Ceramic Tiles Environmental Impact

An eco-friendly material through its entire life cycle
Considering the extraction and processing of the raw materials used in the tile production, the environmental impact of the quarries can, on one hand lead to the alteration of the landscape, and on the other hand to the consumption of resources, the emission of dusts, and waste production. The production phase represents the most important part of the life cycle. The main environmental factors associated with tile manufacturing are the following:

• Gaseous emissions
• Water consumption and waste water discharges
• Energy consumption
• Waste/Residues
• Noise

For every kilogram of tiles produced, the following substances are conveyed through gaseous emissions: from 0.2 to 0.4 grams of fluorine compounds; from 30 to 45 grams of dusts; from 0.01 to 0.1 grams of lead compounds. Over 90% of these polluting substances are removed by purification plants, so that the quoted emission levels are respectively reduced to: from 0.02 to 0.04 grams of fluorine compounds; from 0.2 to 0.3 grams of particulate matter; from 0.001 to 0.01 grams of lead compounds.

Water consumption by Italian ceramic industries is less than their needs, since wastewater is reused in the productive process, thereby limiting environmental pollution. The Italian ceramic tile industry is also able to re-cycle most of the wastes produced.

Ceramic processes are characterized by significant energy requirements. Thanks to a vigorous drive toward technology and plant innovation, the entire sector today consumes less than half the amount of energy as it did in the 1970s.

The subsequent phase of the life cycle of tiles is the final installation. The materials used for bedding and joints are generally materials of little significance with regards to toxicity. As regards to safety, ceramic tiles limit health and environment risks associated with laying. Demolition of the tiles brings the life cycle of a ceramic product to an end. Thanks to their inert nature, the scraps of ceramic materials from demolition can be returned to the environment without any particular risk. Ceramic tiled surfaces are absolutely unrivalled by other covering materials in terms of durability. A properly installed tiling can in fact last for a very long time, generating a lower quantity of rubble.