Since our founding, we’ve focused on responsible manufacturing for the entirety of the process, beginning with sourcing materials and carrying through to the delivery of final product. As an American, family-owned company, we are constantly planning, innovating, improving, and reviewing the value and impact of each manufacturing process and the products we create.
Let’s look at a few areas where we’ve taken the lead in the tile industry and continue to improve for the betterment of all.
Sourcing
Starting with raw materials, we realize the impact our sourcing choices make on our local and regional communities and the environment. From clay and raw materials for tile to our trucks, packaging, and printing, we acquire what we need to make (and market) our products from within 350 miles of our operation whenever possible. This approach supports our regional and domestic economy and provides efficiencies that are environmentally friendly.
Water Conservation
Crossville reuses more than 99.98% of water in manufacturing…yes, you read that correctly. The small amount that is unused is returned to the environment. For every gallon of water we purchase, 3.7 gallons are reclaimed. Our manufacturing processes are configured so that water is not used as a throughput; rather, it can be used, purified, and then used again cyclically—just as nature intended.
Net Positive Waste
Crossville is certified as net-consumer of waste, meaning we consume more waste than we generate. To achieve this status, we procure waste materials using three different sources:
- Tile Take-Back Program™: Crossville can take back both pre- and post-consumer fired porcelain tile.
- TOTO USA Partnership: Crossville partners with TOTO® USA sanitary wares to recycle pre-consumer fired porcelain that would normally be discarded, into raw material for new tile. Crossville diverts millions of pounds of raw material waste from landfills each year through the Toto USA Partnership.
- EcoCycle Waste Process®: Crossville has developed two primary means of recycling manufacturing tile waste that would otherwise be sent to local landfills: EcoCycle Fired Waste Process™ and EcoCycle Filtrate Waste Process™. Both proprietary processes enable Crossville to successfully recycle nearly 12 million pounds of previously discarded filtrate and fired waste every year.
Energy and Emissions
We value managing the energy consumption in our operations and our supply chain to minimize our negative environmental contributions. Since 2012, Crossville has been able to reduce electricity consumption by 10.98% against our 2012 baseline. Additionally, Crossville has been able to grow while reducing the amount of emissions per production unit and per weight of raw material.
Ratings
Throughout our history, we have sought third-party verification on sustainability practices. Crossville was the first tile manufacturer to create a sustainability report exclusive to tile, and our report is LEED v4 compliant and third-party verified. Additionally, we were the first tile manufacturer to have Green Squared Multi-Attribute Certification and to achieve Living Product Challenge PETAL Certification. From product standard review to setting standards and guidelines, we have worked tirelessly to ensure your designs meet the highest sustainability credentials, including notations from
- Living Building Challenge
- US Green Building Council
- International Well Building Institute
- TCNA Green Squared® Certified
As we like to say, “green has always been Crossville’s signature color.” Environmental responsibility is in our corporate DNA. It’s in our mission to deliver sustainable design solutions, and we will continue providing environmental solutions that meet today’s style needs.
Find supporting documentation and details about our sustainability standards here.
