Look down. What you walk on everyday can not only set the stage for the ambiance of the spaces you live and work in, but can also contribute to the health of the planet. Early studies of the environmental impact of flooring categories have zeroed in on a narrower range of flooring attributes that can have positive or negative impact on our environment over the product life cycle, such as natural versus man-made source materials, energy and water used in manufacturing, and human health considerations from off-gassing.
In 2010, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute was founded to strengthen the assessment of lifecycle impact, further define the attributes that measure “good for the planet”, and assist product manufacturers in certifying the overall sustainability of their products. In 2020, a Cradle to Cradle CertifiedTM V4.0 pilot program was launched that now sets the standard for products that meet a fuller scope of impact, including risks related to manufacturing at all stages, partner and supplier considerations, and renewable energy contribution, as well as respect for human rights standards.
Mosa, a manufacturer since 1883 of impeccable, Dutch-designed ceramic tile, has been an early adopter of Cradle to Cradle principles, and the first to obtain Cradle to Cradle Silver certifications for nearly all of its tile collection. These have been certified to Cradle to Cradle 3.1 standards, in which the requirements for five criteria - material health (gold score), material reuse, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness - are evaluated. In addition, Mosa has been an active participant in the V4.0 pilot program.
What does this mean for Mosa and their sleek, elegant and durable tile, adopted by the design community for projects around the globe?
They are made of pure materials - The main components of Mosa ceramic tiles are clay and sand – natural ingredients that are abundantly present in nature. The tiles do not release toxic substances, such as lead, mercury or cadmium during or after their long service life, and they are VOC-free.
They optimize recycling - Mosa strives to achieve process-related recycling by reusing production waste, processing secondary materials and collecting cutting waste from tiles at larger projects in the Netherlands. Their wall tiles contain 34 percent pre-consumer recycled content, and the floor tiles contain 21 or 45 percent.
They continually seek energy efficiencies and renewable energy use - Through energy-saving projects and the reuse of residual heat, Mosa reduced CO² emissions by 48 percent over the last ten years, and fine particulate emissions have dropped by 91% to almost zero.
They strive for water efficiencies - Mosa’s production cycles are now closed-loop and all of the water for both factories is purified on site, resulting in a 60% reduction in water use over the past 10 years.
They are location-conscious - 90% of Mosa raw materials come from monitored quarries in the region closest to their factories. Yet, by remaining loyal to Mosa’s birthplace in Maastricht, The Netherlands, the company can achieve local production for a product that still meets contemporary and future architecture needs on a global scale.
To learn more about Mosa, join our Brand Spotlight discussion with Mosa and IceStone.
March 24, 2021 01:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST to register click here.
Or see Mosa’s material transparency at work here.