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28th January 2021
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Sustainable products and installation materials can earn 'green' NSF International certification
NSF International, an independent global organisation that writes public health standards and certifies products for food, water and consumer goods, now offers Green Squared Certification for sustainable ceramic tiles, glass tiles and installation materials.
Developed by the Tile Council of North America, Green Squared certification provides accurate, third-party verified information on the environmental impacts of certified tile products. Green Squared certification through NSF Sustainability helps manufacturers and suppliers of tiles and installation materials distinguish their products from competitors, earn preferred vendor status by environmentally-minded consumers and companies, and demonstrate compliance to state and federal purchasing requirements.
The NSF certification process includes a comprehensive documentation review and onsite facility audit to verify conformance to the standard upon which the Green Squared certification programme is based, ANSI A138.1 American National Standard Specifications for Sustainable Ceramic Tiles, Glass Tiles and Tile Installation Materials. This consensus-based standard requires an evaluation of products in five categories of performance: Product Characteristics, Manufacturing, Corporate Governance, Innovation, and End-of-Life.
"Green Squared provides a standard of excellence in sustainability for the entire industry as it covers not just tile products but also the materials required for their installation," explains Bill Griese, TCNA Standards Development & Green Initiative Manager.
"We are pleased that the certification bodies we have participating in Green Squared are leaders in the realm of developing sustainability standards and certification programmes for interior furnishing products, and these organisations have the expertise and industry experience necessary to provide high quality certifications under the Green Squared programme."
NSF Sustainability Director Tom Bruursema explains further: "Green Squared and NSF Sustainability certification programmes are the most credible certifications available in the marketplace. Architects, designers and consumers can now easily identify products carrying the Green Squared and NSF Sustainability marks.
"NSF certified sustainable products such as furniture, carpets, flooring, wallcoverings, furnishing fabrics, and now tiles and tile installation materials, help companies and consumers meet their sustainability goals and demonstrate their commitment to the environment."
Tiles covered by the Green Squared programme may include mosaic, quarry, pressed floor, glazed wall, porcelain, speciality, cast glass, fused glass and low-temperature coated glass tiles.
Installation materials may include mortar adhesives, mastic adhesives, reactive resin adhesives, grouts, tile backer units, crack isolation membranes, waterproofing membranes, water containment membranes and sound reduction membranes.
Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. It is a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Food & Water Safety and Indoor Environment.
T: 734.476.2543
E: [email protected]
W: nsfsustainability.org
10th February 2012