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Your MDF laminate flooring will probably need to be replaced in under a decade, and carpets have an average lifespan of just five years. In contrast, ceramic tile floors are enduring enough to last a lifetime as they are spill and dent resistant. In 2017 alone, over three billion square feet of ceramic tiles were consumed in the US. This consumption consists of tiles produced and purchased in the United States, those imported, and those exported. Many homeowners prefer the durability of ceramic tile flooring for areas of their homes that receive heavy usage and traffic. But, most people ignore the fact that ceramic tile flooring can be sustainable and environmentally friendly flooring alternative.
Green Squared Certification
For homeowners looking for the most sustainable ceramic tiles on the market, the Green Squared Certification is an accreditation program designed explicitly for the tile industry. This certification program the ANSI process, combined with third-party certification, to evaluate and validate tile products. The program addresses product characteristics, manufacturing, end-of-life management, progressive corporate governance, and innovation in their holistic sustainability criteria. Finding ceramic tile flooring that is Green Squared Certified will ensure that the flooring in your home is both environmentally and socially responsible. The Green Squared certification could also contribute to LEED and NAHB Green Building Standard points.
What Are the Environmental Costs of Tile Flooring?
The main drawback to ceramic tile flooring is the location factor. If you purchase 2,000 square feet of heavy tile produced in China, there will be a significant carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and shipping across the world. Because the raw materials for making tile flooring are found almost everywhere worldwide, there is little need to transport ceramic tiles long distances.
Add to that, the firing process to finish ceramic tiles requires exceptionally high temperatures. Since many kilns depend on fossil fuel energy, this process also creates a sizeable carbon footprint. Today, innovative tile manufacturers are working on heat recovery systems to heat their buildings and could maybe even export that heat to their surrounding community. This process would reduce the negative environmental impact of the manufacturing process.
Because tiles are incredibly hard and inert, a quality, properly installed tile floor should be durable enough to last a lifetime. These properties help to reduce some of the environmental costs associated with the manufacturing process.
How Much Do Ceramic Tiles Cost?
At an average cost of $2 to $7 per square foot, tiles often cost significantly less per square foot than other comparable flooring options.
Tobias Roberts
Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.
