The construction and building materials industry is a prime industry that severely influences the environment with higher carbon footprint, emissions and pollution. However, despite its severe environmental effects, the construction and building materials industry is one of the fastest-adapting and recovering industries regarding sustainability and eco-friendliness.
Tiling is an integral part of any construction and renovation project. Hence your tiling material selection is highly relevant and would affect the sustainability and eco-friendliness of the project.
Terrazzo is sustainable simply because of its production and installation process. Terrazzo tiles are produced using significantly less energy and generate less carbon footprint than other tiling solutions. Approximately 70% to 80% of a terrazzo tile consists of recycled and reclaimed materials. Installation is straightforward. No chemical or heat treatment is needed.
Four things that make terrazzo sustainable
1. Outstandingly less energy and carbon footprint
The terrazzo cement tiles are eco-friendly because they are handmade and never have to be fired in a kiln, which means that the energy used in our manufacturing process is significantly low. Unlike ceramic and porcelain, the fundamental production processes for terrazzo cement tiles are almost entirely sustainable and straightforward.
2. Up to 80% recycled materials
The primary substance of terrazzo tile is mainly marble and some natural stone chips and granules. They are produced by hand-mixing with cement and using a hydraulic press. The whole stone chips and granules come from wasted materials. Approximately 60 to 80% of terrazzo tile is made of wasted or recycled materials. The reclaimed marble slabs and tiles from old buildings grind to get chips and granules for terrazzo tiles.
3. Almost zero emission
Several potentially harmful emissions are released when clay and glaze materials are heated to produce ceramic or porcelain tiles and need to be ventilated. On the other hand, terrazzo tiles have a more straightforward production process that doesn’t compose harmful emissions: no heating, emission, or ventilation.
4. Excellent insulation
Terrazzo cement tiles have high thermal mass, acting as excellent insulators. They help increase energy efficiency and average 40% more efficient than ceramic and porcelain tiles.
