Reduce, Reuse, Re-TILE
/Tile is an incredible design material. Unfortunately, it can often be damaging to the environment just like any other type of product. With the great amount of waste and harmful pollutants that affect our environment, it is important that we try our best to be as sustainable as possible. Thankfully, there are a few ways in which your tile can be more sustainable, and thus making the planet happy!
The main question is “What makes a product eco-friendly?” There are many aspects that determine how “green” a material is. These range from whether something can be reused to the amount of water made to produce that product. This is true for all things we purchase. The bright side of tile is that even though a lot of tile is tossed away after use, we often use this product for a long period of time. Rarely do we install tile one day and then toss it the next! However, the process that occurs before we receive the tile can often have a huge affect on its sustainability.
3 questions you can ask yourself when determining if a product is sustainable are:
How is the tile made?
What is the tile made of?
Where is the tile made?
How is the tile made?
The production process itself can be a major determinate of a product’s sustainability. Tile that is fired at lower temperatures use less energy than those fired at higher temperatures. Also, higher firing temperatures lead to more carbon emissions, which contributes to the warming of our climate. Terracotta products, for example, use minimal energy due to their low firing temperatures. The beautiful terracotta tiles in the images below are actually reclaimed from 100 to 200 year old farmhouses and other buildings in Italy. Not only is this product great in the energy aspect, but it can also be recycled! This leads us to our next question…
What is the tile made of?
Reduce, reuse, RECYCLE (or re-tile)! Choosing recycled products is another great way of helping the environment. The more recycled products we use, the less goes into landfills. There are so many vendors that use recycled items in their products. For example, the black glass flooring in the picture above is actually made from recycled glass bottles. This product is extremely popular and comes in so many different shapes and colors. We also have some porcelain products that are made from recycled materials.
Where is the tile made?
The location of the production site can make a huge difference in a tile’s sustainability. This is because when a product has a greater distance to travel, higher carbon emissions occur in response. Like we said earlier, this can unfortunately lead to damage in the atmosphere. Therefore, when you are looking at different tile products, you may try keeping local vendors in mind. Speaking of local businesses, the beautiful blue tile you see in the picture above is actually from an incredible small business in Texas. This product is handmade and hand painted, which adds such a personal touch. Also, it is always a good idea to support local businesses. We can definitely attest to that!
Little changes can make a big difference! By focusing on how products are made, what they are made of, and where they are made, we can make major strides in keeping our world happy and healthy. Do you have any tips or tricks for going green when it comes to interior design? If so, let us know! Please stay tuned for additional information coming before the end of the year!