Sustainability and Environmental Awareness in the Ceramic Industry

Abstract

The choice of building materials is primarily based on technical, economic and aesthetic aspects, but environment impact cannot be ignored. The objective of this research was to assess the factors in the product development aiming to improve slipperiness of ceramic tile. Firing time and temperature representing 8 manufacturing scenarios were examined taking into account the change in glazing. Laboratory slip resistance and surface roughness tests were conducted. While optimizing surface properties, environmental performance of ceramic tile was investigated with the analysis of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) focusing on manufacturing and maintenance of its life cycle. This methodology supports manufacturers to follow sustainability and to optimize design decisions. Referring to the Life Cycle Assessment of a building, the effect of a complex correlation system reveals a combination of technical, economic and environmental assessment.