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Ceramic and porcelain tiles are composed of natural materials like clay, feldspar, and quartz and are generally a healthy choice. They can, however, contain toxic additives in their pigments, frits, and glazes. Historically, one major health concern has been the use of heavy metals such as lead in glazes.

Tile

9 products
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About Our Collections

The goal of our collections is to help promote transparency in the material ingredients of building products by fostering knowledge and awareness of products and materials for which life-cycle information is available, and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life-cycle impacts.

Keep an eye out for the following symbols:
A Healthier Affordable Building Product

Products with the designation of "Healthier & Affordable" were specified and installed in at least one of our Case Studies of healthier affordable housing.

Available at the Donghia healthier Materials Library

The Donghia healthier Materials Library library is open to Parsons student and faculty. Learn more about access and opening hours here.

Low Embodied Carbon

“Embodied Carbon” is the total amount of carbon emitted during the process of making a material. *HML refers to a manufacturer's EPD to determine whether a product's A1-A3 carbon emissions falls within HML's threshold for Low Embodied Carbon.

New Product

This product has been added to the collection within the past six months.

Ingredient Disclosures

There are several ways of evaluating a material’s health that we include with product information. Disclosures are reports by manufacturers about product ingredients, impacts, or other attributes.

Key Disclosures include:
Health Product Declaration (HPD)

A voluntary technical specification for reporting information on product contents and associated health information, intended to be the health-analogue to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

Declare Label

Declare is a transparency platform and product database that answers three questions: 
  1. Where does a product come from?
  2. What is it made of?
  3. Where does it go at the end of its life?

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

A standardized format for communicating the environmental effects associated with a product’s raw materials extraction, energy use, chemical makeup, waste generation, and emissions to air, soil, and water.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

A reporting format that provides basic information about a material’s chemical ingredients, the potential safety hazards to installers, and recommended practices for installation.

Other
Learn More
Category Sub-category Manufacturer Product Ingredient Disclosures

Glazed Thin Brick

Available At the Donghia Materials Library

The raw brick that makes up Fireclay's Glazed Thin Brick is sourced through a supplier who has been in business for over 100 years and continues to source and manufacture all brick in California, within 150 miles from the Fireclay Tile factory. The brick qualifies for LEED points and is glazed by hand on-site at the Fireclay Tile factory in Aromas, CA. The bricks provide a durable, long-lasting, and easy-to-clean surface suitable for a range of projects.
*Note that the EPD listed is for the glazing portion of the tile and not the brick itself.


Category
Masonry, Brick
Manufacturer
Fireclay Tile
Product Website

Material composition*

Clay 95-100%, Frits (Unleaded) 2-5%, Manganese Dioxide 0-3%, Chromite 0-3%, Barium Carbonate 0-3%

*as reported by the manufacturer

AVAILABLE SIZING

2.5"x8"

COLORS

28 colors available

Recycled Ceramic Tile

Available At the Donghia Materials Library

Fireclay's Recycled Clay Body is made from 50% recycled content, including post-consumer recycled porcelain/glass and pre-consumer recycled granite dust. The tiles are handcrafted in Aromas, California and are 100% VOC free. All of the glazes are also lead-free.

Per Fireclay's ceramic tile EPD, this product meets HML's criteria for low embodied carbon. Fireclay offsets their carbon footprint via Carbonfund.org.Fireclay is based in California making this product most suitable for projects in the western United States.


Category
Tile, Ceramic
Manufacturer
Fireclay Tile
Product Website

Material composition*

Silica 45-55%, Aluminum Oxide 15-25%, Frits (Unleaded) 5-15%

*as reported by the manufacturer

AVAILABLE SIZING

2"x4" up to 12"x12" tiles

COLORS

Over 130 colors available

CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD) icon-pdf Created with Sketch.
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Other
Last Updated

May 02, 2021

Download data sheet icon-pdf Created with Sketch.

Esta Villa

A Healthier Affordable Building Product
Available At the Donghia Materials Library

Esta Villa is a line of porcelain tiles that are designed to look like Rapolano Italian stone. The tiles come in three natural stone color options, all of which have wide graphic variations for a realistic look. This product is made in the U.S. and contains both post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled material.

Per Daltile's production line-specific EPDs, this tile product meets HML's criteria for low embodied carbon.


Category
Tile, Porcelain
Manufacturer
Daltile
Product Website

Material composition*

Crystalline Silica as Quartz 0-30%, Clays 20-55%, Nepheline Syenite 0-50%, Tale 0-40%, Feldspar 0-15%, Biotite 0-5%

*as reported by the manufacturer

AVAILABLE SIZING

18”x 18”, 12”x 24”, 12”x 12” Tiles

COLORS

Available in 3 standard colors

Keystones

A Healthier Affordable Building Product

Daltile’s Keystones Collection is a colorbody porcelain mosaic line, suitable for indoor and outdoor use on floors, walls, as well countertops. A multitude of patterns allow for many expressive, aesthetic choices.

Per DalTile's factory EPD, the Keystones Mosaic line meets HML's criteria for low embodied carbon. The majority of these tiles are produced in Gettysburg, PA making this best suited for projects in the Northeastern United States.


Category
Tile, Porcelain
Manufacturer
Daltile
Product Website

Material composition*

Kaolin clay 20-55%, Nepheline Syenite 0-50%, Talc 0-40%, Feldspar 0-15%, Mica 0-5%, Quartz 0-30%

*as reported by the manufacturer

AVAILABLE SIZING

various mosaic patterns and sizes

Limix

Limix tiles are a lime-based alternative to traditional ceramic. Not only are these tiles free of toxics that could off-gas into the indoor air, they also actively absorb VOCs and carbon, improving indoor air quality. Additionally, they regulate humidity, and their high alkalinity makes them naturally antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal. Compared to baked ceramic tiles, Limix also consume 80% less energy during manufacturing. Limix is awaiting Cradle to Cradle re-certification. The tiles will be Cradle to Cradle Gold, with a C2C Material Health Certification at the Platinum level.


Category
Tile, Lime
Manufacturer
Tagawa Sangyo
Product Website

Material composition*

Calcium Carbonate (Eggshells), Slaked Lime, Marble Dust

*as reported by the manufacturer

AVAILABLE SIZING

Floor tiles: 400mm x 400mm x 15mm, 600mm x 600mm x 18mm; Wall tiles: 400mm x 400mm x 10mm, 600mm x 600mm x 12mm

COLORS

Available in a wide range of colors

CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Other
Last Updated

October 23, 2019

Download data sheet icon-pdf Created with Sketch.

Green Leaf Brick

Available At the Donghia Materials Library

Green Leaf Brick is a strong, sustainable, healthy building product. It is a fired masonry brick made of 100% recycled content with up to 31% post-consumer waste-streams. Green Leaf Brick is Red List Free. It comes in a range of colors and sizes, and clients have the option to customize the brick size, color, and texture.


Category
Masonry, Brick
Manufacturer
Green Leaf Brick
Product Website

Material composition*

Aluminum Silicates 75-85%, Iron Compounds 0-5%, Calcium Compounds 0-12%, Quarz VARIES, Barium Compounds 0-3%, Iron Chromite 0-3%, Manganese Compounds 0-3%, Magnesium Compounds 0-3%, Bottom Ash 0-18%

*as reported by the manufacturer

AVAILABLE SIZING

Available in a range of sizes

COLORS

Available in a range of colors

CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) icon-pdf Created with Sketch.
Other icon-pdf Created with Sketch.
Last Updated

July 22, 2019

Download data sheet icon-pdf Created with Sketch.

Panoramic Porcelain Surfaces

DalTile's Panoramic Porcelain Surfaces are comprised of silica, quartz, mullite, and feldspar. Raw materials are extracted from quarries with environmental recovery plans according to EU Directive 92/43 / EEC. Due to their production process and material composition, these products require no additional sealants which often contain toxic materials. Their surfaces mimic the appearance of natural stone slabs and concrete and can be used for floors, walls, and countertops.


Category
Tile, Porcelain
Manufacturer
Daltile
Product Website

Material composition*

Silica 75-85%, Quartz 10-15%, Mullite 2.5-5%, Feldspar 0-5%

*as reported by the manufacturer

AVAILABLE SIZING

varies across collections

COLORS

varies across collections

COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE

Articulo

A Healthier Affordable Building Product

Articulo is a line of porcelain tiles that are designed to look like vein-cut travertine. This product is made in the U.S. and contains both post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled material. It is comprised of just 6 materials that are converted into benign, fully vitrified porcelain during the firing process.

Per DalTile's factory EPD, the Articulo line meets HML's criteria for low embodied carbon. The majority of these tiles are produced in Muskogee, OK making this best suited for projects in the southeastern United States.


Category
Tile, Porcelain
Manufacturer
Daltile
Product Website

Material composition*

Kaolin clay 20-55%, Nepheline Syenite 0-50%, Talc 0-40%, Feldspar 0-15%, Mica 0-5%, Quartz 0-30%

*as reported by the manufacturer

AVAILABLE SIZING

1x3 in, 6x18 in, 12x24 in, 18x36 in

COLORS

Editorial White AR06, Feature Beige AR07, Story Brown AR08, Column Grey AR09, Headline Grey AR10

bioMASON

A Healthier Affordable Building Product
Available At the Donghia Materials Library

bioMASON grows tiles using technology similar to hydroponics - units mixed with microorganism are fed an aqueous solution to harden the tiles to specification. bioMASON’s process eliminates the need for firing by replacing the curing/hardening process with biologically controlled structural cement.


Category
Pourables and Aggregates, Concrete
Manufacturer
bioMASON
Product Website

Material composition*

Sand, Sporosarcina pasteurii (bacteria)

*as reported by the manufacturer

CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD) icon-pdf Created with Sketch.
Declare Label icon-pdf Created with Sketch.
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Other
Last Updated

February 27, 2018

Download data sheet icon-pdf Created with Sketch.

The products in this collection have all been evaluated holistically for their contents and performance. To be considered, a product must disclose at least 75% of its ingredients by weight. It should avoid the biggest health concerns (such as those indicated in the HML Spec guidance for this product category) or be third-party certified. For ceramic tile, this means selecting tiles made in the U.S. that are free of antimicrobial coatings and post-consumer recycled content.

Spec Guidance

Be attentive to tile made outside of the United States. Imported tiles may not be subject to the same lead content regulations.

Prefer products with full ingredient disclosures, including frits, glazes, and pigments.

Prefer tiles with an abrasion rating of 4 or higher to minimize the potential release of toxins from the coating or glaze.

Avoid antimicrobial coatings as they can contain harmful biocides. They are not shown to improve population health. (HBN)

Avoid tiles with non-specific post-consumer recycled content. Some manufacturers recycle old cathode ray tubes (CRTs) from TVs and computers, which contain high levels of lead, into their tiles. The EPA currently allows the production of recycled CRT tiles in the US, saying: “when glazes are properly formulated and fired at a high temperature, the lead is sealed or ‘vitrified’ and its potential to leach from the glaze is limited.” (EPA)

Updated March 13, 2018
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