Environment Management System
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The production of building materials takes enormous amounts of energy, water, and resources, and often generates large quantities of waste and pollution.
In accordance with the ISO 14001 Certification requirements, Arizona Tile has requested that all of our major material suppliers implement an Environmental Management System, or EMS: a credo to conduct more environmentally-friendly production practices.
By adopting an EMS and making small changes in production systems, economic and environmental performance is maximized, costs are reduced and ecological impact is decreased. Other benefits include:
- Enhancement and protection of ecosystems
- Reduction of harmful greenhouse emissions
- Improvement of air and water quality
- Reduction of solid waste
- Conservation of natural resources
- Reduction in operating costs
- Enhancement in asset value and profits
EMS Applications
Listed are some examples of implemented measures of Arizona Tile's Environment Management System:
- Products do NOT contain any ASBESTOS or MERCURY.
- 100% water recycling. In addition, potable water taken from the
community supply is not used. Each plant has a private well as a water
resource.
- Waste water is continuously recycled in the system
(e.g. 20% of the water used in the in-house grinding mills is recycled).
- Sophisticated dust collection systems and recycling processes reclaim
and reuse the unfired waste materials from manufacturing. 1.5% of
pressed product is waste product and is recycled in the system.
- Natural gas is used as an energy source to minimize air emissions.
Burnt gas filters and heat exchangers are in place to reuse the warm air
into HVAC systems.
- Stringent quality standards are imposed to avoid wasteful firing of
defective materials.
- All glazes are water-based and no solvents are used, eliminating
possible emissions of volatile compounds during the process.
- The final products, either glazed or unglazed, are fully inert and meet
or exceed all ANSI – ASTM standards for absorption, strength, frost-
proof, and fire proof characteristics.
- Porcelain stoneware is friendly to the indoor environment.
- A long life cycle prevents frequent replacements and reduces waste.
When replaced, the waste consists of low volume, environmentally
stable material thus reducing environmental impact.
- Products are easy to clean with simple, basic products. Additionally,
wise choices of the finishes and installation materials could help prevent
IAQ problems.
Arizona Tile understands that being committed to the environment is a daily mission. We will continue investigating and implementing systems that minimize the environmental impact of our manufactured products.
For information on more products and a look at the complete collection, visit www.arizonatile.com.