Superior Essex International LP is an industry leader in the manufacture of optical fiber and copper communications cable products and accessories used to interconnect enterprises, campuses, and communities worldwide. Product lines include Premises and Outside Plant (OSP) copper and fiber data cables, Wireless and Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) coaxial cables and accessories, and Fire Alarm and Security (FAS) cables. With over eighty years serving the communications industry and related distribution markets, our legacy demonstrates our commitments to producing high-quality products and providing reliable customer service. As a critical component of our business, we strive to ensure our operations are conducted in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, and through these efforts, to make a positive change in the industries and communities we serve.

Superior Essex believes in the International Living Future Institute’s mission and vision of a world that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. With products that are produced and deployed around the globe, Superior Essex is committed to understanding how those products interact with human health and the environment, and ensuring that those interactions are positive. Superior Essex remains dedicated to these efforts by recognizing the value sustainability brings to the customers, industries and communities it serves, because SUPERIOR ESSEX OPERATES WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRODUCTS WHICH INTERCONNECT THE WORLD MUST ALSO RESPECT IT.

Superior Essex chose to pursue LPC certification to further demonstrate its commitment to this vision as well as product transparency, and continuing to foster sustainable manufacturing practices and product development within the cabling industry. LPC certification is a means by which Superior Essex can be more involved in the green building community and explore new business opportunities in this market space. Superior Essex wanted to achieve Living Product Challenge certification to validate its leading sustainability practices, as the standard itself is ultimately an assessment of the sustainability program to date.

The product that has achieved LPC certification is the CATEGORY 6+ LOW SMOKE HALOGEN FREE COPPER COMMUNICATIONS CABLE. This product is primarily used as a means of transmitting communications throughout the built environment. It is the first product of its type to be completely free of Red List ingredients and to receive UL’s Low Smoke Halogen Free designation. It is also the first product of its type to be manufactured in a Zero Waste to Landfill Certified facility, and to offer Environmental Product Declarations and Health Product Declarations that disclose the environmental and health impacts of its material ingredients and manufacturing process.

Achieving certification for this product required rigorous investigation into, and detailed reporting of, the material compounds that make up each component of the final product, from the copper core to the outer jacketing.

While Superior Essex has not yet pursued Imperatives that require Handprinting efforts, we are nonetheless considering how to further reduce our footprint and are exploring how to engage in Handprinting actions.

In the coming year, Superior Essex will update its life cycle assessment models and environmental product declarations. It will also conduct an analysis of reduction efforts over the past four years, which have driven total reduction in life cycle impacts of its products and operations. Superior Essex’s Digital Building and IoT technology/products provide up to 75% energy savings (pending the scenario), so the goal is to educate the marketplace on this new technology and use this product as a platform to assess the potential for future Handprinting opportunities.

Place Petal

01. Responsible Place and Habitat Impacts Imperative

The Superior Essex Hoisington manufacturing facility, located in Hoisington, Kansas, is located in the Central Grassland region, which features a variety of ecosystems including temperate grasslands, savannas and shrub lands, and harbors several endangered species of flora and bees. Originally built in 1974 to produce copper wire and cable, the facility has gradually expanded its production capacity to include a variety of copper communications cables. Several measures were taken to ensure the facility has a limited environmental impact on the surrounding environment. These include implementing a closed-loop water system that recycles or reuses 100% of the water required during the extrusion process, as well as robust materials recycling and waste diversion programs that ensure >98% of the waste created during manufacturing is either recycled or reused. As a result of these efforts, the Hoisington facility became the first Zero Waste to Landfill Certified cable manufacturing facility in 2015 (as certified by Green Circle Certified), and continues to maintain that status today.

02. Habitat Exchange Imperative

Superior Essex chose to donate a percentage of all sales of the Cat 6+ LSHF product to 1% for the Planet. This organization seeks to support environmental solutions by providing financial donations, volunteer time, in-kind donations, and other shared-value collaborations between businesses and individuals. Superior Essex chose this organization because of its wide area of impact and its large network of individuals, non-profits and private enterprises that are collaborating to make positive change.

Name of Habitat Exchange Project: 1% FOR THE PLANET

Website: https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/what-we-do/our-approach

Place Petal Appeals and Lessons Learned

One of the main mottos of 1% for the Planet is “Do more together than you can alone.” Superior Essex aligns greatly with this; as a whole, we have so much more potential to reduce our impacts that we can accomplish individually. Superior Essex wanted to support an organization with these values and take a step toward collective betterment.

Equity Petal

14. Equitable Product Access Imperative

Superior Essex is a proud supporter of affordable housing initiatives and frequently participates in the donation of product to low incoming housing projects such as those created by Habitat for Humanity. As a part of its commitment to this initiative, Superior Essex is willing to provide discounted or free Cat 6 LSHF product to affordable housing projects per the International Living Future Institute’s Affordable Housing Initiatives.

15. Responsible Co-Products Imperative

Superior Essex is owned by LS Cable, a Korea-based organization established in 1962. LS Cable owns multiple entities, including Superior Essex Inc. Superior Essex International LP-Communications is the branch in which Superior Essex manufactures and sells the CAT 6 LSHF product out of the Hoisington, KS facility. Superior Essex International LP-Communications and its subsidiaries confirm that they do not make, sell, or provide any of the goods and services proscribed in the 1.1 LPC Standard.

16. Equitable Investment

Superior Essex has chosen to donate a percentage of all sales of the Cat 6+ LSHF product to 1% for the Planet. This organization seeks to support environmental solutions by providing financial donations, volunteer time, in-kind donations, and other shared-value collaborations between businesses and individuals. Superior Essex chose this organization because of its wide area of impact and its large network of individuals, non-profits and private enterprises that are collaborating to make positive change.

The donation is expected to increase as sales of the Cat 6+ LSHF product increase over the next several years; Superior Essex looks forward to continuing to donate to this cause in the coming years.

Name of charitable organization receiving equity investment: 1% FOR THE PLANET

Website: https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/what-we-do/our-approach

Beauty Petal

19. Beauty + Spirit Imperative

Superior Essex communications cable products are used to connect people, enterprises, campuses and communities worldwide. With products that are produced and deployed around the globe, Superior Essex is committed to understanding how those products interact with human health and the environment, and ensuring that those interactions are positive. The company remains dedicated to these efforts by recognizing the value sustainability brings to the customers, industries and communities it serves because it operates with an understanding that the products that interconnect the world must also respect it.

Its products are based in nature, not only in terms of materials and deployment, but also in principle. Like the roots of a tree, these products form networks that often remain unseen while allowing the whole organism to flourish. From college campuses and healthcare facilities to individual homes and personal devices, communities and industries across the globe rely on Superior Essex communications cabling to stay connected, to collaborate beyond geographical boundaries, and ultimately to thrive.

20. Inspiration + Education Imperative

LPC Page URL: http://ce.superioressex.com/About/Environmental/

Beauty Petal Lessons Learned

Superior Essex will be creating an entire microsite that includes significant LPC messaging within its sustainability platform. When it is published, Superior Essex will update the LPC information on its website to include its LPC label and a brochure.

Summary of Process and Benefit of Pursuing Living Product Challenge

By achieving the Living Product Challenge certification and promoting it, for the first time A&D firms are calling Superior Essex, inviting the company to share its message, rather than the other way around. The Living Product Challenge certification displays an overall sustainability message in a clear, concise and beautiful manner within the label and Superior Essex is excited to share its achievement with the world!

The post Superior Essex CAT 6+ LSHF Cable first appeared on Living Future.

Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) develops, manufactures and markets insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites. Global in scope and human in scale, the company’s market-leading businesses use their deep expertise in materials, manufacturing and building science to develop products and systems that save energy and improve comfort in commercial and residential buildings. Ultimately, Owens Corning’s people and products make the world a better place. Based in Toledo, Ohio, Owens Corning posted 2016 sales of $5.7 billion and employs about 16,000 people in 26 countries.

Owens Corning, the pioneer of Fiberglas^TM, created EcoTouch® Batt Insulation with PureFiber® Technology, a revolutionary new product platform that includes an average of 65% recycled content, with minimum of 47% post-consumer recycled glass. The balance is 18% pre-consumer recycled glass content.[1] The product meets the strict certification standards for indoor air quality, is validated formaldehyde free and carries the GreenGuard Gold certification. EcoTouch® Insulation with PureFiber® Technology has even been named the greenest insulation by Green Builder magazine [2] and is the only fiberglass insulation product listed in the USDA Bio-Preferred Catalog because of its bio-based binder.

EcoTouch® Insulation with PureFiber® continues to deliver energy-saving and acoustical performance, as well as the installation ease our customers expect from Owens Corning®. EcoTouch® Insulation[3]:

• Is preferred by 2 out of 3 professional installers over all fiberglass insulation competitors for ease of handling and installation[4].
• Is easier to cut and split with less dust than other fiberglass insulation products.
• Installs faster than other fiberglass insulation products.
• Completely fills the cavity, eliminating gaps and the need for additional handwork.
• Is easily cut and split to insulate odd shaped cavities and around outlets, switches and other small spaces.

EcoTouch® Insulation with PureFiber® Technology manufactured in Owens Corning’s Santa Clara, California plant was chosen for the Living Product Challenge (LPC). The plant has been in continuous operation since July 5, 1949, is nearly waste-free and employs well-trained and engaged support staff. These factors made the product and facility combination a clear choice for the LPC.

The engagement began with a stakeholder meeting at Owens Corning’s research headquarters in Granville, Ohio, in early 2015. At that time, Owens Corning stakeholders learned about the vision, mission and potential value and traction of the LPC. Near the end of the year, Owens Corning announced at the Living Product Expo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that it had decided to extend its sustainability commitment and participate in the LPC.

Place Petal

01. Responsible Place & Habitat Impacts Imperative

ECOTOUCH® INSULATION MANUFACTURING FACILITIES

Facility Location	Total Land (Acres)	Building Size (Sq. ft)	Facts
Santa Clara, California	42	750,000	The Owens Corning Santa Clara, California plant was the first industrial plant in the United States designed specifically for the manufacture of insulation, as opposed to a converted glass bottling plant.
Newark, Ohio	332	1,000,000	Since the 1930s, the Owens Corning Newark, Ohio plant has been in the city, employing multiple generations of many of the same families. The Newark plant is in many ways the flagship ‐‐ the oldest and one of the largest in the company.
Kansas City, Kansas	32	600,000	The Kansas City plant was honored by the Kansas Water Environment Association in 2016. The plant was one of six companies to earn a new platinum award recognizing water reduction efforts, a good relationship with the state of Kansas and 100% compliance on environmental reporting for five or more years.
Delmar, New York	200	675,000	The Delmar plant has the largest onsite solar project in New York funded by NYSERDA as part of the NY State Sun Initiative Program. The 2.6‐megawatt (DC) solar PV supplies clean energy to the Delmar plant.
Waxahachie, Texas	134	900,000	The Waxahachie plant is involved in many community activities including Fuller Center for Housing, Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, United Way, Salvation Army, and the North Texas Food Bank.
Fairburn, Georgia	150	700,000	The Fairburn plant achieved a million man-hours without a recordable injury in October 2016.
Toronto, Ontario	50	330,000	The Toronto plant is involved with Habitat for Humanity and United Way.
Edmonton, Alberta	30	240,000	The Edmonton plant is involved with United Way.

Built in 1949, the Owens Corning Santa Clara, California plant was the first industrial plant in the United States designed specifically for the manufacture of insulation, as opposed to a converted glass bottling plant. The product ingredients are mostly inorganic and bio based materials and are not derived from endangered sources.

Owens Corning’s Santa Clara plant sits on 41.88 acres in Santa Clara County, California. The manufacturing facility constitutes over 17 acres of the land. Owens Corning does a biodiversity assessment for all of its sites. Santa Clara is not within 50 miles of any areas of ecological sensitivity or historical significance as defined by the following lists:

• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Sites
• Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) – called the Ramsar Convention. The Convention lists Wetland of International Importance
• Natura 2000 List – Protected ecological areas in the European Union
• Alliance for Zero Extinction’s (AZE) list of epicenters of imminent extinctions

Owens Corning is committed to preserving the natural habitats that surround its operations around the world. An annual biodiversity assessment is completed by each plant; as of 2016, Owens Corning is in the process of developing and supporting company-wide biodiversity goals.

In 2015, Owens Corning began a partnership with the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) to standardize the approach to biodiversity throughout the company, develop biodiversity action plans using external expertise and site visits, and work towards third party WHC certification.

Health & Happiness Petal

Owens Corning products, created from abundant materials such as sand, have the potential to transform people’s relationship to help improve the comfort of the building occupants. Owens Corning® insulation products improve the comfort of the building occupants by serving as a means to help control thermal transfer to the living space and save energy in regulating that temperature. Additionally, insulation products serve to reduce noise transfer, helping to create acoustics or quiet spaces for living and working.

Owens Corning is committed to the principles of environmental sustainability, product stewardship and to the safety and health of its employees.

To ensure a continuing commitment to these principles, Owens Corning is dedicated to:

Safety and Health:

• Providing safe working conditions.
• Promoting the health and well-being of our employees.
• Owens Corning was awarded the Green Cross award in 2014 by the National Safety Council for Owens Corning’s safety leadership at all levels of the organization.

Environmental Protection and Sustainability:

• Conserving resources, preventing waste, reducing greenhouse gases, and protecting the environment and our local communities.
• Continual improvement in our Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) performance and pollution-prevention efforts.
• Use third-party organizations to test and certify product attributes and to disclose their environmental and human health impacts.

Product Stewardship:

• Providing products that are safe and environmentally sound to make, use, and dispose of; and that perform as claimed.
• Providing useful information on the performance and safe use of our products.

Since 2008, Owens Corning has offered different resources and incentives to motivate employees to reach their health goals. The company has various wellness programs for employees to participate in, and expanded its efforts with the development of six wellness pillars and corresponding teams to manage them:

• Know Your Numbers
• Healthy Mind
• Physical Activity
• Nutrition (Santa Clara plant has a free “healthy options” lunch and breakfast offering each day for employees)
• Tobacco-Free
• Financial Health

As a part of its wellness programs, Owens Corning encourages outdoor activities and creates spaces at its locations for employee interaction and exercise. Owens Corning is committed to preserving the natural habitats that surround its operations.

05. Net Positive Material Health Imperative

Owens Corning is committed to meeting the Net Positive Material Health Imperative by maintaining a strict standard of safety and a responsibility to its workforce to return home to their families in the same condition as when they arrived at the start of the workday. The company believes that its commitment to safety is unconditional and that all accidents are preventable. As a result of the pervasive safety culture, Owens Corning has had zero recorded fatalities for contractors and employees in over a decade. There has been one recordable injury at Santa Clara plant since November 2015. Additionally, from February 2016 to February 2017, the number of recordable injuries for other insulation plants have been; three for the Newark plant, one for the Kansas City plant, three for the Delmar plant, one for the Fairburn plant, and five for the Waxahachie plant. The injuries encouraged the plants to identify more ways to prevent future injuries.

The manufacturing of EcoTouch® Insulation with PureFiber® Technology has been purposefully designed to incorporate significant automated features to reduce the opportunity for injury and human error.

This product was assessed for material health through the Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Institute and was certified at the Gold level [6]. The product is fully optimized, meaning that ingredients and process chemicals are optimal or acceptable for use. This assessment covered 100% of the materials at 100ppm.

06. Human Thriving Imperative

Owens Corning actively manages its nature and environmental impacts and has achieved a continuous reduction of manufacturing impact starting with a 2002 baseline. Aspects include waste, air emissions, water use, energy, and greenhouse gases. One company goal is to achieve zero waste at all of its facilities; the Santa Clara plant is well along the path of achieving a waste-free process for the EcoTouch® Insulation with PureFiber® Technology product line. In 2015, Santa Clara plant diverted 94% of the waste away from the landfill. The plant uses state-of-the-art automated equipment throughout which minimizes human interaction with the process. The reduced number of touch points help to create a safe environment and minimize repetitive tasks. Other Owens Corning insulation facilities are moving toward zero waste, making progress year after year.

Owens Corning encourages increased interaction with nature in its employee’s work and personal life. The company has instituted wellness programs and healthy living incentives to promote healthy lifestyle choices for employees. Employees are encouraged to maintain a healthy body weight with programs such as the annual Fat Out competition. Each year, the company distributes pedometers and coordinates scheduled weigh-ins to track employee progress towards their fitness goals. Participation in the program has been as high as 30% in recent years. Finally, the company’s wellness program has been a vehicle for motivation. Santa Clara plant has a free “healthy options” lunch and breakfast offering each day for employees to encourage healthy eating habits.

Materials Petal

Owens Corning uses third-party organizations to test and certify product attributes and to disclose environmental and human health impacts. These certifications ensure that products meet a certain standard of recycled content, are low emitting after installation and have other features that may be of interest to architects, builders, installers and consumers. The Product Stewardship process ensures products are safe and environmentally sound to make, use, and dispose of; and perform as claimed.

Furthermore, Owens Corning’s approach to achieving the Materials Petal Imperatives is highlighted by showcasing the company’s initiatives to cultivate a responsible materials economy. Owens Corning’s EcoTouch® Insulation with PureFiber® Technology is largely created from abundant materials such as sand. Raw materials like sand and high levels of recycled glass content combine to minimize adverse impacts from a material resource perspective.

The commitment to using responsible materials is important to Owens Corning. This product was assessed for material health through the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and was certified at the Gold level.

The product development team’s insight is in direct alignment with the Materials Petal Imperatives through the use of human centered design. The product is designed and manufactured to be used in a variety of applications that easily meet the insulating needs for attics, walls and other locations.

Overall, EcoTouch® Insulation products have socially equitable automated manufacturing and appropriately manage resource depletion through the high level of recycled content. The market-leading product is also a leader in terms of the equitable use of natural resources, materials usage, product design and innovative industrial practices.

07. Red List Imperative

Owens Corning uses third-party organizations to test and certify product attributes and to disclose environmental and human health impacts. There are several transparency paths used for Owens Corning products and many of them are market driven. As consumer demand for product transparency has increased, the company has implemented transparency initiatives to meet the demand. Owens Corning is on the leading edge and readily makes the commitment to expand its transparency offerings where they have value in the marketplace. EcoTouch® Insulation products are/have:

• GREENGUARD Certified® and GREENGUARD Gold Certified℠, (EcoTouch® Unfaced Batts and EcoTouch® Faced Batts and Rolls).
• GREENGUARD validated Formaldehyde Free (EcoTouch® Unfaced and EcoTouch® Faced Batts and Rolls).
• UL Certified Environmental Product Declaration in accordance with ISO 14025 (EcoTouch® Faced and Unfaced insulation).
• UL Environment EcoLogo CCD-106 (EcoTouch® Faced and Unfaced insulation).
• Recycled content verified by SCS Global Services; Scientific Certification Systems SCS-MC-01025, SCS Certified minimum 65% recycled glass content (with at least 41% post-consumer recycled and the balance of pre-consumer recycled glass content), applies to EcoTouch® Unfaced Batts and Rolls.
• USDA Certified Biobased Products: EcoTouch® unfaced – 98%

Additionally, the product:

• Achieved the Gold level of the Material Health Certification from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute; and
• Approved for the National Green Building Standard; and
• Qualified under the Seal and Insulate with ENERGY STAR® program.
• As a part of pursuing the Living Product Challenge, Owens Corning has obtained DECLARE labels for EcoTouch® Insulation products.

08. Living Economy Sourcing Imperative

Final percent by weight sourced from each zone (list):

• 1000 KM RADIUS 8-25%
• 2000 KM RADIUS 25-75%
• 5000 KM RADIUS 0-36%

Material	% by Weight	Source Location	Distance (km)	Distance Range
Cullet	25-75%	North America	16-1290 km	2000 km
Sand	8-25%	North America	16-400 km	1000 km
Borates	10-30%	Global	560-9980 km	Any location
Soda Ash	0.5-6%	North America	560-3220 km	5000 km
Other Oxides	1-2%	North America	360-3220 km	5000 km
Limestone	0-5%	North America	200-320 km	5000 km
Carbohydrate Polyol	2-10%	North America	800-3540 km	5000 km
Bio-Based Polycarboxylic Acid	1-5%	North America	320-3220 km	5000 km
Cure Accelerator	0.2-1%	North America	400-3700 km	5000 km
Surfactant	0-0.1%	North America	640-3700 km	5000 km
Vegetable Oil	0-3.5%	North America	800-3540 km	5000 km
Silane	0.03-0.1%	North America	400-4350 km	5000 km
Pink Colorant	0.1-0.2%	North America	560-4500 km	5000 km

09. Responsible Industry Imperative

Owens Corning’s EcoTouch® Insulation with PureFiber® Technology uses materials that are in abundant supply and leverage high levels of recycled content. Sand is a major raw material in glass manufacturing and Owens Corning is committed to seek out sources in reasonable proximity to its operations. Purchasing recycled glass prevents material from being sent to landfill while serving as an outlet for glass that is no longer in service. EcoTouch® Insulation with PureFiber® Technology uses a bio-based binder.

The company is also committed to fair labor practices and is a signatory to the UN Global Compact. The Santa Clara plant is staffed by workers that are local to the Santa Clara community and wages are equitable for the area. The Owens Corning Human Rights policy is in effect and complies with reporting on Conflict Minerals. Materials used for this product are not derived from vulnerable or endangered sources. Declare Labels were issued for EcoTouch® Insulation with PureFiber® Technology in 2016.

DECLARE IDS: OWC-1003, OWC-0014, OWC-0015, OWC-0016, OWC-0017, OWC-0018, OWC-0019, OWC-0020.

11. Net Positive Waste Imperative

SANTA CLARA INSULATION PLANT ONLY

One company goal is to achieve zero waste at all our facilities; the Santa Clara plant is well along the path of achieving a waste free process for the EcoTouch® Insulation with PureFiber® Technology product line. In 2015, Santa Clara plant diverted 94% of the waste from the landfill. The company uses recycled content in the form of purchased cullet in the manufacture of fiberglass products and works to reduce waste from the line by recycling scrap material back in to the process, where feasible. Other Owens Corning insulation plants, although on the path to achieve the company’s zero waste goal, did not meet the Net Positive Waste Imperative at this time.

12. Product Fit to Use Imperative

Owens Corning building insulation products are designed to help save energy through the life of the building, approximately 60 years. The products undergo rigorous internal competitive audits to ensure that the company is providing the best product to its customers. Design teams travel throughout the year visiting facilities to quantify the quality of our product and its fitness. Products are evaluated based on critical product performance characteristics, insulating R-value, installation ease and other characteristics.

Product Stewardship reviews are required for all new and modified products. These rigorous reviews ensure that products are safe and environmentally sound to make, use, and dispose of; and perform as claimed. Information on the performance and safe use of the products is also part of the review process.

Testing product fitness for use is also important from a research and development standpoint. Products are tested throughout the development process to identify any potential defects early in product design. The test-and-learn strategy is used to allow innovative ideas to emerge with little downside risk. The pervasive testing culture encourages innovation from the lab bench that is manifested on the production line.

Equity Petal

14. Equitable Product Access Imperative

Owens Corning’s materials are broadly available to the market through a variety of channels, both direct and through other distribution channels, lumber yards and also home centers across the United States. Owens Corning prices its products in a fair and lawful manner and we believe the prices for our products are in line with prevailing market prices in the regions where such products are sold.

15. Responsible Co-Products Imperative

Owens Corning does not directly engage in any of the following activities:

• Make weapons or armaments of any kind;
• Produce tobacco products, pornography, violent video games, or illicit drugs;
• Engage in fossil fuel extraction;
• Engage in nuclear energy production or nuclear weapons manufacturing;
• Engage in or facilitate prostitution, payday lending, gambling or the patenting of life; or
• Charge interest rates significant in excess of market peers for comparable offerings.

Owens Corning demonstrates consistent responsibility across its entire operations footprint.

The post Owens Corning Ecotouch® Insulation first appeared on Living Future.

OWENS CORNING & SIREWALL REIMAGINE MANUFACTURING FOR RADICAL CHANGE IN ENERGY, WATER, HAPPINESS

(Seattle, May 25, 2016) Imagine a product that functions as elegantly and efficiently as anything found in the natural world. Now imagine that product is manufactured for use in buildings, which are responsible for a majority of greenhouse gas emissions, and you begin to see how a truly sustainable product, used to build a Living Building, might significantly impact climate change. That’s the idea behind the Living Product Challenge, launched by the International Living Future Institute in 2015; a challenge that was met by two forward thinking companies just one year later: Owens Corning and SIREWALL, who have received certification for the world’s first Living Products.

“We are pleased to award the world’s first Living Product certifications to two companies who have diligently and passionately pursued a radical re-thinking of how their products are designed, sourced, manufactured and eventually reclaimed–ushering what we believe will be a new era of regenerative manufacturing,” said James Connelly, director of the Living Product Challenge for the Institute. “This is a first for industry: Owens Corning and SIREWALL have not only demonstrated leadership and innovative thinking, they have also engaged in an ‘open innovation strategy’ by sharing their journey to LPC certification with other companies engaged in the Living Product 50, a collaboration of leading manufacturers on the path to becoming Living Products.”

When fully certified, a Living Product is locally sourced with renewable or bio based materials, and is manufactured by processes powered only by renewable energy and within the water balance of the places they are made. Living Products should not endanger or impair the health of those who manufacture or use them, and should improve our quality of life and bring joy through their beauty and functionality. On the path to full certification, products can pursue Imperative certification by meeting at least seven of 20 Imperatives in the categories of Place, Water, Energy, Health, Materials, Equity and Beauty.

The post SIREWALL RAMMED EARTH first appeared on Living Future.

Owens Corning, the pioneer of fiberglas, created a loosefill product and manufacturing process that is efficient and versatile. Owens Corning unbonded loosefill insulation provides industry-leading thermal performance and yield when blown into open attic insulation applications. When blown behind netting via blowing machines, the loosefill fiberglass product naturally close-packs to help prevent air leakage gaps in the building envelope. The product is used in new and existing construction.

Owens Corning’s unbonded loosefill fiberglass insulation is manufactured under three trade names:

• AttiCat® Expanding Blown-In Insulation and its associated blowing machine, which can be used by either the professional remodeler or the DIY customer.
• The ProCat® Blown-in insulation system product line and machine is designed for smaller contractor use and PROPINK®L77 PINK® Fiberglas insulation
• PROPINK®L77 PINK® Fiberglas unbonded loosefill insulation product is designed for the large scale insulation contractor using truck mounted blowing machines.

The thermal resistance unbonded loosefill insulation provides is specific to the particular application. For an open blow attic application, unbonded loosefill is specified to provide a thermal resistance from R-13 to R-60, and for enclosed cavity applications, unbonded loosefill is specified to provide a thermal resistance from R-13 to R-24 for walls, R-31 to R-48 for floors, and R-28 to R-44 for cathedral ceilings.

In 2016- The products chosen for the Living Product Challenge (LPC) were manufactured in Owens Corning’s Mount Vernon, Ohio, facility. The plant is one of the most state-of-the-art within the company’s portfolio and is virtually waste-free. The product is produced with few ingredients and the flexible, well-trained support staff made the product and facility combination a clear choice for the LPC.

The engagement began with a stakeholder meeting at Owens Corning’s research headquarters in Granville, Ohio, in early 2015. At that time, Owens Corning stakeholders learned about the vision, mission and potential value and traction of the LPC. Near the end of the year, Owens Corning announced at the Living Product Expo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that it had decided to extend its sustainability commitment and participate in the LPC.

SCALING THE CERTIFICATION

In 2017, the Living Product Challenge Certification was expanded to cover Unbonded Loosefill products made at Owens Corning North American Insulation plants as presented below:

• Edmonton, Alberta, Canada established in 1960
• Kansas City, Kansas established in 1946
• Nephi, Utah, and Lakeland, Florida plants which have been part of Owens Corning since acquisition of FiberTEK Insulation LLC and FiberTEK Insulation West LLC in 2011
• Toronto, Ontario, Canada established in 1978

PLACE PETAL

01. RESPONSIBLE PLACE & HABITAT IMPACTS IMPERATIVE

ATTICAT®, PROPINK® L77, PROCAT® INSULATION MANUFACTURING FACILITIES

There are no areas of ecological sensitivity or historical significance within five miles from any of the mentioned manufacturing facilities.

The product ingredients are mostly inorganic and not derived from endangered species.

OTHER INFORMATION

Owens Corning is committed to preserving the natural habitats that surround our operations around the world. An annual biodiversity assessment is completed by each plant; we are in the process of developing and supporting company-wide biodiversity goals.

In 2015, Owens Corning began a partnership with the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) to standardize our approach to biodiversity throughout the company, develop biodiversity action plans using external expertise and site visits, and work towards third-party WHC certification.

HEALTH & HAPPINESS PETAL

Owens Corning is committed to the principles of environmental sustainability, product stewardship and to the safety and wellbeing of our employees.

For a continuing commitment to these principles, Owens Corning is dedicated to:

SAFETY & HEALTH

• Providing safe working conditions.
• Promoting the health and well-being of our employees.
• Owens Corning was awarded the Green Cross award in 2014 by the National Safety Council for Owens Corning’s safety leadership at all levels of the organization.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION & SUSTAINABILITY

• Conserving resources, preventing waste, reducing greenhouse gases, and protecting the environment and our local communities.
• Continual improvement in our Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) performance and pollution-prevention efforts.

PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP

• Providing products that are safe and environmentally sound to make, use, and dispose of; and that perform as claimed.
• Providing useful information on the performance and safe use of our products.

HEALTHY LIVING

Since 2008, Owens Corning has offered different resources and incentives to motivate employees to reach their health goals. The company has various wellness programs for employees to participate in, and we will expand its efforts with the development of six wellness pillars and corresponding teams to manage them:

• Know Your Numbers
• Healthy Mind
• Physical Activity
• Nutrition
• Tobacco-Free
• Financial Health

As a part of our wellness programs, Owens Corning encourages outdoor activities and creates spaces at our locations for employee interaction and exercise. Owens Corning is committed to preserving the natural habitats that surround our operations.

05. NET POSITIVE MATERIAL HEALTH IMPERATIVE

Owens Corning is committed to meeting the net positive material health imperative by maintaining a strict standard of safety and a responsibility to its workforce to return home to their families in the same condition as when they arrived at the start of the workday. The company believes that its commitment to safety is unconditional and that all accidents are preventable. As a result of the pervasive safety culture, Owens Corning has had zero recorded fatalities for contractors and employees in over a decade. Furthermore, there have been no recordable injuries at the Mount Vernon facility in the last 12 months. There has been one recordable injury at the Kansas City plant and one recordable injury at the Nephi plant since February 2016. These injuries encouraged the plants to identify more ways to prevent future injuries.

The manufacturing of unbonded loosefill has been purposefully designed to incorporate significant automated features to reduce the opportunity for injury and human error. The facility is state of the art; most of the process is enclosed and the product emerges as a compressed block that is appropriately sized for integration with the fiberglass blowing machines.

This product was assessed for material health through the Cradle to Cradle institute and was certified at the Platinum level which is the highest ranking in the program.

The product is fully optimized, meaning that ingredients and process chemicals are optimal or acceptable for use. This assessment covered 100 percent of the materials at 100ppm and was issued March 2016.

06. HUMAN THRIVING IMPERATIVE

Owens Corning is concerned for nature and environmental impact and has achieved continuous reduction of manufacturing impact starting with a 2002 baseline. Aspects include waste, air emissions, water use, energy, and greenhouse gases. The unbonded loosefill product manufacturing process is virtually waste-free as scrap material is easily reintroduced back into the process. The Mount Vernon plant, which manufactures this product, uses state-of-the-art automated equipment throughout, enabling the minimization of human interactions with the process. The reduced number of touch points help to create an environment for safety and minimize repetitive tasks.

We encourage increased interaction with nature in our employee’s work and personal life. The company has instituted wellness programs and healthy living incentives to promote healthy lifestyle choices for employees. Employees are encouraged to maintain a healthy body weight with programs such as the annual Fat Out competition. Each year, the company coordinates pedometers and scheduled weigh-ins to track employee progress on their fitness goals. Participation in the program has been as high as 30 percent in recent years. Finally, the company’s wellness program has been a vehicle for motivation.

MATERIALS PETAL

Owens Corning uses third-party organizations to test and certify product attributes and to disclose environmental and human health impacts. These certifications ensure that products meet a certain standard of recycled content, are low emitting after installation and other features that may be of interest to architects, builders, installers and consumers. Our product stewardship process provides products that are safe and environmentally sound to make, use, and dispose of; and that perform as claimed.

Furthermore, Owens Corning’s approach to achieving the Materials Petal Imperatives is highlighted by showcasing the company’s initiatives to cultivate a responsible materials economy. Owens Corning’s unbonded loosefill products are largely created from abundant materials such as sand. Raw materials like sand and high levels of recycled glass content combine to minimize adverse impacts from a material resource perspective.

The commitment to using responsible materials is important to Owens Corning. This product was assessed for material health through the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and was certified at the Platinum level, the highest level possible.

The product development team’s insight is in direct alignment with the Materials Petal Imperatives through the use of human centered design. The product design and manufacturing result in a product that can be used in a variety of applications that meets the insulating needs of attics, walls and other locations. Abnormal geometries are not a problem as the product flows to fill cavity spaces. The intelligent design reduces waste, prevents scrap generation on-site and allows any remaining materials to be used for the next project.

Overall, unbonded loosefill products have socially equitable automated manufacturing and appropriately manage resource depletion through the high level of recycled content. The market-leading product is also a leader in terms of the equitable use of natural resources, materials usage, product design and innovative industrial practices.

07. RED LIST IMPERATIVE

Owens Corning uses third-party organizations to test and certify product attributes and to disclose environmental and human health impacts. There are several transparency paths used for Owens Corning products and many of them are market driven. As consumer demand for product transparency has increased, the company has implemented transparency initiatives to meet the demand. Owens Corning is on the leading edge and readily makes the commitment to expand its transparency offerings where they have value in the marketplace. Unbonded loosefill products are/have:

• Certified GREENGUARD Gold;
• UL Environment Sustainable Product Certification;
• Recycled content verified by SCS Global Services;
• Achieved the Platinum level of the Material Health Certification from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute; and
• Approved for the National Green Building Standard and are qualified under the Seal and Insulate with ENERGY STAR® program.

An Environmental Product Declaration has been verified and issued by UL Environment. As a part of pursuing the Living Product Challenge, we have obtained DECLARE labels for unbonded loosefill.

08. LIVING ECONOMY SOURCING IMPERATIVE

Final percent by weight sourced from each zone (list):

• 1000 KM RADIUS 8-32%
• 2000 KM RADIUS 25-79%
• 5000 KM RADIUS 0-14%

09. RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRY IMPERATIVE

Owens Corning’s unbonded loosefill insulation products (AttiCat®, ProCat®, PROPINK® L77) use materials that are in abundant supply and leverage high levels of recycled content. Sand is a major raw material in glass manufacturing and Owens Corning is committed to seek out sources in reasonable proximity to its operations. Purchasing recycled glass prevents material from being sent to landfill while serving as an outlet for glass that is no longer in service. Unbonded loosefill products use a negligible amount of organic inputs and therefore are exempt from the USDA organic certification requirement.

The company is also committed to fair labor practices and is a signatory to the UN Global Compact. The Owens Corning insulation plants are staffed by workers that are local to the community and wages are equitable for the area. We have a Human Rights policy and comply with reporting on Conflict Minerals. Materials used for this product are not derived from vulnerable or endangered sources. Declare Labels have been issued for unbonded loosefill in 2015 and 2016.

DECLARE IDS: OWC-1001, OWC-0004, OWC-0005, OWC-0006, OWC-0007, OWC-0008

11. NET POSITIVE WASTE IMPERATIVE

MOUNT VERNON INSULATION PLANT ONLY

The Mount Vernon plant has a virtually waste-free process for the unbonded loosefill (AttiCat®, ProCat®, PROPINK®L77) insulation product line. The company uses recycled content in the form of purchased cullet in the manufacture of fiberglass products and works to reduce waste from the line by recycling scrap material back in to the process, where feasible.

The facility has been outfitted with portable vacuum nozzles that operators use to clean scrap insulation nodules from the floor and other places where the tufts tend to accumulate. The vacuum system directly sends the nodules back into the process line so they may be incorporated in new product. In addition, plastics, cardboard, metal and other materials are separated and recycled.

Mount Vernon is a company leader in waste diversion efforts and the staff is engaged to reduce and maintain the virtually waste-free process. Other Owens Corning insulation plants, although on the path to achieve the company’s zero waste goal, did not meet the Net Positive Waste Imperative at this time

12. PRODUCT FIT TO USE IMPERATIVE

Owens Corning building insulation products are designed to help save energy through the life of the building, assumed to be approximately 60 years. The products undergo rigorous internal and competitive audits to ensure that we are providing the best product to our customers. Design teams travel throughout the year visiting facilities to quantify the quality of our product and its fitness. Products are evaluated based on critical product performance characteristics, insulating R-value, installation ease and other characteristics.

Product stewardship reviews are required for all new and modified products. These rigorous reviews assure that products are safe to make, use, and dispose of; and that perform as claimed. Information on the performance and safe use of our products is also part of the review process. View the Owens Corning Environmental Health Safety & Product Stewardship Policy

Testing product fitness for use is also important from a research and development standpoint. Products are tested throughout the development process to identify any potential defects early in product design. The test-and-learn strategy is used to allow innovative ideas to emerge with little downside risk. The pervasive testing culture encourages innovation from the lab bench that is manifested on the production line.

EQUITY PETAL

Owens Corning’s materials are broadly available to the market through a variety of channels, both direct and through other distribution channels, lumber yards and also home centers across the United States.

Owens Corning prices its products in a fair and lawful manner and we believe the prices for our products are in line with prevailing market prices in the regions where such products are sold.

14. EQUITABLE PRODUCT ACCESS IMPERATIVE

Owens Corning’s materials are broadly available to the market through a variety of channels, both direct and through
other distribution channels, lumber yards and also home centers across the United States. Owens Corning prices its products in a fair and lawful manner and we believe the prices for our products are in line with prevailing market prices in the regions where such products are sold.

15. RESPONSIBLE CO-PRODUCTS IMPERATIVE

Owens Corning and its three subsidiary businesses of Insulation, Roofing and Composites do not directly engage in any of the following activities:

• Make weapons or armaments of any kind;
• Produce tobacco products, pornography, violent video games, or illicit drugs;
• Engage in fossil fuel extraction;
• Engage in nuclear energy production or nuclear weapons manufacturing;
• Engage in or facilitate prostitution, payday lending, gambling or the patenting of life; or
• Charge interest rates significant in excess of market peers for comparable offerings.

Owens Corning demonstrates consistent responsibility across its entire operations footprint.

BEAUTY PETAL

19. BEAUTY + SPIRIT IMPERATIVE

Insulation products have the potential to influence an individual’s relationship to the natural world through their design. Owens Corning’s unbonded loosefill insulation products are artfully designed and pleasing to use. Unbonded loosefill fiberglass insulation is an innovative solution to compete with a variety of materials for insulating walls, ceilings and under roof decks. It is blown in attics to the desired thickness and R–value, and behind netting, for wall cavity insulation. Its ability to flow around obstacles (wiring or pipes) provides for ease of completely filling the cavity without leaving gaps or voids. Owens Corning also provides quality control in the form of a gauge that measures density and R–value non–destructively assuring meeting intended insulation power and without over blowing the material. 

The AttiCat® and ProCat® insulation technologies allowed Owens Corning to expand its product offerings with a system designed for the user. Attention to detail is evident in the compression–packing of the insulation into blocks. The block geometry increases transportation efficiency and the ease of use with the blowing machine. The AttiCat® and ProCat® machines and their associated loosefill products are beautifully designed to work together. The matching dimensions of the insulation package inserts into the machine opening. The hose diameter, size of the insulation block and speed of blowing were each fine–tuned and optimized for customer ease of use. The beauty of the product is evident in its leveraging of minute details to the benefit of the DIY homeowner and remodeling contractor. By keeping the end user in mind, Owens Corning exemplified how innovative, human centered design can bring beauty to building materials.

20. EDUCATION + INSPIRATION IMPERATIVE

https://www.owenscorning.com/corporate/sustainability/product-sustainability

SUMMARY OF PROCESS AND BENEFIT OF PURSUING LIVING PRODUCT CHALLENGE

Owens Corning’s participation in the Living Product Challenge has been enlightening and empowering. The iterative process allowed us to feel a sense of ownership. We were able to effectively tailor the program in order for the stringent requirements to be applicable to the supply chain and standards within the insulation industry. The company is proud to pilot the program as it exemplifies our commitment to be on the leading edge of sustainability and forward thinking. We are honored and excited to show the sustainable aspects of our products and how they can contribute to a sustainably built infrastructure.

Copyright © 2017 Owens Corning. All Rights Reserved.

The post OWENS CORNING® ATTICAT®, PROPINK® L77, PROCAT® INSULATION first appeared on Living Future.

mafi is a family-owned company that dates back more than 100 years. The company keeps wood and its health benefits at the core of its business. Words like biophilia, health and wellness are not marketing terms for mafi; they are infused in their product and the nature of the company. Its products are made of entirely natural materials, biodegradable at the end of their life, are carbon-sequestering thanks to renewable energy investments, and support human health and well-being in building spaces by allowing people to truly interact with the material with nothing in between. The grounds feature every native Austrian tree type to educate employees and visitors to the center, greenhouses on-site fed by rainwater support also feed the staff and encourage interaction with nature. Healthy employees make better products, so the product is featured everywhere in the facility, fitness programs are encouraged in the fresh air and in the forest, and a visiting doctor supports employee health and safety. On-site solar power, solar-powered vehicles, and use of wood off-cuts for packaging, sawdust and pellets for on-site energy mean nothing is taken for granted. Respect for the earth and the beautiful trees that make their products is evident everywhere. mafi has achieved LPC Imperative Certification for its Natural Wooden Flooring, but goes beyond the LPC Core Imperatives with additional achievements, including the Carbon Net Positive Imperative.

The post MAFI NATURAL WOODEN FLOORING first appeared on Living Future.

Carnegie’s commitment to quality and innovation is inseparable from its commitment to sustainability. Research and development of sustainable textiles is one of our major business principles, which led to us becoming the first PVC-free textile and wallcovering company. The more we learned about the potential for the release of dioxin during the PVC manufacturing process, plasticizers during use, and dioxin during disposal if PVC is burned, we were convinced that we did not want PVC in our products.  We are dedicated to finding high-performance alternatives for walls, windows, and furniture.

In 2013 Carnegie introduced Biobased Xorel, a plant-based product with a significantly reduced carbon footprint; offering the exact same beauty and performance the renowned Xorel brand has delivered for 35 years.

The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute awarded Biobased Xorel its rare Gold Certification, as did SCS Indoor Advantage. It also received the new FACTS Certification, and the USDA certified its biobased content between 60-85% depending on the pattern.

LPC offers a framework creating Living Products that are “Healthy and free of toxins; socially responsible and respects the rights of workers; Net Positive and benefit both people and the environment.” We felt that LPC would offer us a great opportunity to have our signature collection vetted against a very comprehensive standard.  Sustainability is at the very core of our business model and has been since the inception of our company some 60 years ago.

Our strategy was to seek Imperative level and review the findings to see if there is a clear pathway to Petal and ultimately Full Living Product Certification.

3-YEAR PLAN

We will review the results of this assessment process and connect with the appropriate partners to achieve this goal through solid documentation and practices. Xorel manufacturing process uses little to no water, nor does it produce any effluence or harmful by-products.  With the LPC process, we are well on our way.

PLACE PETAL

01. RESPONSIBLE PLACE AND HABITAT IMPACTS IMPERATIVE

Xorel fabrics are woven in the region described by Wildfinder as “Atlantic Mixed Forests Ecoregion includes coastal vegetation formations of dunes and heathlands with vegetation that thrives in salty soil. Sand dune systems occur along the southwestern coast of France, the region known as Les Landes, covered by both natural and planted forests of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster). They are rich in plant life, and home to a number of endemics. Bird diversity is particularly high — over 440 species have been recorded in The Netherlands alone. Most of the ecoregion’s mammals are widespread in other parts of Europe. Several are listed on the IUCN Red List, including otter, European mink, and several species of bat (IUCN 2000). Only fragments of natural vegetation remain in this ecoregion, as most of the area was converted long ago into intensive agriculture or pasture.”

There are no endangered Northern Right Whales near our weaving facility. The North Sea shore is 40+ miles away from our facility. Our facility is not located near any endangered species.

This area has a great history of weaving difficult fabric because people used to process flax before they processed it in one of the many flax factories in Wevelgem. That is also the reason De Leie got the nickname The Golden River, referring to the color of the flax. Because one could earn lots of money with flax, many people came to Wevelgem and stayed there for many generations. Today, the cultivation of flax is not so important, but there are still some factories that process flax, and other mills that process woven fabrics like Xorel.

WATER PETAL

The Water Petal was not achieved, but Carnegie Fabrics has shared its approach to the intent of the Petal.

Xorel product does not use water. Xorel is a solution dyed thermoplastic product; as such there is no wet process or water-related dyeing. There are not finishes applied to Xorel, there is no wet processing or related effluence. For effluents of product site their exist a lot of rules and verdicts from Federal State Government, Regional Government, Water Pollution Control Association and so on. About 40 parameters have to be controlled and reported in different time intervals (continuous, daily, weekly, monthly).

Water usage is limited to ancillary usage in employee sinks, bathrooms and water fountains and their purity is maintained as required by the laws in Belgium.  Our weaving mill also uses recycled rainwater that is captured in cisterns that are installed on the roof or the waving facility.

From the position of the government, the potential impact of Belgium’s water footprint depends entirely on where, in what quantity, when, and how water is abstracted. A significant water footprint in a region where water is in abundant supply is unlikely to have a negative effect on the local society or environment, but the same water footprint in a region where there is a shortage of water can give rise to serious problems, such as the drying up of rivers, the destruction of habitats and means of subsistence, and the extinction of species, as well as having an impact on agricultural prices, basic services, and local economies.

What water sustainability basically implies is effective collective action by those who use water and depend on it for the supplies they need. Xorel production fits into this important area of action for the government. It plays a major role here in devising the rules for water use and developing a legal framework or methodology, as it is able to adopt an overall approach to water-related questions, notably through the goods that we import, which account for a major part of the water footprint of a country like Belgium.

The details of the water footprint promoted by the government take freshwater resources into account in economic development, and in aid to developing countries. Such aid could, for example, include a component of sustainable water management in the countries concerned. The question of water is also closely linked to that of climate, and questions to do with rainfall, the amount of water abstracted and the timing of its abstraction are among the challenges faced in the battle against climate change. It is therefore essential for companies and the government to understand the issues to do with water in its totality, and for the debate on water management to relate to both its domestic and international aspects. Fortunately, Xorel does not use water in any significant for its production, but our workforce is still impacted by the government’s policies, therefore, we will remain vigilant in our water conservation efforts.

Due to the large life cycle water impact of this product, the Water Petal was not pursued as the scale of the Handprint solution was not feasible at this time.

LCA FUNCTIONAL UNIT: 1 square meter

LCA RESULTS FOR WATER: 117,000 kg water

HEALTH + HAPPINESS PETAL

Carnegie’s core competency revolves around creativity. Our New York City studio houses a homegrown design team that develops original products in textiles with a commitment to transparency, innovation, quality, and sustainability. We readily share that vision with our design clients who visit with us and experience that process firsthand. Aligning ourselves with Be Original Americas is simply a natural extension of this belief system.

The proliferation of knockoffs is a true threat not only to textile design-driven companies like Carnegie but also to the value of creativity, problem solving and innovation. Supporting original design is both a corporate and social responsibility. It is a commitment to authenticity and to maintaining honest relationships with our clients. Be Original Americas gives honest companies a venue for their voices to be heard.

Employee work/life balance is an important part of our success Carnegie works relentlessly to create a positive personalized experience for our clients in the spirit of employee fulfillment. By clearly stating our core values, we can explain our expectations to all Carnegie employees and manifest these characteristics to our client base.

05. TRANSPARENT MATERIAL HEALTH IMPERATIVE

Years ago, Carnegie began looking at the chemicals contained in its products from the perspective of human and environmental health.  As part of that process, it worked towards Cradle to Cradle certification, ultimately leading Carnegie to achieve Cradle to Cradle Gold Certification on its Biobased Xorel Product, meeting the requirements of this Imperative.

MATERIALS PETAL

07. RED LIST IMPERATIVE

As part of the Cradle to Cradle process, Carnegie has to collect all of the ingredient information from its suppliers, ultimately leading to an assessment of the material and environmental health of the substances.  This information was readily available to then be screened for Red List chemicals, and none were discovered to be in the product above the 100ppm threshold.

09. RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRY IMPERATIVE

Carnegie has elected to utilize FSC Certified wood and paper packaging for all of its Xorel products to show its commitment to sustainable resource extraction.  Furthermore, Carnegie has received a Third Party Verified Declare label, a requirement of the Living Product Challenge, to prove the disclosure to the market.

DECLARE ID: CNF-5001

12. PRODUCT FIT TO USE IMPERATIVE

The following is an excerpt from Carnegie Fabrics’ product testing protocol.

We have an extensive product development process for our materials. The following process is to ensure that all development testing is completed, and all issues are resolved prior to the launching of new products.  

1. Creative team creates and shares Tracking Chart with relevant product information along with any relevant testing supplied by the mill.  Upon receipt:

• We will examine fiber content and treatments for any potential issues related to its intended end-use.
• We will review all testing information supplied by the mill to ensure that industry standards are met.

2. Upon arrival of test yardage into RVC, we will:
   • Inspect yardage for a physical defects and other quality issues
   • Review the fabric’s construction, and advise if additional testing is needed.
   • Verify if alternative end-uses are warranted and test accordingly.

3. Send 1 yard to Creative team to confirm that aesthetic quality is acceptable.
4. Upon confirmation of aesthetic quality, yardage will be sent to the testing laboratory.
5. Upon completion of testing, we will:
   • Send test results and feedback to appropriate creative teams.
   • Flag any issues discovered during testing.
   • Work with mill and creative team to resolve all issues, when needed.

6. We will advise and /or develop installation and maintenance instructions for all new products
7. Proof all technical information for marketing materials.
   • We will confirm that all marketing claims align with our test data.
   • Offer suggestions on wording and/or disclaimers, as needed.
8. Space division will require a modified approach due to the unique nature of that business segment. However, our main product needs will be:
   • To verify that all components are durable in a commercial setting.
   • To ensure that all of components are free of any toxins or metals (Tantalum, Tin, Tungsten, and Gold) derived from “conflict” regions of the world pursuant Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act. Publically held companies may request written confirmation that our components are compliant.

13. USEFUL LIFE DISPOSAL IMPERATIVE

Xorel fabrics are made with polyethylene, which is totally chlorine free, and contain no heavy metals, plasticizers or stabilizers, and is manufactured in such a way that it creates substantially less carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, and dust.

WASTE TO ENERGY RECYCLING:

Xorel is composed of High Density Polyethylene fibers (HDPE), which is derived from natural gas. As such, these fibers possess a significant amount of stored energy and can be safely incinerated without emitting harmful gases into the air.  Xorel can be committed to a Waste to Energy (WTE) facility. The steam created in the waste combustion process produces electricity for use in the local utility area.

LANDFILL

Xorel can be landfilled without concern of pollutants leaching into or harming groundwater. Xorel contains no Cadmium, Chromium, Lead or Mercury, thus making Xorel CONEG compliant.

RETURN TO THE CARNEGIE FABRICS

We will accept recovered Xorel material at the end of its useful life, and utilize it in our local waste-to-energy recycling program, which creates clean fuel for our local energy grid. Program details and application are available through our shipping and Technical Services Department.

EQUITY PETAL

14. EQUITABLE PRODUCT ACCESS IMPERATIVE

Carnegie has elected to sell Xorel to affordable housing projects at cost parity or discounted prices to allow Xorel to be a comparable and safer alternative to existing products in the market.

15. RESPONSIBLE CO-PRODUCTS IMPERATIVE

Carnegie Fabrics only produces responsible products and does not manufacture products known to cause harm to humans.

16. EQUITABLE INVESTMENT IMPERATIVE

Carnegie Fabrics is committed to sharing its resources with its greater community. As such, we have donated $22,775 during the recorded performance year, which exceeds the 0.25% donation requirement for the Equitable Investment Imperative.

In lieu of Christmas gifts to employees, Carnegie Fabrics allows each employee to identify a charity of their choice to receive a monetary donation in their honor. A few of the charities that have received donations are: Hydrocephalus Association, March of Dimes, Brooklyn Kindergarten Society, Material for the Arts, and the American Cancer Society.

Additionally, we have donated thousands of yards of material to students and designers for various endeavors and projects.

17. JUST ORGANIZATIONS IMPERATIVE

Carnegie Fabrics met the requirements of the Just Organizations Imperative through an aggregate B Corp score of at least 41 points in total across the three categories of Workers, Community and Governance.

To fulfill the performance requirement for B Corp Certification, a company must complete the B Impact Assessment. The B Impact Assessment (BIA) is a free, confidential platform designed to help measure and manage a company’s positive impact on your workers, community, customers, and environment. The BIA assesses the impact of both your company’s day-to-day operations and your business model—both what you do and how you do it. Responses to the B Impact Assessment determine the total numeric score. B Corp Certification requires a minimum verified total score of 80 across all impact areas.

The questions on the B Impact Assessment are determined by company size, sector and market, with around 200 total questions. The time it takes to complete the assessment will vary based on the company’s size and complexity. The content of the B Impact Assessment is overseen by B Lab’s independent Standards Advisory Council.

Best practice guides, goal-setting features, and improvement reports allow any company to use the BIA to create a roadmap for improved performance year-over-year or quarter-by-quarter.

Because the B Impact Assessment measures performance over the past twelve months, only companies that have at least one year of operations are eligible for B Corp Certification. Companies under one year are eligible for Pending B Corp Status.

BEAUTY PETAL

19. BEAUTY + SPIRIT IMPERATIVE

Our design inspiration is motivated by our guiding principles. Based in New York City, the Carnegie Creative Studio is dedicated to exploration, research and material innovation. Our talented and diverse team includes textile designers, weavers, painters and graphic designers committed to examining new technologies in addition to a quality assurance team that is second to none.

This commitment to innovation allows us to create customized and signature solutions for our clients, and we have developed a stellar reputation for providing solutions to our clients, and that ability is unsurpassed in the industry. Our showroom is open to clients who are free to visit our creative studio and showrooms in New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco. There are always great opportunities for partnering with Carnegie.

Design is at the core of our company ethos. We employ a multi-talented and multicultural team with a bevy of artistic backgrounds that fuels our creative rhythm. Our greatest asset is our ability to listen to our clients.  Our approach is unique in that we are listening less to what the market wants today and focusing on what might be needed tomorrow is what fascinates and motivates us.  Our collaborative spirit is multi-faceted, and our creative approach within our team and with our clients and suppliers signifies openness and commitment. Interdepartmental communication is critical in this regard. It allows for wider input.

Big enough to deliver scale, small enough to act upon new opportunities, we celebrate our ability to find new paths. The way it was done yesterday does not define how we do it tomorrow. We are curious and determined to find new ways to be excellent every day.

The post CARNEGIE FABRICS BIO XOREL FABRIC first appeared on Living Future.

For 130 years, innovation, dedication to excellence, and a long-lasting commitment to sustainability have made Tarkett a global leader in innovative flooring solutions and sports surfaces for all market segments.

Tomorrow’s sustainable business models must go beyond just financial performance in order to welcome the expected world population of 9 billion people by 2050. Driven by the purpose of building a sustainable future and taking into account planetary and human health, Tarkett is determined to address the major challenges society faces today: combating climate change, sustainably managing scarce natural resources, and the development of people-friendly spaces. Managing each of these challenges is essential to creating a balance of quality of life, while preserving the planet.

The Living Product Challenge (LPC) is a rigorous certification challenging manufacturers to use healthy and safe inputs, optimize the health of products, create environments that promote well-being, drive circular and regenerative economies, and support a just and sustainable world.

The LPC not only evaluates a product’s material health or a facility’s infrastructure, but takes a deep dive into a manufacturer’s approach to business, requiring them to demonstrate significant efforts behind social, environmental, and human health and thereby assessing the business’ intrinsic ability to create positive change. Tarkett believes in a good future where people and the planet prosper in balance. So we’re doing good—connecting our sustainability efforts with everything our customers value most. We operate according to an active commitment to deliver on the promise of doing good by bringing the best science and innovation to every challenge. We’re designing for life and closing the loop, contributing to more responsible consumption and preserving natural capital to develop sustainable cities.

ETHOS®

Utilizing a previously untapped waste stream, Tarkett developed ethos®, a high-performance polymer recycled from disposed windshields and safety glass. Tandus Centiva’s ethos® Modular Tile is Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver (v3), the first American modular carpet tile to achieve this level of certification. With the innovation of Omnicoat Technology added to ethos®, we offer a modular tile that virtually eliminates the possibility of installation problems before they ever happen. Omnicoat Technology is a proprietary coating that creates a chemical barrier that works no matter what type of adverse flooring substrate problems rear their ugly heads. In 2017, as part of Tarkett’s commitment to designing for life, all soft surface products including ethos® now receive advanced defense with Eco-Ensure soil treatment. Eco-Ensure is a highly specialized, fluorine-free soil protection technology that protects commercial carpeting from stains while improving indoor air quality.

With this public benchmark of Living Product Challenge Imperative certification, Tarkett will continue to challenge our teams and push the boundaries further. As pioneers, our goal is to inspire manufacturers across industries to follow suit. Join us in doing good to create a healthy, beautiful, sustainable world. Because next-generation products are LIVING products.

PLACE PETAL

01. RESPONSIBLE PLACE AND HABITATS IMPERATIVE

Nestled in the foot hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Tarkett’s Tandus Centiva plant is located in the Appalachian Blue Ridge Forests in Dalton, Georgia. Rich in diversity, it is home to 158 different species of trees, more than any other location in North America. Ancient limestone has eroded into extensive karst formations, creating a network of caves that is a popular tourist attraction. The underground river and rocky terrain provide an obstacle course of exploration, and an important habitat for fish, invertebrates, and the world’s most diverse population (34 species) of lungless salamanders.

Before Dalton became the “carpet capital of the world” it was a cotton mill town until Catherine Whitener created the “bedspread capital of the world” in the 1930s. The dyeing and finishing companies that served the old bedspread industry were perfectly placed to help Dalton’s new carpet manufacturers in the 1960s.

Through numerous acquisitions and equity group transitions over the years, Tarkett expanded to include extrusion, dyeing, tufting, finishing, and an environmental center. Tarkett acquired Tandus in 2012, merging it with the Centiva brand.

Beautification projects on the site, such as tree plantings have better integrated the facility into its surrounding ecosystem over time.

HEALTH & HAPPINESS PETAL

In 2016, Tarkett undertook a materiality assessment, a survey to ensure that its sustainability policies are aligned with external and internal stakeholder expectations. Four key topics stood out unanimously: health and safety at work, health and safety of product and materials, environmental impact of products, and resource and material use. These results are fully aligned with our sustainability principles and strengthen Tarkett’s strategic direction, which aims to develop eco-innovation fostering indoor air quality, healthy spaces, responsible use of resources, and the circular economy, while applying high standards of ethics principles across its value chain.

“What makes us stand out is that sustainability is so embedded in our organization. Not only does it drive new product development, but also reaches operations, marketing, and our partnerships with suppliers and customers. What inspires this holistic approach is the importance of health and well-being in relation to the built environment. As a result, we’ve influenced the industry long before these terms were commonplace.”

Sarah Robinson-Enaharo – Product Sustainability Manager, Tarkett North America

05. TRANSPARENT MATERIAL HEALTH IMPERATIVE

Tarkett selects safe, healthy ingredients and aims to use mineral abundant, rapidly renewable and recycled materials. Since 2010, materials across Tarkett’s 34 global manufacturing plants have been assessed by the Environmental Protection and Encouragement Agency (EPEA). Because of Tarkett’s assessment, we were the first flooring manufacturer to eliminate phthalates plasticizers from our products.

“Ninety-six percent of our materials, over 3,000 raw material inputs that we procure globally, have been assessed to date. This is a monumental achievement. We want to understand our chemistry. When you do, you can optimize your products more rapidly.” – Dhruv Raina – Product Stewardship Director, Tarkett North America

Tarkett’s goal is to design products today that will become the raw materials of tomorrow. In case of ethos®, applying the Cradle to Cradle® design principles in 2004 to select healthy and safe materials that can be perpetually cycled. Tarkett demonstrated compliance with this Imperative through its achievement of Cradle to Cradle Silver certification level.

06. HUMAN THRIVING IMPERATIVE

Tarkett is dedicated to creating a healthy and safe workplace. In 2016 a survey was sent to employees about what wellness programs Tarkett should expand, 54% were interested in fitness programs. In 2017, Tarkett introduced two walking challenges with teams from all sites. Teams of up to eight people collectively reach a daily 7,000 step goal. Discounted walking trackers are available and weekly raffles entice participants.

Other priorities for employees were education on nutrition, stress and weight management. In 2017 programs included onsite cooking demos, blood pressure screenings, chair massages, flu shots, and seminars on cancer prevention. All programs are to promote a healthy active lifestyle. In addition, employees have access to outdoor sitting areas and natural light is prevalent on site.

Service Days involve landscaping and beautification of the community. Teams volunteer at the Boys and Girls club to re-mulch the playground, clean up the bike path and garden area, as well as plant flowers. In 2017, a team went to a local school to construct a living tunnel lined with vegetation and flowers.

MATERIALS PETAL

07. RED LIST IMPERATIVE

In 2012, based on customer feedback, Tarkett’s leadership realized more detailed information and assessments of product materials should be made public to assist consumers in making more informed purchasing decisions. Our solution was the creation of the Environmental and Health Statement (EHS), a full disclosure of the potential chemicals of concern in Tarkett products. In each EHS, we compared our own product ingredients to a set of priority hazard lists, based on lists from government agencies and GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals.

At the time, a review of existing disclosure documentation revealed that the available transparency tools may not provide a complete view of the impact building products have on both human health and the environment. In 2013, Tarkett engaged with EPEA to launch the Material Health Statement (MHS): a declaration of content and material health based on the Cradle to Cradle® principles. The MHS is based on an ecological and toxicological assessment of material ingredients. The methodology of the C2C material assessment is science-based, widely accepted in the building and design industry, and easy to understand. The Material Health Statement is intended to address the environmental and human safety of a finished product (including worker exposure) and the potential for post-use resource recovery.

As customers demanded simpler manufacturer driven material inventory and for customers driven by ensuring no RED LIST ingredients were present in a product, Tarkett pursued and achieved a DECLARE label in 2014 for Ethos® and the product does not have any of the chemicals on the list.

In 2017 we added REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) a regulation of the European Union, to compare our raw materials inputs as part of our drive towards optimization.

09. RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRY IMPERATIVE

In 2010, Tarkett joined the United Nations Global Compact as a signatory to mainstream the ten Global Compact principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption in all its business activities across the world. By embedding these principles within our supply chain, we can ensure how many of our suppliers actually adhere to these principles themselves. We continue to elevate these discussions inside the World Economic Forum, also by aligning ourselves with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These collaborations are challenging us and are guiding our commitment to making a positive contribution to global challenges.

In addition to respecting local labor legislation, Tarkett applies in all the countries in which it operates the same respect for its fundamental values and principles of freedom of association, and in particular, respect for trade unions. We do not tolerate the use of child or forced labor in any of our operations and facilities. As a purchaser of goods and services, we expect our suppliers and contractors with whom we do business to uphold the same standards. We provide living wages that should always be enough to meet basic needs and provide discretionary income. These wages are reviewed every couple of years.

Due to life cycle thinking driving the product development process, ethos® has achieved positive design milestones along the continuum of improvement and is suitable for cycling perpetually, using ingredients that are safe and beneficial – to be fully recycled into high-quality materials for subsequent product generations, again and again. This allows Tarkett to eliminate the concept of waste and recover value.

These actions coupled with a life cycle analysis have encouraged us to study a wider scope than the manufacturing processes of our flooring products, in particular integrating the entire upstream component of our value chain, as well as the use phase and the end-of-life of our flooring products. Making the transition to a circular economy is a significant priority, in which we use recycled materials to reduce emissions related to raw material extraction and limit waste production.

DECLARE ID: TAN-3001

10. NET POSITIVE CLIMATE IMPERATIVE

Tarkett’s Doing Good—Together platform is inspired by the world’s most ambitious sustainability goals and organizations. From our membership in the World Economic Forum to our participation in the UN Global Compact and our alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we’re committed to big ideals and positive action, working for the health of our products, our world, and a good future for all.

One example of how we translate bold goals into action is through our partnership with organizations such as Earth Enable. Earth Enable started with a dream to improve health outcomes through simple and affordable solutions. Traveling through Rwanda, the founders first sought to understand how sub-optimal homes affected physical and emotional health outcomes and were shocked to discover the significant health problems that dirt floors cause. Eliminating a dirt floor from the home results in dramatic reductions in childhood asthma, diarrhea, malnutrition, and parasitic infestations. They realized that they could change lives if they found a way to floor Rwanda.

Dirt floors are a public health nemesis, dust is kicked up, spills and puddles stick around, and the floors of peoples’ homes become a breeding ground for mosquitos, parasites, and all of the disease that come with them. Earth Enable’s custom-developed earthen floors eliminate unsanitary dirt floors and provides affordable, sanitary flooring that can be washed, cleaned, and used to create a healthy home environment for millions of people. The goal is to reduce healthcare costs, curb carbon emissions, and strengthen rural economies.

Tarkett is in the process of developing a longer term protocol in support of Earth Enable that includes, but is not limited to, technology transfer, access to Tarkett’s research and innovation (R&I) facilities, helping Earth Enable scale the 40,000 square meters of flooring that were installed through the end of 2017, to rapidly and economically cover the entire nation of Rwanda and neighboring Nigeria. The primary emphasis of this project is to increase the durability and longevity of the floors resulting in significant impact to social and economic health of the people in the region. This Handprinting Plan will assist in Earth Enable’s mission to floor Rwanda and contribute to Tarkett’s Handprint through the avoidance of concrete floors that might otherwise be installed in homes.

12. PRODUCT FIT TO USE IMPERATIVE

Tarkett and Tandus Centiva’s Modular Soft Surface Products and Powerbond undergo the Fabric Adoption System Test Battery and meet or exceed the pass/fail criteria for all tests in order to qualify for establishment as a standard product offering.

The testing categories include appearance retention, colorfastness, construction, dimensional stability, flammability and performance. Additionally, all Modular and Powerbond products carry a non-prorated Lifetime Limited Warranty that remains in effect for as long as the original end-use purchaser maintains the product in the original indoor installation location.

13. USEFUL LIFE DISPOSAL IMPERATIVE

As a leading manufacturer of commercial floor coverings, Tarkett has a responsibility to make products that are safe for the people who use them and the environment. That means we design our flooring to have a long, meaningful life and at the end of use, our products can be repurposed back into new flooring through our ReStart® Program.

We were the first in the industry to reclaim and recycle soft surface flooring from the waste stream, the first to third-party certify a recycled content product and the industry’s first to third-party certify a closed-loop reclamation and recycling program.

• The Architectural Sample Return Program repurposes unused and outdated samples returned from specifiers.
• Our Contractor Return Program reclaims clean installation flooring waste, and incorporates it into our new products.
• The Post-Consumer flooring recycling program recycles all soft surface and VCT flooring. We recommend using our releasable adhesive as it makes the floor easier to recycle. But, don’t worry, Tarkett will still take it back for recycling if you didn’t.

EQUITY PETAL

14. EQUITABLE PRODUCT ACCESS IMPERATIVE

In 2018, Tarkett North America donated flooring products valued at $400,000 to Habitat for Humanity as part of the global corporate social responsibility initiative, Tarkett Cares. The partnership began during the 2017 hurricane season with the donation of $250,000 of Johnsonite and Tandus Centiva flooring to aid with Habitat’s disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts in Texas and Florida.

In addition, Tarkett is supporting Home Builders Blitz with a donation of $150,000 in product to help build safe, affordable housing for families in need. The Home Builders Blitz is a week-long initiative each summer that enlists help from thousands of professional home builders who work alongside Habitat homeowners and volunteer their time and talents to construct, repair, and revitalize homes.

In recognition of its outstanding commitment to the betterment of low-income housing, Tarkett has been inducted into the prestigious Habitat for Humanity Cornerstone Council.

15. RESPONSIBLE CO-PRODUCTS IMPERATIVE

Tarkett and its subsidiaries, including product brands Johnsonite and Tandus Centiva, do not manufacture directly or indirectly, sell or provide any of the goods or services below:

• Weapons or armaments of any kind
• Tobacco products, pornography, violent video games, or illicit drugs
• Engage in fossil fuel extraction
• Engage in nuclear energy production or nuclear weapons manufacturing

BEAUTY PETAL

19. BEAUTY + SPIRIT IMPERATIVE

“We are constantly inspired by nature.  When starting a new collection, we try to draw from as many natural elements as possible.  The veining of a stone, the rings on a slice of wood, the way morning dew sparkles on a spider web.  No two things are ever the same in nature.  Every day brings countless new sources of inspiration. With our ethos Modular Tile, we are focusing on sustainability and wellness and that feels good.  We strive to create sustainable design cultivated out of good stewardship to the planet’s natural resources.  Ethos is a cornerstone of that commitment.” – Misty Lewis, Director of Design, Soft Surface, Tarkett North America

The beauty of ethos® is its flexibility—in both design and installation. Made with PVB film from recycled safety glass, ethos® Modular carpet backings are offered in 162 different styles, with a variety of color choices in each style. Choose from an expansive array of leafy green hues, blues that resemble the oceans and sky, and earth tones that ground us in firm terrain. ethos® Modular Tile with Omnicoat Technology is available in several tile and plank sizes and four pattern types: linear, geometric, organic, and solid, allowing customers to create any environment they imagine.

20. INSPIRATION + EDUCATION IMPERATIVE

LPC PAGE URL: https://commercial.tarkett.com/en_US/node/living-product-challenge-3811

The post TANDUS CENTIVA ETHOS® MODULAR CARPET TILE first appeared on Living Future.

For 130 years, innovation, dedication to excellence, and a long-lasting commitment to sustainability have made Tarkett a global leader in innovative flooring solutions and sports surfaces for all market segments.

Tomorrow’s sustainable business models must go beyond just financial performance in order to welcome the expected world population of 9 billion people by 2050. Driven by the purpose of building a sustainable future and taking into account planetary and human health, Tarkett is determined to address the major challenges society faces today: combating climate change, sustainably managing scarce natural resources, and the development of people friendly spaces. Managing each of these challenges is essential to creating a balance of quality of life, while preserving the planet.

The Living Product Challenge (LPC) is a rigorous certification challenging manufacturers to use healthy and safe inputs, to optimize the health of products, create environments that promote well-being, drive circular and regenerative economies, and support a just and sustainable world.

The LPC not only evaluates a product’s material health or a facility’s infrastructure, but takes a deep dive into a manufacturer’s approach to business, requiring them to demonstrate significant efforts behind social, environmental, and human health and thereby assessing the businesses intrinsic ability to create positive change. Tarkett believes in a good future where people and the planet prosper in balance. So we’re doing good—connecting our sustainability efforts with everything our customers value most. We operate according to an active commitment to deliver on the promise of doing good by bringing the best science and innovation to every challenge. We’re designing for life and closing the loop, contributing to more responsible consumption and preserving natural capital to develop sustainable cities.

JOHNSONITE RUBBER TILE

Johnsonite’s Rubber Tile flooring is naturally slip resistant, has shock absorbing qualities and natural acoustic properties. Its composition of natural and recycled material is Cradle to Cradle® Bronze and FloorScore certified to enhance indoor air quality. Our manufacturing facility in Middlefield, Ohio operates on 100% renewable electricity and a 96.5% closed-loop water system. With a long life cycle and low maintenance requirement, rubber flooring offers greater resource efficiency than many other materials. To achieve certification was a collaborative effort; operations, marketing, human resources, product managers, legal, as well as our customers were instrumental.

With this public benchmark of Living Product Challenge Imperative certification, Tarkett will continue to challenge our teams and push the boundaries further. As pioneers, our goal is to inspire manufacturers across industries to follow suit. Join us in doing good to create a healthy, beautiful, sustainable world. Because next-generation products need to be breathing, regenerative, Living Products.

TOP HURDLES TO CERTIFICATION

PLACE PETAL

01. RESPONSIBLE PLACE AND HABITATS IMPERATIVE

Tarkett’s Rubber Tile plant in Middlefield, Ohio is located in the center of the Southern Great Lakes Forests, which span across Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario. Known for their sugar maple and beech trees, these species historically comprised 80% of the forests’ canopy prior to industrialization.

In 1873, a narrow gauge railway was constructed between Painesville and Warren, which made it possible to locate industry in Middlefield. Members of the Johnson family formed The Ohio Pail Company in 1895. In 1925, the business was sold and the family launched Johnson Rubber Company. They developed the first integrated steel pail with a rubber gasket sealed lid, replacing the wooden pail. This provided environmental benefits by reducing the need for timber and prevented leakage of toxic materials into the environment. With its success, the market grew and catapulted Johnson into the automobile industry, Johnson Rubber was born.

Aiming to diversify, the company made its first foray into the floor covering sector in 1964 with the launch of a line of baseboards and floor coverings in the 1970’s. As they grew, the Rubber Tile manufacturing lines moved from the Chagrin Falls plant to its current site in the 1990’s, a designated industrial zoned area. Tarkett acquired Johnsonite in 2005.

This facility site and its operations do not contribute to forest loss or degradation, displacement or harvesting of fossil fuels, dredging of rivers, or filling in of wetlands, all activities which negatively impact this ecoregion. The Middlefield facility has improved the site over the years with native landscaping, site grading, and surface water amenities to efficiently infiltrate storm water into underlying soil.

WATER PETAL

03. NET POSITIVE WATER IMPERATIVE

The requirements for LPC are that the manufacturer demonstrate that they are Net Positive for water both on-site and also create a 3-year plan to become Net Positive within the life cycle of the product.

ON-SITE NET POSITIVE

The Middlefield facility utilizes the village water supply, which is treated well water. The overall facility water demand per year is 2.55 liters per square meter and is currently a 96.5% closed loop system. LPC requires that only the product share of facility water be offset if the product comprises less than 75% of the facility output by cost or weight. Therefore, the product share of water for just the rubber tile product is more than offset by the facility-wide system.

Two hotspots, the calendar line and Thermoset Base (TSB) process (not a rubber tile line) are not closed loop. In June 2018, there will be an ultra-filtration trial on the calendar line to reuse the 700-gallon tank that is dumped out weekly due to bacteria growth. If successful, this filtration system will be implemented by the end of 2018 and a trial for the TSB process will follow at the beginning of 2019. There is a small amount of backwash from machinery that goes to sanitation.

In all other processes, water is recirculated for reuse. The same water travels through the chillers, through the hydraulics system, into the pit, and then back to the chillers to circulate again.  Steam boilers heat the plats (used to mold the rubber) to finish the product. There is no evaporation since there is a diminutive window of opportunity for the water to access air.

An onsite engineer captures water usage data weekly. Next quarter, the site will purchase new meters that will monitor specific equipment for better accuracy.

LIFE CYCLE NET POSITIVE

Tarkett has committed to becoming Life Cycle Net Positive for the Johnsonite product within three years. In order to do this, Tarkett first measured the Life Cycle impacts of the product for the full production of the rubber tile product. Tarkett then created a Handprinting Plan designed to create a Water Handprint greater than the Footprint of the product in order to become Net Positive. Over time, the manufacturer may adjust the plan as needed to achieve Net Positive.

Tarkett plans to create a Water Handprint through its partnership with EarthEnable. By enabling conversion of  dirt floors to earthen floors in lieu of concrete floors, each home will effectively reduce its need for water on average by 264 gallons.

HEALTH & HAPPINESS PETAL

In 2016, Tarkett undertook a materiality assessment, a survey to ensure that its sustainability policies are aligned with external and internal stakeholder expectations. Four key topics stood out unanimously: health and safety at work, health and safety of product and materials, environmental impact of products, and resource and material use. These results are fully aligned with our sustainability principles and strengthen Tarkett’s strategic direction, which aims to develop eco-innovation fostering indoor air quality, healthy spaces, responsible use of resources, and the circular economy, while applying high standards of ethics principles across its value chain.

“What makes us stand out is that sustainability is so embedded in our organization. Not only does it drive new product development, but also reaches operations, marketing, and our partnerships with suppliers and customers. What inspires this holistic approach is the importance of health and well-being in relation to the built environment. As a result, we’ve influenced the industry long before these terms were commonplace.

Sarah Robinson-Enaharo – Product Sustainability Manager, Tarkett North America

06. HUMAN THRIVING IMPERATIVE

Tarkett is dedicated to creating a healthy and safe workplace. In 2016 a survey was sent to employees about what wellness programs Tarkett should expand; 54% were interested in fitness programs. In 2017, Tarkett introduced two walking challenges with teams from all sites. Teams of up to eight people collectively reach a daily 7,000 step goal. Discounted walking trackers are available and weekly raffles entice participants.

Other priorities for employees were education on nutrition, stress and weight management. In 2017, programs included onsite cooking demos, blood pressure screenings, chair massages, flu shots, and seminars on cancer prevention. All programs are to promote a healthy active lifestyle.

In addition, employees have access to four outdoor sitting areas located near each exit directly off the manufacturing floor where natural light is prevalent. In the warmer months on Tarkett Cares days, organized volunteer events for organizations such as United Way are outdoors. Discounted walking trackers are available and weekly raffles entice participants.

Tarkett is dedicated to empowering our employees who in turn influence the type of wellness programs offered. To support employee health and wellness, classes on nutrition, stress and weight management, onsite cooking demos, blood pressure screenings, chair massages, flu shots, and seminars on cancer prevention.

MATERIALS PETAL

07. RED LIST IMPERATIVE

Since 2010, materials across Tarkett’s 34 global manufacturing plants have been assessed by the Environmental Protection and Encouragement Agency (EPEA).

In 2012, Tarkett’s leadership realized more detailed information and assessments of product materials should be made public to assist consumers in making more informed purchasing decisions. Our solution was the creation of the Environmental and Health Statement (EHS), a full disclosure of the potential chemicals of concern in Tarkett products. In each EHS, we compared our own product ingredients to a set of priority hazard lists, based on lists from government agencies and GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals.

At the time, a review of existing disclosure documentation revealed that the available transparency tools may not provide a complete view of the impact building products have on both human health and the environment. In 2013, Tarkett engaged with EPEA to launch the Material Health Statement (MHS): a declaration of content and material health based on the Cradle to Cradle® principles. The MHS is based on an ecological and toxicological assessment of material ingredients. The methodology of the Cradle to Cradle Material Health Assessment is science-based, widely accepted in the building and design industry, and easy to understand. The Material Health Statement is intended to address the environmental and human safety of a finished product (including worker exposure) and the potential for post-use resource recovery.

As customers demanded simpler manufacturer-driven material inventory and for customers driven by ensuring no Red List ingredients were present in a product, Tarkett pursued and received a Declare label for its Johnsonite Rubber Tile and it does not have any of the chemicals on the list.

“Ninety-six percent of our materials, about 3,000 chemicals that we procure globally, have been assessed to date. This is a monumental achievement. We want to understand our chemistry. When you do, you can optimize your products more rapidly.”

Dhruv Raina – Product Stewardship Director, Tarkett North America

In 2017, Tarkett added REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) compliance, a regulation of the European Union, to compare our raw materials inputs as part of our drive towards optimization.

Because of Tarkett’s assessment, we were the first flooring manufacturer to eliminate phthalates plasticizers from our products.

09. RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRY IMPERATIVE

In 2010, Tarkett joined the United Nations Global Compact as a signatory to mainstream the ten Global Compact principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption in all its business activities across the world. By embedding these principles within our supply chain, we can ensure how many of our suppliers actually adhere to these principles themselves. Tarkett continues to elevate these discussions inside the World Economic Forum, in addition to aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These collaborations are challenging us and are guiding our commitment to making a positive contribution to global challenges.

In addition to respecting local labor legislation, Tarkett applies in all the countries in which it operates the same respect for its fundamental values and principles of freedom of association, and in particular, respect for trade unions. Tarkett does not tolerate the use of child or forced labor in any of our operations and facilities. As a purchaser of goods and services, we expect our suppliers and contractors with whom we do business to uphold the same standards. We provide living wages that should always be enough to meet basic needs and provide discretionary income. These wages are reviewed every couple of years.

Due to life cycle thinking driving the product development process, Tarkett’s rubber tile has achieved positive design milestones along the continuum of improvement and is suitable for cycling perpetually, using ingredients that are safe and beneficial – to be fully recycled into high-quality materials for subsequent product generations, again and again. This allows Tarkett to eliminate the concept of waste and recover value.

DECLARE ID: TKT-0002

10. NET POSITIVE CLIMATE

Tarkett’s Doing Good—Together platform is inspired by the world’s most ambitious sustainability goals and organizations. From our membership in the World Economic Forum to our participation in the UN Global Compact and our alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we’re committed to big ideals and positive action, working for the health of our products, our world, and a good future for all.

One example of how we translate bold goals into action is through our partnership with organizations such as Earth Enable. Earth Enable started with a dream to improve health outcomes through simple and affordable solutions. Traveling through Rwanda, the founders first sought to understand how sub-optimal homes affected physical and emotional health outcomes and were shocked to discover the significant health problems that dirt floors cause. Eliminating a dirt floor from the home results in dramatic reductions in childhood asthma, diarrhea, malnutrition, and parasitic infestations. They realized that they could change lives if they found a way to floor Rwanda.

Dust floors are a public health nemesis, dust is kicked up, spills and puddles stick around, and the floors of peoples’ homes become a breeding ground for mosquitos, parasites, and all of the disease that comes with them. Earth Enable’s custom-developed earthen floors eliminate unsanitary dirt floors and provides affordable, sanitary flooring that can be washed, cleaned, and used to create a healthy home environment for millions of people. The goal is to reduce healthcare costs, curb carbon emissions, and strengthen rural economies.

Tarkett is in the process of developing a longer term protocol in support of Earth Enable that includes, but is not limited to, technology transfer, access to Tarkett’s research and innovation (R&I) facilities, helping Earth Enable scale the 40,000 square meters of flooring that were installed through the end of 2017, to rapidly and economically cover the entire nation of Rwanda and neighboring Nigeria. The primary emphasis of this project is to increase the durability and longevity of the floors resulting in significant impact to social and economic health of the people in the region. This Handprinting Plan will assist in Earth Enable’s mission to floor Rwanda and contribute to Tarkett’s Handprint through the avoidance of concrete floors that might otherwise be installed in homes.

12. PRODUCT FIT TO USE IMPERATIVE

Rubber Tile is known as the most durable resilient flooring in the industry. Tarkett performs the ASTM D 3389, a test that measures abrasion resistance by an independent lab. If less than 1,000 grams of material is abraded after 1,000 cycles as specified in the testing procedure, the product passes the test. There have been no wear failures of the Johnsonite brand of rubber flooring when maintained according to Johnsonite written directions.

13. USEFUL LIFE DISPOSAL IMPERATIVE

Onsite, Tarkett’s Rubber Tile is 100% repurposed into chips for our Speckled Rubber Tile and Dropzone Speckle Rubber Flooring in our Sports division.

Additionally, Tarkett offers a waste-to-energy take-back program for disposal. The Huntsville Solid Waste-to-Energy Facility, operating in Covanta Huntsville, Inc., is located on 20.5 acres adjacent to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. Covanta Huntsville produces nearly 180,000 pounds of steam per hour, which travels through a six-mile long export line for the arsenal’s heating and air conditioning needs.

EQUITY PETAL

14. EQUITABLE PRODUCT ACCESS IMPERATIVE

In 2018, Tarkett North America donated flooring products valued at $400,000 to Habitat for Humanity as part of the global corporate social responsibility initiative, Tarkett Cares. The partnership began during the 2017 hurricane season with the donation of $250,000 of Johnsonite and Tandus Centiva flooring to aid with Habitat’s disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts in Texas and Florida.

In addition, Tarkett is supporting Home Builders Blitz with a donation of $150,000 in product to help build safe, affordable housing for families in need. The Home Builders Blitz is a week-long initiative each summer that enlists help from thousands of professional home builders who work alongside Habitat homeowners and volunteer their time and talents to construct, repair, and revitalize homes.  

In recognition of its outstanding commitment to the betterment of low-income housing, Tarkett has been inducted into the prestigious Habitat for Humanity Cornerstone Council.

15. RESPONSIBLE CO-PRODUCTS IMPERATIVE

Tarkett and its subsidiaries, including product brands Johnsonite and Tandus Centiva, do not manufacture directly or indirectly, sell or provide any of the goods or services below:

• Weapons or armaments of any kind
• Tobacco products, pornography, violent video games, or illicit drugs
• Engage in fossil fuel extraction
• Engage in nuclear energy production or nuclear weapons manufacturing

BEAUTY PETAL

19. BEAUTY + SPIRIT IMPERATIVE

“Rubber flooring has been perceived as industrial, performance-driven, and utilitarian. Regarding design, rubber has traditionally been flat—solid colors with specs. My job is to elevate the perception of rubber and expand where designers can use it. To make it look more organic, softer, layered, and sexier. Texture allows that. I appreciate how nature affects organic matter. Similar to a stone, the colors flow naturally in streaks, giving it a weathered feel. Color inspires me and I love patterns that allow our products to work in any space. It’s a luxury to be a part of the process, from concept, strategy, rough work, marketing, and manufacturing. It’s amazing to see your ideas come to fruition. All to make a product that affects people’s lives daily and eases transitions. A place where a caregiver can communicate with a patient, give comfort and warmth in senior living, allow ease of mobility. To contribute to that, it’s fun and, as a designer, it’s a great challenge. To design rubber so they don’t even know it’s a rubber. It’s a compliment.”

Janette Murray – Senior Design Manager, Tarkett North America

From distinctive textures to metallic sheens, marbleized patterns to formulas made with renewable cork and walnut shells, these style collections test what’s possible with rubber flooring and reconnect us to the natural world.  

Universally embraced for its practical beauty, our rubber flooring collection balances function with aesthetics, safety with efficiency and short-term cost with a lifetime return—combining style and design flexibility with the brute strength of this sustainable material.  An expansive palette of colors, patterns, textures and shapes gives you thousands of possible combinations to create a truly unique environment. Beyond the standard color palette, Johnsonite can also match a custom color, helping craft just the right solution with comfort and style.

20. INSPIRATION + EDUCATION IMPERATIVE

LPC PAGE URL: https://commercial.tarkett.com/en_US/node/living-product-challenge-3811

The post JOHNSONITE RUBBER TILE first appeared on Living Future.

For more than 150 years, we have built our business on trust and integrity. It set us apart then, and it sets us apart now, along with our ability to collaborate with and innovate for the people we’re here to serve – our customers, our shareholders, our communities and our employees.

We are committed to developing new and sustainable ceiling solutions, with design and performance possibilities that empower our customers to create beautiful, high-performance residential and commercial buildings. One example of this commitment is our purchase of the Tectum business. When Armstrong World Industries acquired Tectum, Inc., in 2017, it immediately identified the product as a candidate to put through the process, because its composition was already highly sustainable.

Tectum is a wood composite derived from the Wisconsin aspen, one of the most sustainably-harvested trees of its kind. Seeding or replanting is not necessary. The Aspen is always reproducing. Hundreds of new growth are released from a single Aspen root system. Aspen is the largest single organism in the planet. The part of the Aspen that grows above ground can live between 40 – 150 years. The root system of the Aspen can survive thousands of years. The natural life cycle of the Aspen tree quickly regenerates itself from its root system after the trunk has been harvested and is ideal for building product production.

To create Tectum, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)–certified wood is air-dried and pressed into panels using natural binders (magnesium oxysulfate and sodium silicate sourced from sand) instead of more common petroleum- or formaldehyde-based binders.

The natural fibers and binders are turned into unique, sound absorbing, textured ceiling and wall panels that bring nature inside. Ideal for spaces where sustainability, durability, and noise control are needed. Most known for its durability and use in high impact environments, it has a unique visual that contributes to its acoustical performance.

Tectum has been around for many years so our goal with this certification was to show its sustainable performance as well. Tectum panels are the first and only acoustical ceiling and wall solution to receive Living Product Challenge Imperative Certification from the International Living Future Institute.

TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE

Tectum achieved Living Product Challenge 1.1 Imperative Certification by meeting 14 of the 20 program Imperatives.  The certification covers the Place and Beauty Petals in full, and meet certain Imperatives of the Health, Materials and Equity Petals.

Certifying Tectum did not mean making compositional changes, but it did mean documenting attributes of the product both from a material and impact standpoint, and making operational and facility changes.

All certified products must meet core criteria under seven “Petals,” or performance areas. These range from the measurable (energy footprint or net positive waste) to the sublime (“beauty + spirit” or “human thriving”), and crucially, the life cycle of a product. Though Tectum was always FSC-certified, its packaging is now, too. And most significantly, Armstrong invested in a lighting retrofit project at its ceilings plant in Marietta, PA, which reduced its energy footprint and offset the remaining energy required for Living Product Challenge certification. Future improvements are underway in the Tectum facility as well that will create further reductions.

ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES’ BETTER SPACES AND SUSTAIN PORTFOLIOS

In 2017, Armstrong World Industries created SUSTAIN , a portfolio featuring its top selling mineral fiber, plant based fiberglass, metal, suspension systems, and trim products. We continue on our journey to add more products to this platform.

Tectum is part of the SUSTAIN portfolio. All products in this portfolio meet our most stringent sustainability criteria. Armstrong Innovation developed a breakthrough to remove formaldehyde from our back coat for our mineral fiber products at all plants resulting in the reformulation of over 1000 items to meet SUSTAIN requirements. We partnered with over 20 companies in our supply chain to gain material ingredient disclosures; published 28 Health Product Declarations and 41 Declare Labels and 23 Third party certified EPDs by UL Environment. The Sustain portfolio makes it simple to find ceiling and wall products that meet Living Building Challenge, LEED and WELL credits and requirements.

Through Living Product Challenge Certification, Tectum’s existing Declare label was third party reviewed and is now a Third Party Verified Declare label with LBC Red List Free status.

TOP HURDLES TO CERTIFICATION

IMPERATIVE 03 NET POSITIVE WATER: Process water could use captured rainwater if a process was set up to capture rainwater on-site via roof run-off capture or a retention pond. Plans for future water efficiency are underway.

IMPERATIVE 04 NET POSITIVE ENERGY: Though the site is space constrained, there are opportunities for on-site renewables. Plans for future energy efficiency are underway.

IMPERATIVE 11 NET POSITIVE WASTE: Armstrong has an extensive program to reduce their waste as much as possible by salvaging their waste to be used in other products and packaging materials. Even though this extensive program exists, a large portion of the waste still goes to landfill, resulting in this being an improvement area.

PLACE PETAL

01. RESPONSIBLE PLACE AND HABITATS IMPERATIVE

The Tectum facility was in place before 2007. The site visit and documentation confirmed that the material inputs are not from habitats where there are endangered species and the manufacturing facility is not located on or near sensitive ecological habitats. The facility is not within 50 miles of sensitive ecological habitat and there are no endangered species in the area.

02. HABITAT EXCHANGE IMPERATIVE

The requirement for this Imperative is for every dollar of gross profit, donate a ½ cent to a certified land trust.

As a company, Armstrong has donated both time and material to Lancaster County Conservancy. We have provided 120+ volunteer man hours to support clean up the Conestoga River in Lancaster County. We have provided 140+ volunteer hours to support the renovation and clean-up of The Climbers Run. We have donated $500 worth of acoustical ceiling panels to support the renovation of their new nature education center at the Climbers Run.

In addition to meet the remaining requirements, we started a partnership with the National Forest Foundation to preserve the aspen forest. This partnership will preserve the aspen forest by planting 10,000 Trees.

HEALTH + HAPPINESS PETAL

06. HUMAN THRIVING IMPERATIVE

Armstrong makes a commitment to encourage worker interaction with nature, through various programs. The site visit confirmed that there is appropriate provision for worker interaction with nature. The employee surveys came back with several good ideas on things to do to improve this interaction and wellness of employees.

MATERIALS PETAL

07. RED LIST IMPERATIVE

As this certification represents two different products (Natural and Painted White), two Declare labels were created for the product. The unpainted version is Red List Free, and the painted version is LBC Compliant due to difficulty obtaining proprietary information from the paint supplier. The product’s Third Party Verified Declare Label confirms compliance with this Imperative.

09. RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRY IMPERATIVE

Tectum has received the Forest Stewardship Council certification from Rainforest Alliance. As part of the certification, we also made changes to our packaging to align with the FSC requirement. The product and the packaging are now 100% certified.

10. NET POSITIVE CLIMATE IMPERATIVE

Armstrong has been conducting life cycle assessments on our products for many years. We track and publish our products’ impacts to the environment in our Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

The Tectum product has an existing LCA that has been updated with 2017 data, along with an EPD based on 2016 data. Using this information, the top 5 hotspots were identified along with ways to help reduce this impact.

Furthermore, Armstrong has implemented several energy savings projects at their facilities, including a lighting project that accounts for a handprint greater than the footprint of Tectum, resulting in Tectum being considered Net Positive for Climate.

12. PRODUCT FIT TO USE IMPERATIVE

Design for durability is well integrated into Armstrong’s Design For Environment (DFE) process.  Tectum’s lifespan of 50 years exceeds the average for its product category (30 years). It is a very durable product and is well known for this quality.

EQUITY PETAL

14. EQUITABLE PRODUCT ACCESS IMPERATIVE

While Armstrong generally does not sell directly to residential customers, if the opportunity presents itself, Armstrong will sell products to low income housing projects at cost parity to similar products..

15. RESPONSIBLE CO-PRODUCTS IMPERATIVE

Armstrong World Industries does not directly engage in any of the banned activities, nor produce any of the products, proscribed by the Living Product Challenge Standard.

16. EQUITABLE INVESTMENT IMPERATIVE

Armstrong World Industries supplied acoustical ceiling and wall panels (Tectum), design support and installation to improve the acoustics of the Hill Clubhouse gym on Water St. The recreational center serves about 100-150 kids ages 6 to 18 daily.

The clubhouse was carved from a 1910 four-story brick building that once operated as a candy factory then paper supply warehouse. The building’s high, hard surface walls presented a chaotic noise environment for active kids and their adult supervisors who had to shout to be heard.

Our products were installed on walls and ceilings as a retrofit solution to absorb sound before it got reflected, or bounced back, in a rippling effect that our ears perceive as noise. According to Armstrong acoustical engineers working on the project, the space achieved a 63% reduction in reverberation time, which significantly improved the sound quality of the space. The Tectum wall panels were also custom configured in the Boys & Girls Club logo, serving as a reminder of the organization’s mission to provide a safe, positive and encouraging place for kids.

BEAUTY PETAL

18. POSITIVE HANDPRINTING IMPERATIVE

We offset the climate impact of Tectum by positive handprint reductions in other Armstrong facilities.

Due to the improvements at the Boys and Girls Club, we provided a positive environment for the boys and girls who use this space on a daily basis. View the case study and listen to the story.

19. BEAUTY + SPIRIT IMPERATIVE

Tectum® Ceiling and Wall Panels provide durable, sustainable, acoustical solutions with unlimited design options. From direct attach designs, to blades and baffles, shapes and clouds, and wall solutions, there are many options for your space. Create a signature element in a space to complement your interior design. The possibilities are endless, the look is one-of-a-kind, and the acoustic properties of Tectum panels can help quiet the space. Discover more in the Tectum brochure or at our Tectum site.

20. INSPIRATION + EDUCATION IMPERATIVE

INTERNAL EDUCATION:

We educated our internal sales and business units on the Living Product Challenge.  We also created signage and education at the Tectum facility.

There are several Continuing Education courses available on Tectum.

EXTERNAL EDUCATION:

Armstrong has hosted two educational events about our experience at Living Product Expo in Pittsburgh and at the Green Building United Chapter in Philadelphia, PA.  There have also been a series of meetings with clients, partners, and others in our network to spread the word about the Living Product Challenge, and there are plans for more.

Tectum was featured in the April Metropolis edition highlighting the achievement of the Living Product Challenge – the Industry’s most rigorous sustainable certification.

For more information on the Tectum Living Product Challenge Imperative Certification, visit https://www.armstrongceilings.com/livingproductchallenge, chat live, or call Armstrong Techline at 1-800-276-7876.

SUMMARY OF PROCESS AND BENEFIT OF PURSUING LIVING PRODUCT CHALLENGE

The Living Product certification has turned into a larger improvement plan for Armstrong—one consistent with the company’s mission to create better spaces and, more importantly, one with work still under way.

This certification has brought new life to an existing product.  By demonstrating the sustainable performance of this wood fiber product, this is now part of many Living Building Challenge projects.

The post ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES TECTUM® CEILING AND WALL PANELS first appeared on Living Future.

SARGENT Manufacturing, founded in the early 1800s, designs and manufactures high-quality innovative door hardware for commercial and institutional facilities. Now an ASSA ABLOY Group brand and market leader in cylindrical and mortise locksets, key systems, door closers, exit devices, decorative hardware and integrated access control products, SARGENT continues to lead our industry in new product introductions and innovations to existing products.

Sustainability is a driver throughout ASSA ABLOY’s value chain; it is an important element in innovation, in sourcing, in production, in employee development, in applying ASSA ABLOY’s products and solutions, and in the Group’s relation to external stakeholders.

The challenge to develop an energy efficient electrified mortise locking solution led to the challenge of taking the extra step to explore just how much of a handprint it could have. EcoFlex was selected because of its energy saving nature, but also to provide a challenge for our team- this is a highly configured electrified product.

EcoFlex technology, available in electrified mortise locks and exit trims from ASSA ABLOY Group brands CORBIN RUSSWIN and SARGENT, represents a significant innovation in door opening technology. EcoFlex electrified mortise locks reduce energy consumption up to 96% and EcoFlex electrified exit trims up to 95%, as certified by GreenCircle Certified. With this dramatic reduction in energy consumption, drawing less than 1/4 watt at 12V, EcoFlex offers more flexibility to consolidate power supplies and reduce operating costs.  EcoFlex offers a flexible, reliable solution with a single ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 mortise lock or exit trim that can be used for 12V – 24V applications and can be easily field-configured for fail-safe or fail-secure operation.

The process was intended to involve cross functional teams within the organization and that has been achieved. Colleagues from engineering, product development, supply chain, manufacturing, marketing, and innovation have all participated and advocated for this certification.

Top Lessons Learned

TtOP hURDLES TO cERTIFICATION

3-Year Plan

Place Petal

01. Responsible Place and Habitat Impacts Imperative

Energy Petal

04. Net Positive Energy Imperative

Exceptions Used, Lessons Learned

Health + Happiness Petal

06. Human Thriving Imperative

MATERIALS PETAL

The Declare label was especially important and is a major benefit to completing the Materials Petal. Most of the existing ASSA ABLOY Declare labels pertain to mechanical products, or products which are not as heavily configured and complex as the EcoFlex lock. As you would imagine, a product with so many components involves numerous members of a cross functional team. Members of this team are charged with any number of projects in a year, including LPC certification. Our teams were forced to examine daily data in a different way; forging new relationships with suppliers, engineering, and operations. The level of detail required has encouraged our teams to start investing in new ways of mining data.

07. RED LIST IMPERATIVE

With global reach comes global responsibility. As a manufacturer, ASSA ABLOY works to become more accountable by taking into consideration the impacts that ASSA ABLOY products have on the environment and human health. As efforts in sustainability become a natural part of what is done as manufacturers, the company commits to taking a closer look at what goes into a product, how a product is made, and where the product was sourced from. ASSA ABLOY will take care to utilize various resources to make the most responsible decisions—from the early stages of product development all the way to the end of the product’s useful life.

DECLARE ID: ASA-0028

09. RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRY IMPERATIVE

The primary manufacturing processes are made by Tier 1 suppliers and final manufacturing processes occur in New Haven & Berlin CT. The components come from processes like stamped steel, turning, and aluminum extrusion. The ASSA ABLOY supplier sustainability audit program focuses on direct material suppliers in low cost countries in South and Central America, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia, as these are perceived as the greatest risk regions for not complying with ASSA ABLOY’s Business Partner Code of Conduct. The Business Partner Code of Conduct communicates ASSA ABLOY’s policies and principles on business ethics, human rights, and labor standards, health and safety, and the environment to suppliers. ASSA ABLOY conducts its own supplier audits and due diligence processes to verify compliance.

BEAUTY PETAL

18. POSITIVE HANDPRINTING IMPERATIVE

EcoFlex locks are equipped with actuator motors instead of solenoids. In a traditional solenoid lock, an energy hungry coil pushes a metal plunger to lock or unlock the door. About 6W of power is continuously consumed to hold the lock in the energized state. When power to the solenoid is removed, a mechanical spring drives the locking mechanism in the opposite direction. By comparison, an actuator motor temporarily stores electrical energy in a capacitor and then drives the locking mechanism with a motor to lock or unlock the door. When power is removed, the capacitor is immediately discharged to drive the motor in the opposite direction. In addition, the actuator eliminates thermal breakdown, the primary cause of solenoid failure. The actuator does not produce heat and also significantly reduces the electrical load on a physical access control system, is less sensitive to extended wire runs or the gauge of the wire, and operates across a wider voltage range.

19. INSPIRATION + EDUCATION IMPERATIVE

Door hardware may be the most intimate points of contact we have with a building. We’re affected by the way a door looks and, the way the lever or pull on that door feels. So while the first job hardware is to make what’s behind it safe and secure, its aesthetics – its contribution to the dominant attitude of a space and the human experience – matters, too.

“The character or expression of any building can only be achieved if it is itself a total expression. Like any work of art, it must be dominated by a strong, simple concept. All of its parts must be an active part of one dominant attitude.”

— Eero Saarinen

20. INSPIRATION + EDUCATION IMPERATIVE

LPC PAGE URL: https://www.intelligentopenings.com/en/solutions-by-topic/sustainability/

The post Ecoflex Electrified Mortise Lock first appeared on Living Future.