Eco-friendly tile -A complete guide
More people are caring about the environment, even when it comes to tiles. Eco-friendly tiles are in demand because they’re better for the planet. Let’s find out why they’re so popular.
Table of Contents
Best types of eco-friendly tile: recycled glass and clay
Recycled glass tile: durable and versatile
Recycled glass tiles offer eco-friendly options for walls and backsplashes, boasting durability as a primary advantage. Glass, being non-porous and stain-resistant, ensures easy maintenance.
Clay tile: traditional and environmentally-friendly
Clay tiles, a traditional eco-friendly choice for flooring, walls, and roofing, derive from natural clay fired at high temperatures, ensuring longevity. Clay’s natural and renewable properties make clay tiles a non-toxic and sustainable option.
Benefits of using eco-friendly tile
Lower environmental impact
Traditional tile materials typically have a higher environmental impact compared to eco-friendly tiles.
Recycled glass tiles, for instance, repurpose waste glass that would otherwise contribute to landfill accumulation. Similarly, clay tiles utilize natural clay, a resource that can be renewed over time.
Moreover, eco-friendly tiles diminish the necessity for fresh raw materials, thereby aiding in the preservation of natural resources. Additionally, their production often demands less energy, leading to a reduced environmental footprint overall.
Health benefits: low or no VOC emission
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pose a threat to indoor air quality and human health, as they can be emitted by various building materials.
For instance, clay tiles, composed of natural and non-toxic materials, typically release minimal to no VOCs.
Opting for eco-friendly tiles with low or zero VOC emissions serves to enhance indoor air quality, mitigating potential health concerns such as headaches, respiratory ailments, and allergic reactions.
Durability and longevity
Eco-friendly tiles are resilient and can endure heavy foot traffic and frequent use, rendering them ideal for areas with substantial activity like kitchens and bathrooms.
Clay tiles, renowned for their durability and robustness, excel as options for both flooring and wall installations.
Glass tiles boast easy maintenance, requiring only standard household cleaning products for upkeep, thus presenting a practical and hassle-free choice.
Economic and financial benefits
Besides their environmental and health advantages, opting for eco-friendly tiles can yield economic benefits as well.
Eco-friendly options frequently come at a lower cost compared to traditional tile alternatives. This not only reduces the initial expenses associated with tile purchase but also contributes to overall project savings.
Choosing the right eco-friendly tile for your project
Consider the entire lifecycle of the tile
When selecting eco-friendly tiles, it’s crucial to contemplate the entire lifecycle of the tile, considering sourcing, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and disposal or recycling.
Choose the tight tile for the right application
Consider the certifications and labels
These certifications and labels assure that the tile meets specific environmental and health standards, verified by a third-party organization.
LEED: The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program is widely recognized for verifying a building or product’s adherence to environmental and sustainability standards.
Greenguard: Certified by the Greenguard Environmental Institute, this label signifies products with low chemical emissions and compliance with health standards.