overall business model. Customers appreciate our sustainability outlook, and that trust drives both loyalty and long-term profitability.
What role does innovation play in advancing zero waste initiatives, and how do you foster that innovation within your company?
Innovation is absolutely essential — it starts with a mindset shift. We actively encourage teams to think differently about materials, not just in terms of what goes into a product, but also what happens at the end of its life.
Fostering that kind of innovation means giving people room to experiment and try new ideas. One great example is the work our Energy Saving Ceilings team has done with our recently launched TEMPOK ceiling panels. Our TEMPLOK ceilings absorb and release heat, thereby regulating indoor temperature and reducing energy usage. At first, it didn’t appear to have a strong circular story (it was more about energy efficiency) — but the team took a creative approach to rethinking the product’s end-of-life potential. They explored how its phase change materials could be repurposed for passive heating and cooling in greenhouses — a completely different application outside the traditional built environment. That’s the kind of innovation that pushes circular thinking forward.
What are the key challenges to implementing circular economy principles in mainstream business models, and how do you address them?
One of the biggest challenges is that we’re often solving for problems that won’t fully emerge for decades. Our products are designed to last for years, so circularity sometimes feels like planning for a distant future. But we have to think long-term — because those end-of-life challenges will eventually arrive.
Another hurdle is shifting business priorities and cultural mindsets. What was acceptable even a few years ago might not align with today’s environmental expectations. It’s all about staying adaptive and evolving our understanding of what sustainability really means.
How do you see circular economy and zero waste practices evolving in the future, and what role do you want your organization to play?
I see the circular economy becoming less of a novel concept and more of a baseline expectation. Ideally, we’ll reach a point where these practices are just standard operating procedure — not a special story we tell, but the norm across industries.
I see Armstrong continuing to play a leadership role in that shift. I want us to keep challenging the outdated notion that waste has to carry a negative connotation. Waste can be a resource — if we design and plan with that in mind.
What are your “5 Things A Business Needs In Order To Successfully Adopt Zero Waste And Circular Economy Principles”? If you can, please share a story or example for each.
- Design products for longevity. Products should be built to last, reducing the need for frequent replacements. At Armstrong, many of our ceiling systems are backed by long warranties, and even innovations like Templok are being designed with durability and future reuse in mind.
- Source recycled and renewable materials. Use materials that reduce reliance on virgin resources. Armstrong integrates recycled paper and post-industrial waste into our mineral fiber tiles, helping lower our environmental impact from the start.
- Internally/within operations, work to cycle by-products/waster back into production, closed-loop systems. Recycle internal waste and seek out partnerships to keep materials in use. Our partnership with Irving Consumer Products diverts over 3,500 tons of tissue fiber waste from landfills each year, turning it into raw material for our ceiling tiles.
- Focus on resource efficiency across production and with products themselves, effective use of resources. Maximize the value of every input — materials, energy, and water. We continuously optimize across our operations to cut waste and improve sustainability without sacrificing performance.
- Recover products at end-of-life. Build systems to take back and reuse products. Our ceiling tile recycling program does just that, and with Templok, we’re exploring how its components can find second life in other industries.
Who or what has been the biggest inspiration in your pursuit of creating a more sustainable, circular business model?
There are both personal and professional inspirations. On the personal side, that early experience growing up near a landfill and seeing its negative impact on my community made a lasting impression — it instilled in me a deep respect for natural resources and a desire to protect the environment.
Professionally, I’ve been fortunate to have mentors like Helen Sahi, who was a huge influence during my college years and early career. Her leadership in sustainability and create circular thinking helped shape my path in this work.
If you could implement one big change across industries to accelerate the adoption of the circular economy, what would it be and why?
If I could implement one big change across industries, it would be to prioritize circularity at the design stage. That means creating products with renewable materials, maximizing resource efficiency, and planning for end-of-life reuse or recycling. When circular thinking starts with design, we can significantly reduce waste and build more sustainable systems across the board.
How can our readers further follow your work or your company online?
You can learn more about our sustainability efforts and circular economy initiatives by visiting our website here [https://www.armstrongworldindustries.com/en-us/sustainability.html] . For ongoing insights and news, feel free to follow me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-herring-02b621108/ ] and other social media platforms. We’re always excited to connect and collaborate with others who are passionate about building a more sustainable future.
This was great. Thanks for taking time for us to learn more about you and your business. We wish you continued success!
Circular Innovation: Kelsey Herring of Armstrong World Industries On The Role of Zero Waste and… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.