The Tile Council of North America recently announced that, after five years of developing an all-encompassing, multi-attribute sustainability standard for tile and tile installation materials, the first certified sustainable products were announced at the Coverings show on April 17 in Orlando, Fla. Cumulatively, eight major manufacturers of tile and installation materials have hundreds of products that are already certified or will be certified by the start of the event, with yet even more of their products still in the evaluation process and expected to earn certification this year. At least six additional manufacturers have started the certification process for hundreds more products that are expected to be certified within the year.

“This early adoption, within just a few months of the passage of the Green Squared(SM) ANSI standard, is a clear indication of the commitment North American manufacturers have made to sustainable manufacturing and sustainable products, in many cases starting years ago when conversations began regarding an industry standard for sustainability,” said Eric Astrachan, executive director. “Manufacturers looked at the breadth of their operations and made significant improvements to meet the multi-attribute criteria of the standard. They are to be congratulated for their willingness to do so, and their willingness to bring in outside certifiers to verify and substantiate their claims.”

Only those products independently evaluated and certified by a third party may bear the Green Squared Certified mark, making it easy for specifiers and consumers to select sustainable products and susustainable tile systems. Manufacturers with products already certified include Crossville, Ironrock, and Porcelanite Lamosa. In addition, Daltile, Interceramic, Laticrete, Mapei and Marazzi expect to receive notification of product certifications within the next two weeks. Bonsal American, Florida Tile, Quarry Tile Co., StonePeak, TEC, and Vitromex expect to have Green Squared Certified products by year’s end.

Green Squared (ANSI A138.1) is the industry standard for sustainable tile and tile installation products. Because sustainability shouldn’t be defined by a single attribute, Green Squared takes a multi-attribute, balanced approach by establishing criteria for environmental and social issues alike. Covered by the standard are environmental product characteristics, environmental product manufacturing and raw material extraction, end of product life management, progressive corporate governance, and innovation.

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