Laurie Lyza

By Laurie Lyza Member of TCNA Green Initiative Subcommittee
As the building industry continues to be transformed by demands for greener, more sustainable practices, much of the focus is on materials used in both new construction and renovation projects. Much attention has been placed on new green materials, and their introduction into the marketplace is certainly a benefit to the environment, not to mention designers with mandates from their clients and even from local governments to meet environmental guidelines on every project.

When exploring green materials, designers are not only integrating these new products into their plans, but they are increasingly choosing a product that has proven to be sustainable for the past several centuries: tile.

Although many manufacturers offer tile with significant percentages of recycled materials, the environmental aspects of the product go far beyond recycled content. Tile is inherently green and gaining recognition as such, thanks in no small part to the Tile Council of North America’s (TCNA) new awareness campaign, “Tile is the natural choice.” Through a variety of educational materials and activities, the TCNA is highlighting sustainable attributes of tile from manufacturing to product life cycle.

North American manufacturers of tile have begun producing tile using closed loop manufacturing processes, integrating materials that would have previously gone to landfills back into the creation of new products, while also reusing water and therefore limiting the need for waste water treatment. This is in addition to manufacturers that include recycled content from various sources into the body of their tile products.

Another green aspect of tile is its regional availability. Tile manufacturing facilities are located throughout North America, reducing energy consumption related to transporting the product thousands of miles. The manufacturing facilities are also located in proximity to sources of raw materials needed to produce ceramic tile, further limiting transportation.

Recycled content, regional materials extraction and regional manufacturing are just a few of the ways tile can contribute to a project’s certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED program.

Ceramic and porcelain tile also contribute to indoor air quality. They emit no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have been linked to sick building syndrome, and they are hypoallergenic. Tile is also a low maintenance product, meaning it can be cleaned and maintained without the use of harsh, environmentally damaging chemicals and without requiring energy use associated with more aggressive forms of cleaning.

Finally, tile is designed to last for a lifetime when properly installed. Unlike many other building materials, even those whose recycled content make them green, tile will virtually never have to be replaced.

Laurie Lyza is Director of Marketing for Crossville, Inc.