RECLAIMED & GREEN FLOORING THE GREEN LIGHT
Kerakoll is known as the green building company. Here, we take a look at how the company rates its products to ensure they remain environmentally-friendly.
Kerakoll UK’s ranges of adhesives, grout and surface preparation products have benefited from a commitment to continual research and development into eco-friendly products, formulating them to use fewer natural resources and reduce the impact of building on the environment, whilst maintaining performance.
This dedication is evidenced by Kerakoll’s development of the GreenBuilding Rating, a system of assessing building products to give an objective evaluation of how green they are, which is applied to all of the company’s products.
There are three product categories involved in the ECO section of the GreenBuilding Rating. Firstly, Inorganic Minerals, for example, pre-packed powders such as mineral screeds and binders for substrates, levelling and waterproofing products, mineral adhesives, grouts and mortars. Secondly, Organic Minerals, or polymer-based fluid products, such as waterproofing products for substrates, adhesives, grouts, sealants and mineral paints coatings and coverings and finally Organic Fluids, these are polymer-based fluids where the fluid portion is the most significant ingredient, such as preparation and waterproofing products for substrates, varnishes for hardwood floors, injection and structural bonding systems.
For each category the criteria differ, for example Inorganic Minerals rates products based on “locally-sourced mineral content”, “recycled locally- sourced mineral content”, “CO2 emission”, “recyclable material” and “VOC indoor air quality,” which is common to all three categories. The other criteria vary depending on the nature of the products, so both Organic Minerals and Organic Fluids contain “respect for the environment” (avoiding water, land and air pollution), “reduced solvent content” and “non-toxic material” due to their fluid nature, but Organic Minerals are rated for “locally-sourced mineral content” and Organic Fluids for “water-based mineral content” as they are different types of material.
The criteria are all based on existing regulations and methods of measuring environmental damage, for example, “VOC indoor air quality” requires products to be tested and certified according to the GEV Emicode which came into effect in August 2010 and to abide by emission’s limits set out in the GEV protocol. The GEV Emicode rates products EC 1 Plus, EC 1 and EC 2 but Kerakoll has undertaken to reach or better EC 1 Plus for all of its products.
At the moment Kerakoll is the only company using it, but the GreenBuilding Rating is open to all and the company is working towards it becoming a European standard as it can be used to rate any product on the market and is a quick and easy way for anyone who specifies this sort of product to ascertain how green the alternatives are.
In another example of Kerakoll demonstrating commitment and dedication, the company has built a new research and development lab using environmentally friendly materials and installing green methods of heating, cooling and water recycling. Christened the ‘GreenLab’, this building houses a team of technicians carrying out research into improving
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building methods and reducing their environmental impact. A fundamental element for its success is the network of scientific collaboration with research centres, universities and architects at both a national and international level. The company is also strengthening already existing ties with some of Italy’s biggest ceramic groups to work on the development of innovative and sustainable solutions for fixing ceramics in accordance with the new building energy efficiency regulations and all of this will be fed through into Kerakoll’s product development leading to ever greener methods of fixing flooring.
www.kerakoll.com
www.tomorrowsflooring.com
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