Transcription
Cradle to Cradle
Cradle to Cradle and MosaSustainability is a cornerstone of Koninklijke Mosabv’s mission and principles. This is an intrinsicelement of a sustainable product such as tiles andof the operations of a quality-conscious companyof the nature of Mosa.Cradle to Cradle is an innovative, positive andintegral approach to sustainability that avoidsreduction and is based on the unlimited reuseof materials: “waste is food”. This approach ishighly compatible with Mosa’s philosophy, aswe are convinced that the future lies solely withsustainable products which are manufactured in aresponsible manner and do not pose health risks.This is a responsibility which we share with you, ourcustomers. Moreover, this responsibility is furtheremphasised by the regulations that increasinglyprescribe the use of sustainable constructionmaterials. Since Mosa adopts a fundamentalapproach to the company’s operations we haveentered into close cooperation with EPEA, thecentre of expertise founded by Professor MichaelBraungart. Three years of development resultedin the award, in December 2010, of the Cradleto Cradle Silver certificate to virtually all theMosa product range. The certification procedureaddresses five main criteria: raw materials,recycling potential, energy consumption, watermanagement and working conditions.As a result, Mosa is the world’s first manufacturerof Cradle to Cradle Certified tiles. However, thisdoes not imply that our work is finished: quite thecontrary, in fact, since we perceive Cradle to Cradlecertification as an incentive for further innovationin the development of ceramics systems.Consequently, Mosa signed an organisationalcharter at the beginning of 2011, as a result ofwhich Mosa has been assigned the Cradle to CradleCharter Organisation label that specifies Mosa’scontinued endeavours to implement the Cradle toCradle philosophy in our company’s products andprocesses.
Pure raw materialsEPEA*) has qualified Mosa tiles as “designedfor the technocycle, but safe for the biocycle”, aqualification which confirms that Mosa tiles donot release any harmful compounds during theiruseful life and do not damage nature should theyunfortunately be dumped after use. However, thesafety of the disposal of our products is withoutprejudice to Mosa’s objective of providing forthe unlimited reuse of the tiles in the biocycle ortechnocycle.The main constituents of Mosa tiles are clay andsand, natural raw materials that are presentin abundance in nature. Mosa Cradle to CradleCertified tiles are free of hazardous compoundssuch as lead, mercury or cadmium – the result ofyears of research and development in which allthe ingredients used in our tiles were analysedand classified to ppm (parts per million) level. Thisanalytical programme also expressly included oursuppliers’ raw materials chain. The EPEA criteriagoverning the absence of hazardous compoundsare much more stringent than the prevailingenvironmental legislation* EPEA (www.epea.com) is the centre of expertise that developedthe Cradle to Cradle philosophy and advises Mosa – and manyother companies – on the implementation of the philosophy.
RecyclingCradle to Cradle pivots on two recycling factors,namely the extent to which the purity of a materialmakes it suitable for unlimited reuse and theextent to which a product actually is recycled. Mosatiles contain solely natural raw materials and canbe recycled. The tiles currently contain a percentageof “pre-consumer” recycled material originatingfrom production waste and residual materials fromthe stone industry: wall tiles contain between aminimum of 22 and a maximum of 25% of recycledmaterials, depending on the type of tile, and floortiles contain between 21 and 45%.Mosa is also carrying out pilot trials withcompanies in the construction industry and thewaste collection sector to review the feasibilityof a tile return system. These trials are limited tothe return of used Mosa tiles that are suitable forreuse by virtue of a purity sufficient for ecoeffectiveprocessing, but also extend to studies carried outin cooperation with adhesive manufacturers. Thesestudies are examining new methods of applyingtiles that will simplify their removal and result in“cleaner” tiles, a development that will benefit therecycling process.
Closed water cycleCradle to Cradle regards water as a scarce andexpensive resource that requires appropriatemanagement. Reusing water is an essentialelement of appropriate water management.Mosa uses water during a variety of processoperations, such as preparation of the substrate,applying the glazing, pressing the tiles andcalibrating the finished products. The processwater is purified in an in-house water treatmentplant and the residual sludge is recycled in the tileproduction process. In 2010, Mosa succeeded inclosing the coolingwater cycle, an achievement thathas reduced the total volume of water pumped upfrom groundwater by more than 60%.
Energy managementCradle to Cradle also extends to energyconsumption and in particular the source of theenergy, since the amount of energy consumed is ofno relevance when the energy is generated from arenewable source.During the past years Mosa has modernised itsentire factory to maximise the sustainability andefficiency of our processes. Mosa’s modernisationprogramme has also resulted in the 91% reductionof particulate emissions to virtually zero and thedrastic reduction of CO2 emissions. Moreover, in2007, Mosa switched over entirely to ‘green power’generated by hydroelectric power stations. This useof ‘green power’ has further reduced CO2 emissionsper tonne of finished product and achieved a totalreduction of 48%. Mosa has accepted the challengeof improving its energy efficiency even further. Thecompany is actively seeking longer-term alternativesources of energy: for example, from mid-2011 theresidual heat from the furnaces will be recoveredfor use in the production process and for heatingthe buildings.
Working and socialconditionsOne of the Cradle to Cradle requirements stipulatesthat the manufacturer and the manufacturer’ssuppliers in the chain shall implement appropriateworking conditions and pure ethical principles.Generally, Western Europe complies with thisrequirement. Pursuant to this requirement Mosaimplements the local-for-local principle wheneverpossible, namely production close to the marketand raw materials sourced in the vicinity of thefactory. Virtually all raw materials are sourcedfrom controlled quarries within a distance of 500kilometres from Maastricht. The location of Mosa’sfactories close to the city centre also imposesrequirements on the company’s operations.Mosa has implemented measures to reduceemissions and noise that minimise hindrance tothe surrounding residential neighbourhoods. Inadopting this approach Mosa has implementedthe company’s mission, in which Mosa expressesits carefully-considered decision to locate thesustainable development and production inMaastricht – the city where the company beganits long history. Mosa endeavours to demonstratethat the manufacturing industry has a future inthe Province of Zuid-Limburg to ensure that thecompany can continue to manufacture productsthat are compatible with both contemporary andfuture architecture.
About MosaAt Mosa, we have a passion for ceramics. For over130 years, we have been manufacturing tiles usingthe purest materials and the magic of innovativeDutch design. By embracing the Cradle to Cradlephilosophy and being committed to offering thebest support, we enable our clients around theglobe to create signature buildings that last. Mosatiles enrich walls, floors, facades, and terracesof private, commercial, and public interiorsand exteriors in over 50 countries across fourcontinents.Mosa is a member of:Mosa is a registered provider for continuing education with TheAmerican Institute of Architects and the Interior Design ContinuingEducation Council.Mosa is a RIBA accredited CPD Provider
Royal MosaMeerssenerweg 358P.O. Box 1026NL-6201 BA MaastrichtT 31 (0)43 368 92 29info@mosa.comwww.mosa.com Royal Mosa Maastricht 2019Errors excepted.For up to date information, please visit our website www.mosa.com.
Cradle to Cradle and Mosa Sustainability is a cornerstone of Koninklijke Mosa bv's mission and principles. This is an intrinsic element of a sustainable product such as tiles and of the operations of a quality-conscious company of the nature of Mosa. Cradle to Cradle is an innovative, positive and integral approach to sustainability that avoids
