Sustainability is an important consideration for every industry, as we all look to reduce the environmental impact of our products and services.
The world of building development and renovations are no exception, since the approach to the design and material use can encourage greener outcomes. For some projects, there may also be a need to meet specific objectives to achieve green building accreditations, i.e. BREEAM.
At Parkside, we specialise in tiles which are a key design consideration within many architectural projects.
Responsible Material Selection
If we are looking ahead to the future of tile design, then it pays to travel to the very beginning of the tile lifecycle, which is the material selection.
Traditionally, there has been a reliance on raw materials to make tiles. However, greener alternatives such as recycled content are now being sought instead. Additionally, using locally sourced clays and minerals can also reduce the emissions of tiles.
As with all sustainable changes, the key is to look at the possibilities which exist within the alternatives. Within tile design, this can include embracing subtle texture variations, natural tones and irregular patterns which may occur if different materials are used.
Designing Tiles For Beyond The Moment
Another aspect of responsible material sourcing that often gets overlooked is avoiding time-sensitive approaches to design. Namely, chasing ‘here and now’ trends instead of considering the design choices which offer flexibility over the longer term.
The beauty of tiles is that they offer countless looks, from mimicking the appearance of natural materials, to styles which harness the design features that would have been found in the building originally.
All of which provides lots of choice when selecting tiles for a project. However, when it comes to designing tiles with sustainability in mind, considerations regarding longevity and circularity also need to be made.
Sustainable Tiles: Here’s One We Made Earlier - The Principle
With so much talk about what tile design could look like in a more eco-conscious world, there is no better time to introduce a range we’ve already created which embraces sustainability.
Made from over 91% recycled content and available in four striking colours, Principle uses unwanted materials from the ceramic and glass industries. The materials are locally sourced in Spain and also reduce 8kg of materials from ending up in landfill per m2 of tiles produced.
Given that these glossy wall tiles lend themselves to a variety of commercial projects, they demonstrate how a sustainable approach to material source and indeed tile design doesn’t have to mean a compromise in aesthetics or functionality.
Discover Our Approach To Sustainable Tile Design
At Parkside, sustainability is something we actively work towards within multiple facets of our business.
From striving to achieve carbon neutrality in 2030 to our 40 for 40 programme, Parkside continues to look at ways to reduce our carbon footprint. In turn, this helps your project to become more environmentally friendly too.
Take a look around our website to view our vast range of tiles, which we supply for commercial projects across the UK.
For any project enquiries, email our experts at info@parkside.co.uk or call us on 0116 276 2532.
