Why Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Are The New Eco-friendly Choice

When you are looking for eco-friendly design choices for your home, you might overlook two flooring calgary options less commonly associated with green initiatives. Ceramic and porcelain tiles not only offer superior quality and eye-catching design possibilities, but they also offer a sustainable option that can even help with your home’s energy efficiency. Here’s why ceramic and porcelain tiles is the new eco-friendly choice.

They Use Natural Materials 

Ceramic and porcelain tiles use natural materials and are also produced without the use of any harmful or radioactive materials including formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and PVC resin. As a result, they don’t produce harmful emissions, so your home’s air quality is not impacted.

Ceramic and Porcelain are Natural Insulators

While you might think of tile floors as cold, they actually have what’s called “thermal mass”. This slows the rate they heat and cool, so they help keep your home insulated. They don’t experience temperature changes quickly, so your home doesn’t need to compensate by producing more heat or cold.

Easy Clean without Chemicals

Tiles are easy to clean with water, so you don’t need to use toxic chemicals. That is why they are a popular choice for areas like the kitchen, public swimming pools and hotel entries. High-traffic areas are easier to clean and more resistant to moisture when covered in ceramic or porcelain tile.

Long-Lasting for Less Waste

In today’s throw-away world, it’s nice to know that porcelain and ceramic tiles are very long-lasting. Because they are so durable you don’t have to worry about things such as staining, warping, and colour fading that require replacement. As well because they are moisture-resistant, they are better able to withstand exposure to wetness such as in showers, kitchens, bathrooms, entries, and laundry rooms. By lasting longer, you avoid removing them from your home and sending them to the local dump.

Reusable

In the manufacturing process reject materials do not contribute to waste. Instead, the materials are reused. Most manufacturers recycle raw material and water wastes including unfired or fired scrap product. These materials end up back in the clay mixing and slip production. Less waste also often translates into affordability as the manufacturing companies use every last bit of the materials and can pass those savings onto you.

Recyclable

Although it can be hard to find places to recycle ceramic tile it is completely recyclable. Even if your own municipality doesn’t offer this type of recycling facility, at least you know there are many areas around the world that will accept porcelain and ceramic tile. In fact, there are even actual manufacturers willing to take back tile to reuse in their production.

There are more and more tile companies that pride themselves in using as much as 70% recycled materials for their tile production. When tiles are in good condition, they can even be resold to designers and contractors seeking green solutions for their eco-conscious clients. Habitat for Humanities Restores also take tile in good condition.

Innovative Green Production

Tile manufacturers continue to look for new green production processes to reduce their impact on the environment. They seek out energy-efficient, responsible alternatives despite the fact they are already the eco-friendly choice that doesn’t contribute to water pollution such as plastics. As well materials are usually in close proximity to manufacturing facilities, which reduces energy and emissions caused by long-distance shipping.

Ceramic is made of clay so won’t cause issues in the manufacturing process. In fact, in many cases the heat generated in the tile manufacturing process can be repurposed for electricity generation, making many factories energy self-sufficient.  These factors give tile the lowest carbon footprint of any other flooring option.

Why Eco-Friendly Choices are Important

The items you chose to decorate your home impact your health, the health of the communities where home décor items are manufactured and the entire environment. Eco-friendly products should offer at least one of the following benefits:

• Reusability so it doesn’t end up in landfills
• Durability so it lasts longer and is less likely to contribute to waste
• Energy efficiency to help reduce the use of electricity or carbon fuels
• Natural materials that don’t produce toxins
• Recyclable so the materials can be reused
• Packaging that is compostable or recyclable
• An eco-friendly manufacturing process
• Locally made or at least from a country respecting environmentally friendly processes

Less transportation in the manufacturing or delivery process is also important. In fact, even buying products from your local Calgary flooring expert is more environmentally friendly than ordering something from the U.S., or traveling outside the area to shop further out. As you can see, ceramic and porcelain tiles could be the unsung heroes of eco-friendly flooring.