Ceramic Decor

Environmental Policy

Guelph Ceramic Decor Centre, in conjunction with its suppliers, has developed an environmental policy which addresses the environmental concerns of the hard surfaces and construction industry.

Material Handling

Ceramic Decor, as a stone and tile retailer, distributor and installer, endeavors to ensure that high environmental standards are maintained. In all aspects of warehousing, shipping, handling, installations, and office the company continually strives toward zero waste.

  • Ceramic Decor's employees, along with outside advisors, make recommendations and implement strategies to constantly improve our environmental performance and awareness and to assist us in achieving our stated goal of zero waste.
  • wooden crates and pallets are re-used as delivery packaging
  • unusable wooden crates and pallets are recycled
  • all cardboard packaging is recycled
  • broken or chipped tile is recycled to aggregates
  • end lots and small quantity tiles are "odd-lotted"and sold at a loss to keep them out of landfill
  • The City of Guelph blue bag program is used for all our recyclable material

Porcelain and Ceramic

All porcelain and ceramic factories adhere to the same environmental objectives:

  • products are produced without the use of any harmful or radioactive materials
  • products produce no harmful emissions and will not effect air quality
  • all packing material (cardboard, plastic, paper) is produced using recycled material
  • wherever possible, heat generated as a by-product of the manufacturing process is used for electricity generation, making factories energy self sufficient
  • recycling of production breakage
  • compliance with the European Community Environmental Management and Auditing Scheme

Many porcelain tile manufacturers are developing "eco tile"that contain "post consumer"waste. This type of tile will be widely available in the near future.

Glass

All glass manufacturers use recycled glass -- both post-consumer glass and waste from the manufacturing process -- in varying percentages.

Natural Stones

Natural stones are quarried under the same guidelines and environmental controls placed on the extraction of materials for the use in porcelain and ceramic production. Natural stones, by their nature, are environmentally inert and, if any waste is generated, can be safely used in landscaping material.

Ceramic Decor represents a local stone quarry, thereby decreasing the environmental footprint by shipping within 150 kilometers.

Setting Materials

Ceramic Decor uses Mapei setting products exclusively.

Mapei is a world leader in its corporate commitment and its industrial responsibility. For this reason, Mapei is working hard on the development of products in aqueous dispersion or which are solvent-free. It has developed the Mapei ECO line, a broad range of products with extremely low emissions in VOC (volatile organic compounds) for the installation of floors and covering materials of all types. Mapei is certified by:

  • EMAS (Environmental Management and Audit Scheme)
  • A.I.A. -- Autorizzazione Integrata Ambientale (Integrated Environmental Authorisation)
  • OHSAS 18001 and the Certificate of Excellence
  • ISA 14001

For more information please visit Mapei's website http://www.mapei.ca.

Other

  • all fork lift trucks are electric-powered
  • all office and showroom areas are temperature controlled on a "set back"thermostat to save energy and all lighting is energy efficient
  • all company vehicles are routinely serviced, a practice that has proven to reduce harmful emissions