Why is Fiberglass Insulation Pink?

Fiberglass insulation is one of—if not the most—common types of insulation out there. Thanks to its versatility, affordability, and high R-value, fiberglass insulation is an ideal choice for home and business owners in all climates. And while we at Spartan Insulation will sing the praises of fiberglass all day, many folks just want to know: why is fiberglass insulation pink?

Maybe you’ve never noticed that insulating fiberglass is often pink, or maybe you’ve always wondered why that’s the case. Either way, we want to take today’s blog post to explain the history behind this strange phenomenon.

Is Fiberglass Insulation “Naturally” Pink?

Your first best guess might be that the process of creating fiberglass insulation might make it pink as a byproduct. And while that’s a good thought, the truth is that fiberglass is naturally yellow-brown hue. So how does it become pink? Well, that’s because the insulation manufacturer Owens Corning makes it pink on purpose.

You see, back in the 1940s, fiberglass insulation (also known as “glass wool”) just began being widely used in homes. Owens Corning was the first to mass produce fiberglass, which gave them an edge in the market. However, they still had to compete with other insulation products and copycat products. So in the 1950s, Owens Corning decided to dye fiberglass pink in order to make it stand out on the shelves. That’s right—the pink hue of Owens Corning fiberglass was developed as a marketing tactic.

But Why Choose Pink?

Pink feels particularly out of place in a field like insulation. It’s especially unusual when know that pink was strongly associated with femininity in the 1950s, while construction and insulation were heavily male-dominated fields. Well, it actually started by accident.

Initially, Owens Corning set out to color their glass wool using red dye. Unexpectedly, the fiberglass didn’t turn out as the red they were looking for, but instead as a bright pink. However, they decided to sell it anyways and found that the bright pink color was a huge success. In an industry where products are dark yellows, muddy browns, or (at best) off-white, the bright pink insulation was a welcome change for consumers.

Here’s a fun fact for you: the pink insulation did so well that Owens Corning actually trademarked the color pink in 1987. That’s right—Owens Corning was the first company to actually trademark a color.

Quality Insulation Installation Services for Your Home

Don’t be fooled—fiberglass insulation isn’t popular for its color alone. At the end of the day, people love fiberglass insulation for its remarkable cost-effectiveness and easy installation. In fact, fiberglass insulation is the best way to bring insulation up to code while on a budget. For more information on getting insulation installed for your home or business, contact our team at Spartan Insulation for details. Click here to contact us today!