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Ecolabel
ECOLABEL: THE GREEN LABEL
The Ecolabel certification system meets the increasing need for low-environmental impact products and services. Established by the European Union in 1992, the Ecolabel certifies the compliance of products and productive cycles with strict environmental criteria. In this way, every consumer, when choosing an Ecolabel product, is sure of purchasing a non-polluting and harmless product which has been manufactured in an environmental-friendly way. Ecolabel certification applies to consumer goods, such as textiles, household appliances, detergents, paper and paints, as well as building products such as ceramic tiles for residential and public flooring and wall- covering.The commission in charge of the certification system (every country has its own competent body) measures the environmental impact caused by the entire productive cycle; in the case of ceramic tiles, the verification starts from raw material quarrying through to manufacturing, distribution, installation and their final disposal. Ecolabel promotes lowenvironmental impact products, that is to say “bio-compatible” and “notrecycled” products, Ecolabel is an added value to all the technical and quality features of the product itself.
GREEN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
With a view to rewarding those products conceived in respect of the environment, the EU Member States are now increasingly adopting selective polices called Green Public Procurement. The GPP is a value criteria by which contracting authorities and entities take environmental issues into account when tendering for goods or services, with the pre-requisite that only eco-compatible materials are used. Increasingly, both on a locally and national level, authorities and other bodies that call for tender for public services apply the GPP value thus praising the efforts of companies such as Ceramiche Supergres that have moved towards this direction for a long time now.
ECOLABEL CRITERIA FOR CERAMIC TILES
Raw materials: prohibited use of cancer-causing, mutagenic, teratogenic, toxic substances that can be hazardous for operators or that can harm fetus.
Limited percentage of Lead, Cadmium, Antimonium and Sulphur.
High percentage of water-recycle (>90%)
High recycling percentage of solid waste (>85%).
Low atmosphere release of Fluorine, Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxide, Powders (F<200 mg/m2).
Low energy consumption during firing (= 3,5 MJ/Kg).
Low Lead and Cadmium release by finished products.
Packaging containing at least 70% recycled material.
Compulsory information for consumers.
