Article Number : 4914 |
|
Article Detail |
|
 | |
| Date | 10/1/2009 9:11:45 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=4914 |
| Abstract | By Louis Iannaco (Second of two parts) As more consumers educate themselves about the benefits of green products, a growing number of tile producers are answering the call of increased sustainability. The following covers several new products debuting for... |
| Article | By Louis Iannaco (Second of two parts) As more consumers educate themselves about the benefits of green products, a growing number of tile producers are answering the call of increased sustainability. The following covers several new products debuting for the fall and their numerous earth-friendly attributes. Ceramic Tiles of Italy With Cersaie set for Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, the Italians, with their usual standard of excellence, are getting ready to show the world some of the best tile in the market today. In terms of new introductions, the focus this season is on sustainability, functionality, shape, color, texture and, of course, cost-cutting technological advances. Recognizing these sustainability efforts, many Italian tile manufacturers have received certifications such as the Eco-Label (the European Union label certifying environmental safeguards), EMAS, and ISO 14001 for their commitment to sustainability and environmental management systems. To meet the sustainable requirements of the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC), Italian manufacturers are also offering a number of LEED-compliant tile collections that help contribute LEED points to new construction and renovation projects. Now all Panaria products are produced with 20% to 40% pre-consumer recycled materials. Casalgrande Padana recently announced more than 20 of its top collections are now produced using a percentage of pre-consumer recycled material. Impronta’s Sands, Caesar’s Change, Novabell’s Ecosystem, Atlas Concorde’s Trust, Viva’s Hanger, Ergon Engineered Stone’s Tetris, Emilceramica’s Marrakech, Marca Corona’s EcoLiving, Ragno’s Textile, Sant’Agostino’s Earth, Refin’s EcoLeader and StoneLeader, RHS’s Dorada and Pastorelli’s Opera all boast at least 40% recycled content. Crossville For fall Crossville is introducing Urban Renewal, a metal tile line with four finishes: bronze antique satin, blacksmith iron, aged iron, and bronze verde satin. This is an accent line with rich patinas and strong designs There are 17 items in each finish. Designed by Barbara Schirmeister, it has 60% recycled content. Tile of Spain Companies from Spain always have an eye toward fashion. As a building should be constructed for the long-term and materials are expected to last for the life of the structure, so goes the theory of sustainability and, thus, the need for high-performance design. Products from Spain are at the forefront of high-performance and low-lifecycle cost. When discussing product highlights from Spain, Roca’s Pret-A-Porter has to be at the lead. Pret-A-Porter is an innovative and exclusive system for dry-laying floor tiles with no mortar or grout. The 17-inch format is available in basic white, crema marfil, three colors of cement and three colors of stone. Following the trend of thinning tiles, Gres Catalan just released its own take, Slim-Tile, which is a 5mm, sustainable product with conservation of the planet in mind. Designed and created especially for remodeling and maximizing the benefits of ceramic products, Slim-Tile is a glazed porcelain tile with a thickness of 5mm, retaining all the characteristics inherent in ceramic tile. |