CEDAR CITY — Southern Utah University (SUU), in partnership with GAF and Southwest Technical College (STECH), has completed the GAF Zero Waste Cohort, a work-based learning initiative that put students at the center of solving real-world environmental challenges. The project, supported by Talent Ready Utah and The Nucleus Institute, demonstrates how higher education and industry collaboration can advance sustainability while preparing students for the workforce.
The initiative began with the GAF Zero Waste Ideathon in December 2024, a community-wide competition focused on reducing polyisocyanurate (polyiso) waste from roofing insulation manufacturing. GAF, the nation’s largest producer of polyiso insulation, sought bold new ideas despite already robust waste management efforts. Winning submissions included SUU business major Matt Cherry’s proposal to repurpose shredded foam for wall insulation, retired engineer Matt Lindsay’s plan to use waste in highway impact materials, and Launch High School student Thomas Daniels’ idea to incinerate waste for energy.
Building on these concepts, a multidisciplinary student cohort launched in March 2025 through SUU’s Industry Challenge Lab. Guided by faculty, GAF mentors, and corporate engineers, nine students from SUU and STECH developed two promising solutions: a lightweight cement alternative using ground polyiso waste and a combustion-based energy recovery model to offset electricity costs at the Cedar City plant. Both concepts drew strong interest from GAF engineers for potential future development.
“This collaboration helped us identify solutions outside of our normal considerations,” said Josh Meacham, GAF plant engineer. “The act of asking questions, digging for information, and proving them out with real-life trials is what engineers and industrial scientists are doing every day. Opportunities like this are essential for developing the next generation of innovators.”
Students earned academic credit and stipends through The Nucleus Institute, with tuition sponsored by GAF. Their final technical documentation has been submitted for further review, underscoring the project’s focus on ecologically sustainable, economically viable, and scalable solutions.
SUU President Mindy Benson praised the effort: “By engaging with industry partners, our students are shaping a stronger, more sustainable future. This project proves how higher education, government, and industry can unite to deliver real-world innovations that strengthen our communities.”
The GAF Zero Waste Cohort marks a step forward not only in reducing industrial waste but also in creating hands-on experiences that prepare students to thrive in applied research and sustainability-driven careers.
For more information on GAF, visit the GAF website. Learn more about SUU programs at the SUU website.
