S-Tiles - industria ceramica

PLANET EARTH: SOME FIGURE

Ceramic tiles have a lower impact on the environment today than other finishing materials. Over the past thirty years, the Italian ceramic industry has worked extensively to develop innovative technology, plant and production techniques, significantly contributing to this result. The Italian ceramic industry leads the world not only in production excellence but also in maintaining the ecological balance.

Initially this commitment focused on policies aimed at ‘limiting the damage’ (end-of-pipe) to the environment, however in the last ten years the focus has shifted to adopting an integrated and wider approach towards sustainability. It is within this framework that we find the most ‘progressive’ producers joining various environmental certification schemes like the ISO 14001 and EMAS, and the setting up by Assopiastrelle of an innovative environmental certification process for the district.

Currently the final consumer is not aware of these important certification measures to protect the environment and so their impact on the customer’s decision to buy greener tiles is limited. How can these certificates become emblems of sound eco-friendly tile purchases?

The establishment of the Community eco-label for ‘hard floor coverings’ is the answer to this need: it encapsulates in a single, easily recognisable symbol, a set of technical standards that certify a tile’s environmental impact along its entire life cycle (LCA).
Such information as a simple addition to the sale however, is not enough. Assopiastrelle has undertaken a much wider and more integrated environmental communication strategy (this website being one element) where information exchange becomes permanent and ongoing, going beyond traditional marketing.