The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in 1998 as a credit-based ranking system for product manufacturers based on their eco-friendly buildings and manufacturing processes. The only way to manufacture ceramic tile “green,” or have it contribute to LEED points, is to manufacture the tiles from primarily recycled materials, usually glass. The resulting product can be sustainable and count towards LEED certification only if the raw materials consist of 55% or more recycled materials. Not recyclable materials, but actually recycled materials.
A glass manufacturing plant in Sebring, FL follows strict efficiency rules, using approximately one kilowatt per square foot from the beginning of the manufacturing process to the end. The factory uses raw materials found in everyday use. Amber from beer bottles, green from water bottles and blue from gin and vodka bottles are different kinds of post-consumer recycled glass used as the basis of a variety of colors. Clear Pyrex glass, post-industrial recycled at 70%, is also used. All of these raw materials represent 93 percent of the content.
The company Trend USA, gets that green certification is needed to ensure that buyers know the products are manufactured from post-industrial waste, in addition to a clean manufacturing process.
Trend USA’s “Q Green Series” product line has 27 tiles made from at least 40% post-industrial recycled material, including nine colors made from 70% post-industrial waste and the other 18 colors made from percentages ranging from 45% to 69%. Trend’s green products put the Trend Q Series tile in high demand for residential and commercial buildings throughout the country.
Carie Schelfhaudt works as public relations coordinator for Communicators International, Inc., a marketing communications firm in the heart of the Old Port, where she helps numerous clients in the tile and stone industries. She can be contacted at cshelfhaudt@yahoo.com.