SCS Global Services (SCS), a third-party certifier in the green building industry, has issued Green Squared certification to Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola, an Italian-based producer of ceramic tile, for its Imola Ceramica, LaFaenza and Leonardo brands. Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola is the first green tile manufacturer in Italy to achieve the prestigious Green Squared certification.

"Certification of Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola under the Green Squared program is a significant accomplishment," said Stowe Hartridge-Beam, managing director of environmental certification services for SCS. "This certification attests to Imola's commitment to minimizing the environmental impacts of tile manufacturing while protecting the interests of communities."

Green Squared is a sustainability certification program for ceramic tiles, glass tiles and related installation material products developed by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA). Green Squared certification recognizes leadership in environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility, and is based on a standard developed under the American National Standards Institute process (ANSI A138.1). The standard establishes criteria across the product life cycle from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use and end-of-life management. This multi-attribute certification scores products in five categories of performance:

• product characteristics;
• manufacturing and raw material extraction;
• end-of-product life management;
• progressive corporate governance;
• and innovation.

As the first Italian tile manufacturer to be recognized under the Green Squared program, Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola has shown that its products are designed and manufactured in a manner which supports environmental sustainability and ethical responsibility. Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola demonstrated that its meets all mandatory program requirements as well as additional elective requirements. Moreover, in order to achieve certification, Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola, undertook specific improvements. For instance, it now has a zero discharge policy for industrial wastewater; instead of releasing wastewater to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), 100 percent of this wastewater is now recycled. 

"The SCS Global Services team conducted a very efficient and thorough inspection of all phases of our manufacturing process," said Thomas D. Smith, president of Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola, North America. "Third-party verification is vitally important to our industry, helping our customers differentiate among products based on their true environmental impact."