Mohawk Ceramic Makes Major Environmental Strides
Dal-Tile is the largest manufacturer of tile in the nation and leads the tile business in environmental efforts. It has dramatically reduced its environmental impact while conserving energy, water and raw materials.
Nearly all (97%) of Mohawk’s ceramic tile SKUs contain some recycled waste byproducts from both internal and external manufacturing processes. Non-recycled materials are extracted from abundant and naturally occurring clay, shale, and other rock-like minerals. Currently the recycled material makeup is 45-64 % in floor tile, 31-44 % in wall tile, and 7-22 % in mosaics.
Last year alone, over 197 million pounds of waste material from another manufacturing process and more than 55 million pounds of waste fired tile (tile that’s been fired but doesn’t meet rigorous quality standards) were recycled into tile products manufactured at Mohawk plants.
Waste that Mohawk can’t use becomes available for beneficial state-approved reuse projects. Some is used as replacement raw material in the brick and cement industry. Last year over 64 million pounds of waste fired tile were diverted from landfills.
Upgrading manufacturing processes has also improved efficiency. All of Mohawk’s manufacturing plants recover and recycle wastewater. Four facilities do not discharge any wastewater. Mohawk recovered and reused more than 64 million gallons last year.
Over the last two years, Mohawk also upgraded to newer fuel-efficient equipment, decreased downtime with kiln loading and even turned off burners. Plant lighting was replaced with high performance T8 fluorescent bulbs. New office occupancy sensors can tell if no one is in the room—and turn off the lights.
Energy savings equaled enough natural gas to fuel more than 6,000 homes for an entire year and enough electricity to service more than 1,700 homes.
Related Topics:Daltile, Mohawk Industries