What Are the Eco-Attributes of Tile

Whether you are building your dream home or diving into a home renovation project, tile is an all-around great building material for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Tile is already known for its timeless beauty, design flexibility and ease of maintenance. And while the reasons to choose ceramic or porcelain tile are many, perhaps the greatest benefit of tile is that it is one of the healthiest material choices you can make for your home and the environment. 

Tile is extremely durable and offers many eco-friendly attributes. It’s made with naturally occurring materials that support sustainability and biophilic design. 

Biophilic designs are popular ways to connect architecture with nature while remaining environmentally friendly and eco-efficient. As individuals have become more connected to the outdoors with biophilic design, they are recognizing the overall importance of nature as well as the benefits of bringing these elements into a space. More individuals are moving towards a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle and therefore boosting the importance of eco-friendly building products in both homes and offices. 

For a sophisticated kitchen backsplash, Echo in white hexagon adds a radiant look. As an added perk, the Echo Collection is made with intrinsically eco-friendly recycled glass material. With recycled glass, you are minimizing the inventory and production waste that enters landfills. This environmentally sustainable alternative is not only durable and easy to clean, but has a lustrous finish with a timeless appeal. 

Our L’Amour collection is made with 95% recycled glass. This sustainable and eco-conscious material combines the realistic veining of marble with the luminosity of glass in a mosaic that can be used in kitchens, baths, fireplaces, pools, and feature walls. Its recycled glass construction provides the elegance and sophistication of natural marble while allowing for easy care and maintenance along with better affordability. 

How Does Tile Differ From Other Products?

At first glance, you may have a hard time determining what material some flooring is made of. It could range from tile, hardwood or materials like laminate. This is partly due to innovative technology that allows companies to replicate various different looks. This is especially true for tile. For example, wood-look tile looks almost identical to hardwood flooring but offers the durability and practicality that only tile can provide. 

Unlike other types of hard and soft flooring, the longevity of ceramic and porcelain tile prevents frequent replacement, reducing the emissions and carbon footprints related to manufacturing, transportation, and disposal of waste. With a potential cradle to grave life cycle of 100+ years, studies have shown that over a 20-year span, ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone products are more cost-effective and sustainable than any other flooring material.

Many types of building materials also contain harmful chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs are released into the atmosphere over time and can potentially cause health issues from long-term exposure. Due to the high firing process used when making tile, the product has zero VOCs. In addition, this high firing process provides a barrier to moisture and allergens that can attack porous materials. With water-resistant and hypoallergenic properties, tile reduces bacteria and mold growth that can occur in other flooring materials.

Also, the inherent characteristics of tile allow for easy installation and cleaning without the use of toxic, high VOC or harsh chemicals. Soap and water is all that is needed to clean up most messes. Tile products can be placed anywhere in your home without the concern of poor air quality, and harsh VOCs. 

Ceramic and porcelain tile feature slip-resistant and stain-resistant properties so they can be incorporated in many different areas, including kitchens, baths, showers, fireplaces and pool surrounds. The flexibility for both indoor and outdoor use makes tile the ideal product for any project. It is important to review the test data associated with any product to ensure that it is appropriate for the desired application. This is particularly true for any tile being used for outdoor, shower and spa areas.

Tile is the Perfect Design Solution for Any Area

Whether you are renovating your bathroom, kitchen or outdoor patio, Emser Tile has endless products in an array of colors, designs, shapes, materials and sizes that can make quite a statement on floors and walls in both indoor and outdoor settings. The durability and longevity of tile, its zero VOCs, resistance to moisture and bacteria, hypoallergenic qualities, along with its easiness to clean and maintain make it a superior alternative to other flooring material.