Promotion: in the Italian ceramic tile industry "nothing is wasted", which enables mineral resources to be conserved and reduces carbon emissions, according to Ceramics of Italy.
Although first invented in the Palaeolithic period more than 25,000 years ago, ceramics today are still made using more or less the same materials, including clay and sand alongside minerals such as feldspar and kaolin.
In Italy, the origin of these mineral raw materials is checked along the entire supply chain, as part of the industry's push to reduce the environmental impact of its products and processes, says Ceramics of Italy.
Italian ceramic tiles are made using natural raw materials
This ensures that they meet international health and biodiversity standards and aren't sourced from within protected areas, as well as being free of harmful substances such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mercury or asbestos. As a result, Italian ceramics on average outperform the requirements set out by the international sustainability standard for ceramics, Ceramics of Italy says.
"Italian ceramic tiles are always a safe choice because they are made exclusively from natural raw materials," Ceramics of Italy explained. "They create safe living spaces and qualify for credits in green building sustainability rating systems such as LEED, BREEAM, WELL and CAM."
They can be used to clad buildings including Marseille's La Barquière housing project
To reduce waste, the industry also...