Green Energy Production | Zero Emission
Active Surfaces® | Certified Quality
ZERO EMISSION PRODUCTION
Ethics and sustainability have always been present in the history of our founding companies. The green mentality was not born recently, however, as we have always sought bringing together ecology and economy with an attentive look to the well-being of all our stakeholders.
Even though our kilns already comply with the regulations, we pursue a zero-emission strategy that goes beyond the requirements of the current legislation:
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) must be totally absent in the chimneys of the production site.
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FACILITIES
The new plant in Castellarano is equipped with native technologies that allow the use of green hydrogen in the production processes.
The solution enables our factory in Castellarano to design and produce ceramic surfaces through a blend of green hydrogen, produced through solar energy and natural gas. A photovoltaic plant is installed on the rooftop of the building and will be combined with an electrolyzer and a storage system for the renewable hydrogen produced on-site.
The use of a blend of green hydrogen and natural gas, instead of gas alone, will make it possible to reduce CO2 emissions and open the way, in the long-term, to the exclusive use of renewable energy for zero-emission production, being a plant designed to be 100% hydrogen-powered.
ACTIVE SURFACES
- innovation for well-being
Active Surfaces® exploit the photo-catalytic properties of titanium dioxide which, combined with silver, transforms simple ceramic slabs into eco-active materials with antibacterial and antiviral, anti-pollution, anti-odour and self-cleaning properties. This 100% Italian patent is owned by our founding company, Iris Ceramica Group, and developed in partnership with the Department of Chemistry of the University of Milan. Research continues today still aiming to further improve the technical performance of the materials.
FACT BOX
The ISO certifications (ISO 21702 – ISO 18061) prove the antiviral effectiveness of the material against four of the most common virus strains: pandemic flues H1N1 and H3N2, Enterovirus 71 and the Poliovirus.
A study carried out in March 2021 also demonstrated that Active Surfaces® are able to eliminate up to 94% of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (responsible for Covid-19) after just 4 hours of exposure to UV light (natural or artificial light).
ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIVIRAL
The photo-catalytic properties of titanium dioxide combined with silver make Active Surfaces® eliminate up to 99% of bacteria; from the most common, including Escherichia coli, to the most dangerous and antibiotic-resistant such as Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA.
ANTI-POLLUTION
Active Surfaces® convert volatile molecules of dangerous pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into harmless substances, with huge advantages for human well-being both indoors and outdoors.
ELIMINATE ODOURS
Active Surfaces® degrade the main molecules responsible for bad odours, eliminating them to make any setting more pleasant.
SELF-CLEANING
Thanks to the photo-catalytic properties, the dirt sticks less to Active Surfaces®, which are easier and quicker to clean, consequently reducing the use of costly, aggressive detergents which are often toxic for humans and harmful to the environment.
HIGHEST STANDARD CERTIFICATIONS
Cradle to Cradle Silver
The Cradle to Cradle Silver certification assesses the safety, circularity and responsibility of materials and products across five categories of sustainability performance:
• Material Health: ensuring materials are safe for humans and the environment.
• Product Circularity: through regenerative products and process design.
• Clean Air & Climate Protection: protecting clean air, promoting renewable energy, and reducing harmful emissions.
• Water & Soil Stewardship: safeguarding clean water and healthy soils.
• Social Fairness: respecting human rights and contributing to a fair and equitable society.
EPD (Environmental Product Declaration)
EPD (Environmental Product Declaration): type III environmental product declaration carried out on a voluntary basis, which is based on the analysis of the product life cycle (according to the ”cradle to grave” approach) in accordance with standard EN 15804. This declaration is drawn up with reference to the guidelines of the UNI EN ISO 14040 standards and the specific rules for the product category PCR (Product Category Rules).
This document describes the environmental impacts related to the production of a specific quantity of product, from the extraction of raw materials, taking into account the phases of sale and use, until the end of product life.
Our company was the first to certify its products (see www.environdec.com) with a product-specific EPD,
validated by an independent third party.
LEED Gold
Leed Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) one of the most popular green building certification programs used worldwide, being recognized and active in more than 40 countries. It includes the evaluation and certification of the environmental, social and economic sustainability using a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes, and neighborhoods.
Greenguard
Greenguard certification ensures that products intended for indoor use are characterized by practicalle non-existent emissions of volatile substances, contributing to the creation of healthier environments. Greenguard Gold Certification considers safety factors essential to guarantee the best quality for sensitive individuals (such as children and the elderly), and ensures that a product is acceptable for use in environments such as schools and health care facilities.
This certification is widely recognized and accepted by sustainable building projects and housing regulations worldwide.
