Eco-friendly ceramic tiles
When it comes to flooring, ceramic tiles are a substance of choice for designers and homeowners as they are not only available in an endless variety of colors, finishes and patterns, but are also considered environmentally friendly. . Due to their long lifespan, tiles need to be replaced less frequently, which means less waste in landfills, as well as lower energy requirements for manufacturing, transportation, and installation of new products.
In addition to durability, since ceramic tiles do not absorb odors or release chemicals into the air, this leads to better indoor air quality (IAQ). Additionally, for the sake of comparison with other flooring materials, ceramic tiles do not contain toxic chemicals or coatings and do not harbor harmful dust or dust mites like carpets, as well as being laid with VOC-free mortars and grouts. volatile organic). It offers an alternative of ecological soil. Additionally, tile, unlike wood, carpet or natural stone flooring, does not require high maintenance or chemical protective finishes such as polishing, shampooing, stripping or waxing. In fact, the highest quality ceramic, porcelain or vitrified tiles are made from natural clay that is usually found near factories, eliminating the destruction of natural resources such as wood or the extraction of natural stones to preserve the environment. . It may not be easily recognizable at first, but ceramic tiles are a surprisingly sustainable alternative to traditional flooring materials. Since glazed tiles offer a surface that cannot be penetrated by contaminants, for this reason, no chemical cleaners are needed. Only mild cleaners or even lukewarm water can clean the tiles sufficiently, thus preventing the discharge of dangerous chemicals into the water system.
In addition to the inherent green character, another advantage of these tiles is that they come in a wide variety of designs to suit a wide variety of uses, such as indoor or outdoor use, and they can also be finished in many different ways to simulate wood, stone. natural, leather, etc. which has helped reduce the use of natural substances, contributing to the preservation of the environment. Interior designers also tend to support the trend, as natural stone resembles vitrified tiles with Italian marble finish, which are quite popular with customers as they combine the beauty of marble with the strength of vitrified tiles. , further contributing to prevent the extraction of stones and coal. footprint resulting from transport. Another popular surface finish is wood, which offers a less expensive, durable, and easier to maintain replacement for natural wood or laminate wood floors. Not to mention, homeowners get the look and feel of real wood, without the need to cut down trees. In addition, with advanced digital printing technology, ceramic tiles can now be custom-designed and reproduce surfaces that are virtually indistinguishable from real ones.
Today, ceramic tiles are manufactured with lead-free enamel finishes that add to their ecological properties, in addition the latest ‘Nano Coating’ technology used by some manufacturers offers high resistance to dirt and stains, which makes it more durable and low-maintenance. While some other new age tiles with their unpolished surface offer a high solar reflection index (SRI) which provides low thermal conductivity, reducing electricity consumption in buildings. However, the most recent addition is recycled content tiles which use between 20% and 70% recycled content. These tiles come in two varieties: ceramic and glass. Recycled content glass tiles contain up to 100 percent recycled glass which requires less energy for production and is also appreciated by many designers due to its translucent iridescence which gives it a special decorative quality. Designers offer another interesting way to recycle ceramic tiles which is to use broken pieces of tile as mosaics to create imaginative design patterns on walls and floors.
Furthermore, with growing environmental awareness, ceramic tile manufacturers are also greening their production processes, such as recycling household waste and industrial water, using energy efficient means for oven cooking processes, as well as dust recovery systems. to avoid air pollution. In fact, the main tile manufacturing companies around the world, for greater efficiency in energy consumption and conservation of raw materials, are now recycling the sludge created during the manufacturing process, reusing waste ceramic material that otherwise it would be dumped into a landfill and sprinkled around the silos to avoid dust to pollute the air.
Without a doubt, the ecological elements of ceramic tiles combined with limitless design possibilities provide a floor that is not only aesthetically attractive but also sustainable, one of the important aspects to consider in contemporary design and construction. What is required is awareness among the end user of sustainable features that address some of the most current environmental concerns. In fact, with a long life cycle, natural durability, and low maintenance attributes inherent to the material, it is easy to see why ceramic tile should be specified as an ideal flooring material in green buildings.