The Eco Friendly Tiles Network is founded on a vision of sustainability that eschews greenwashing for a verifiable investment in products that tread more lightly on the planet.
Increasingly, the ESG commitments of corporates – notably Fortune 500 companies – demand that architects specify only those products accredited as meeting strict environmental lifecycle analysis.
Environmental Product Declarations – or EPDs – are internationally recognised as proving the eco credentials of products, due to the robust and exhaustive nature of the approval process. Every aspect of a product’s production and performance is taken into account before an EPD is granted – a process that is both lengthy and costly.
So, we shout it from the rooftops when members of the Eco Friendly Tiles International Network gain access another EPD to add to our growing library. As the first true environmentally focused tile and façade brand, we’ve been leading the world in the move to transparent, third-party verified data about the environmental impact of such products. This transparency is crucial in helping architects to make informed decisions that align with the sustainability goals of their clients.
It’s why our products are in demand around the world.
EPDs enable architects to compare the environmental performance of different products objectively. This is particularly important in the context of green building certifications, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), where the use of products with EPDs can contribute to achieving higher certification levels.
Moreover, by using the detailed lifecycle information contained within EPDs, architects can integrate tile and façade data with BIM to contribute to building designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally responsible.
This is important, because for corporates, EPDs underline actions to mitigate environmental impact. And with consumers increasingly alive to climate change concerns, there are also good commercial reasons to be seen to operate more sustainably – and proven not to be engaged in greenwashing.
But EPDs are about much more than box ticking. For the Eco Friendly Tiles International Network, they reflect some of the most innovative and high-quality tiles and façade surfaces available anywhere in the world.
Our ranges offer high levels of recycled and repurposed content; use low carbon production methods; and are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible – for example, we’re investigating carbon capture slabs.
In short, EPDs facilitate informed decision-making, support sustainability goals, and can enhance the overall quality and performance of building materials. It’s clear to us that as corporates and architects prioritize sustainability, the value of EPDs will continue to grow.