MAPEI Providing Sustainable Tile Solutions for the Built Environment
On August 15, 2016, the USGBC recognized the Green Squared for Tile Flooring and Accessories certification as an approved Multi-attribute Products and Materials certificate under its LEED v4 pilot credit. Products eligible to meet the LEED pilot credit must have conducted a product level LCA and use reclaimed manufacturing waste or recycled materials within the product. Green Squared is the only tile industry-specific certification program, evaluating products based on compliance in five areas: product characteristics, manufacturing, and raw material extraction, end-of-product-life management, progressive corporate governance, and innovation.
MAPEI, a company committed to providing environmentally responsible products, has been an early adopter of Green Squared certification since the program’s inception in 2012. The manufacturer produces the only Green Squared Certified flooring installation system of mortar and grout products to combine with certified tiles. MAPEI provides a selection of certified products with a reduced impact on the environment for contractors and consumers.
With USGBC’s recognition of Green Squared and MAPEI’s participation in the Tile Council of North America’s (TCNA) forthcoming industry average EPD, the architect and design community has even more confidence specifying MAPEI’s Green Squared certified tile installation materials.
The term “green flooring” is used loosely to refer to flooring solutions that tackle one or more environmental issues. Depending on the materials in use, top concerns include chemical off-gassing that can affect indoor air quality (IAQ), end-of-life waste streams, reckless production and harvesting methods, quality control in the supply chain, inefficient energy use, climate and water impacts, and worker safety. Multi-attribute certification programs, such as Green Squared, give manufacturers a roadmap for making greener products. In response, pioneering flooring product manufacturers, like MAPEI, have stepped forward to demonstrate new approaches to sourcing, manufacturing, and recycling, and getting their achievements recognized through third-party certification.
For more than 30 years, SCS programs and services have revolved around sustainability: environmental stewardship, worker health and safety, community engagement and economic viability. We accomplish our mission by participating in the creation of science-based leadership standards, working within each industry to drive improvements, and by certifying environmental achievements of innovative companies and organizations.
Are you working on a LEED v4 or Living Building Challenge (LBC) Project and need a ‘system solution’ for your tile installation? MAPEI offers a complete ‘system solution’ with their Ultralite family of mortars and our Ultracolor Plus FAgrout, all of which are SCS Green Squared Certified (ANSI A138.1) and are now part of the LEED v4 credit program.