Tile is Inherently Green

Ceramic, or porcelain, tile is inherently green and an important part of sustainable construction. The all-natural materials have a number of environmental attributes that make it a great choice for eco-conscious specifiers:

• Because it is fired at very high temperatures, ceramic tile inherently has no VOC emissions. The resulting final product is virtually inert, with no off-gassing.
• Ceramic tile is easy to clean and inhospitable to dust mites, mold, and bacteria.
• Ceramic tile is non-combustible and does not give off toxic fumes when exposed to fire.

Tile and LEED® Green Building Rating Systems

Contrary to what many people believe, products themselves are not LEED certified; only buildings can be LEED certified. The products specified, however, can contribute points toward different levels of certification. Tile produced in North America can contribute to long life cycle, indoor air quality, and potentially offer regional manufacturing benefits. Credits can also be earned for recycled content, reduction of heat island effect , and construction wastes management.

Green Squared

While all ceramic tile is a green choice, tile specifiers also have the option to select products which have been verified by an independent 3rd party to be in conformance with ANSI A138.1, the industry standard for sustainable tile and tile installation products.

Green Squared is a multi-attribute, industry-wide standard that underscores the North America tile industry’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing. Products bearing the Green Squared Certified logo are manufactured according to rigorous sustainability criteria that address a broad range of considerations, from extraction of the raw materials needed to reuse or disposal at the end of a product’s life. Manufacturers of Green Squared certified products invest considerable resources to ensure their facilities and manufacturing practices are socially and environmentally responsible, and to obtain third-party certification.

You can depend on GIO for your sustainable design projects because many of our products are Green Squared certified. Green Squared provides all tile producers, foreign and domestic, with a clear benchmark for designing sustainable products which can be accepted by North American green building programs.