Eco tiles

Wall tiles hold high levels of embodied energy

Why choose eco tiles? Tiles have been used in interior design since ancient times. They are traditionally made with a mixture of natural materials such as clay, glass, marble, stone and other hard minerals. They are easy to install on walls and floors with adhesive tile grout. Once in place they are durable and can provide a waterproof finish for wet areas such as wet rooms, bathrooms and ensuites. They are easily cleaned which makes them suitable in the kitchen as a backsplash, above the worktops.

Compared to synthetic tiles, 100% natural tiles do not release toxic VOCs into your interior. Sources of clay and stone are not renewable, however they are abundant. Recycled tiles help decrease the demand on natural resources and make use of natural materials that would otherwise be thrown into landfill sites.

Extraction and mining of the raw material used for tiles creates carbon emissions and destroys local natural habitats and ecosystems. The tile manufacturing process consumes high amounts of energy from non renewable resources to fire clay tiles in kilns with temperatures over 1000 degrees Celsius. This firing and glazing process creates high levels of carbon emissions. Overall tiles carry high levels of embodied energy.

In bulk quantities tiles are heavy, this adds to embodied energy levels through transportation and distribution. Petrochemicals are traditionally used in setting agents, glazes, adhesives and grouts releasing VOCs. The manufacturing process to recycle tiles needs higher firing temperatures than virgin materials unless a lime mortar is the base material. This may reduce the environmental benefits of recycling tiles.

Types of Eco Tiles

Bamboo pulp tiles
Made from fast growing, sustainable and renewable 100% content bamboo. The manufacturing process is without addition of chemicals and the bamboo pulp is moulded into tile form. Post consumer use they are recyclable.

Recycled content tiles
Using recycled content to manufacture new wall tiles helps recycle products that would have been disposed of in landfill sites. Recycled content lessens the amount of energy used for raw material extraction and processing. Recycled content lowers the level of embodied energy of tiles.

Recycled ceramic/porcelain/clay/lime tiles
Tiles made with varying percentages of recycled production waste and raw materials that have not been fired during virgin clay and tile manufacturing.

Recycled glass tiles
Made from varying amounts of post-consumer glass (e.g. bottles) and post-industrial glass waste. Glass is crushed into powder know as Frit, heat is applied and then the fluid material is formed into tiles. Glass tiles are durable, easy to clean and do not offgas VOCs into your home.

Recycled metal tiles
Available in brass or aluminium and made from 100% recycled content. Finishes range from sandblasted to polished. Easy to clean and maintain, highly durable.

Recycled leather tiles
A soft, warm and tactile tile using post industrial recycled leather and natural latex rubber bound with natural resin from tree bark during natural shedding. Low levels of VOC emissions.

Recycled reconstituted materials
These tiles are made from a combination of materials. Examples are:
Recycled porcelain and glass tiles.
Recycled Terrazzo tiles (glass, marble, granite, minerals).

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