Recycled Composite

Recycled composite tiles are manufactured with a high proportion of reclaimed material in the body, including post-industrial ceramic waste, glass and quarry by-product. They are specified where a project carries a sustainability target that requires evidenced material performance rather than a general environmental claim.

Specifying recycled composite

• Ask for the recycled content figure. Recycled content varies significantly between ranges and between pre-consumer and post-consumer material. A percentage with a stated basis is what a BREEAM or client sustainability submission needs; a general claim is not.
• EPDs are the evidence. BREEAM Mat 01 credits are assessed on product-level environmental data. Request the Environmental Product Declaration, produced to EN 15804, at selection stage rather than at submission.
• Technical performance still governs. Recycled content does not change the specification requirements. Confirm slip resistance, abrasion class to ISO 10545-7 and water absorption to ISO 10545-3 against the intended application exactly as for any other range.
• Appearance and variation. Reclaimed feedstock produces more inherent variation than a virgin body. That is usually the intended aesthetic, but it should be shown to the client on a dry-lay rather than on a single sample.

See also sustainable tiles and sustainable floor tiles for the wider low-impact range.

Frequently asked questions

How much recycled content do these tiles contain?

It varies by range, and the meaningful figure states both the percentage and whether the material is pre-consumer or post-consumer. Parkside can supply the recycled content figure and supporting documentation for any range in this collection.

Do recycled tiles contribute to BREEAM credits?

They can, principally under Mat 01, which is assessed on product-level environmental data. The credit depends on the EPD and the assessment methodology rather than on recycled content alone, so obtain the documentation early.

Is recycled composite as durable as standard porcelain?

Performance is determined by the fired body and is declared in the same way, through water absorption, breaking strength and abrasion testing. Check the technical data sheet against the application; recycled content itself is not a durability variable.