TAU launches its first models under the “eco tile” label
TAU strengthens its environmental commitment and launches its first models under the "eco tile” label

The brand’s environmental policy has led to standards which go far beyond the legal limits, coinciding with the presentation of a number of ceramic products manufactured using more than 45% recycled materials at Cersaie 2009

TAU is firmly committed to the environment and the company has been implementing an intense industrial policy over the last few years with the sole aim of minimising the impact of its business on the environment. This philosophy has led to various tiers of environmental standards which go much further than the legal limits and is an example of best business practice which is now also being passed on to the end consumer, through the launch of TAU eco tile, the first ceramic covering models incorporating at least 45% recycled material - although in some cases it can be as much as 90%. All TAU eco tile models have been officially certified by Bureau Veritas.

These models also help to earn LEED points in the certification of buildings by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council).

Various TAU eco tile products are being launched to coincide with Cersaie 2009. They include Corten Night, Carbono Océano and Carbono Piedra, all of which are made using 45% recycled materials. This rises to 55% in the case of Iron Cobre and Basalto Rojo, whereas the manufacturing of Colore Nero, Colore Cioccolato and Galileo Negro pieces contains up to 85% recycled materials. The most environmentally-friendly product of all is Portland HT Negro, which goes as high as 90%. This is a sustainable and highly varied range designed to meet the growing demand from a wide cross-section of the market, people who are increasingly concerned about environmental issues and put responsibility ahead of other factors, although this does not mean any dropping off in other values such as quality, design or first-class technological performance.


The public presentation of the TAU eco tile is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the environmental sensitivity shown by the company ever since it was founded - indeed it has long been setting standards in the sector.

This working philosophy has led TAU to set up various programmes which, although they cover all industrial areas, are always designed to minimise the generation of waste and the impact of the company’s business activities. TAU holds the ISO 14.001:2004 international certificate, guaranteeing good management practice, and is always looking to add environmental aspects to new designs, both in new collections (woods, natural stones and marbles), and in their uses and applications, e.g. with ventilated façades, smart tiles, Dry the ceramic floating floor and CIVIS-Ágora.

On the other hand, TAU Cerámica’s manufacturing process is designed solely to use recycled products, and this covers both the materials used for packaging and the items actually manufactured, incorporating any waste generated during production back into the process, thus increasing recycling and improving the product’s life cycle. The company was recently rewarded for all this hard work when it obtained Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Accreditation, as well as becoming a member of the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) in 2007.

One key part of this commitment to recycling is the company’s “Vertido Cero” (Zero Discharge) policy. For instance, TAU Cerámica reuses more than 140 million litres of water every year, guaranteeing that all of the water resources used in the process are sent to a sprayer and not a single drop is discharged, whereas solids are incorporated back into the tile manufacturing process. Even so, plans are being drawn up to optimise water consumption with a significant reduction in the use of this natural resource and year-on-year improvements. Solids are exploited in the purification process, reducing the volume by 20 million tons a year, whereas the packaging is either reusable or made from recycled materials, a policy which also covers pallets and laminating machines.

In the same way, solid ceramic waste is reused as a raw material using sprayers, thus cutting down the impact with both open-air operations and transport.

TAU Cerámica has also imposed a strict environmental policy in terms of atmospheric emissions, and this has led to the installation of filtering systems producing results well below the maximum legal limits and at the same time making a commitment to energy efficiency with a cut in greenhouse emissions of 10,000 Tm of carbon dioxide per year, as laid down by the Kyoto Protocol, in whose aims the company firmly believes.

Finally, in order to achieve the goals of constantly improving environmental performance the company maintains a strong policy of offering its employees continuing training with the aim of raising their awareness about the best ways of handling waste and managing the available resources as efficiently as possible.

At the end of the day, all of these values mean that TAU Cerámica is committed not only to the quality, design and performances of its products, but also to making the world a better place for future generations.