The world is moving in a greener direction, and you’re likely going to work with customers who want you to do the same. This may lead you to wonder: when working on a project, what’s an eco-friendly material you can use? Tile stores in Hollywood, Florida have the answer. In this article, we’ll discuss the many traits that make ceramic a great choice for eco-conscious consumers, as well as how to ensure the tile you’re working with is sustainable.
What Qualities Make Ceramic and Porcelain Eco-Friendly?
Zero VOCs
You’re likely already familiar with the issues that volatile organic compounds (VOC) can cause for air quality. However, they also have a negative impact on the environment, creating ground-level ozone. These organic compounds are burned off during the ceramic-making process, which typically sees the material fired at temperatures averaging about 200 degrees. This means that ceramic has zero VOCs.
It Lasts
You should expect your ceramic tile to last longer than a variety of common flooring materials, including:
- Laminate
- Concrete
- Carpet
Because it has a longer lifecycle, the tile is less wasteful. This has the added benefit of saving your customers money over the long term.
Reusable and Recyclable
Along with being a long-lasting material, ceramic can also be easily reused or recycled. For instance, it’s sometimes reused to make roadway paving. Efforts like this further reduce the waste caused during ceramic production.
Eco-Friendly Disposal
Even in situations where ceramic is disposed of, instead of being reused/recycled, it’s significantly better than most other flooring materials. Because it’s made of clay, it won’t decompose or pollute water the way that other materials can.
It Can Be Locally Sourced
Transport time is an important metric to consider when determining how eco-friendly a material is. For instance, if you’re able to get tiles locally, you can reduce the emissions produced during transportation. Since clay can be found in many parts of the world, it’s often easy to locally source ceramic.
How to Ensure You’re Working with Sustainable Tile
The TCNA (Tile Council of North America) has put together a sustainability standard, Green Squared™. If a tile is certified by this program, that means that a third-party has determined that the tile is sustainable, according to a “full gamut of multi-attribute social and environmental sustainability criteria.” While choosing Green Square Certified products is important, it’s also useful to look at the TCNA’s industry-wide Environmental Product Declaration. 85% of North American ceramic tile is currently covered by an EPD, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of how the material impacts the environment throughout its lifecycle.
Looking for a Tile Store in Hollywood, Florida?
You’ve come to the right place. At D&B Tile, we’re committed to helping people find the tile of their dreams. Over the decades, we’ve partnered with many designers and contractors to help them satisfy their customers’ requirements for a project. We also have relationships with many high-quality suppliers, ensuring you get the materials you need. If you have any questions you’d like to ask about your tile project, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via the information on our contact page. We’re always happy to help business owners resolve their tile needs.