Sustainability of Terrazzo

Sustainability of Terrazzo

Since its origins, terrazzo has been a sustainable material. Learn more about the sustainability of terrazzo flooring, its contribution to LEED credits and environmental impact.

Sustainability of Terrazzo

 

The sustainability of terrazzo dates back to 15th century Italy, where Venetian marble workers utilized recycled and repurposed materials to create beautiful terrazzo floors, making it one of the world’s first “green” flooring systems. This early approach to sustainability set the tone for terrazzo’s continued emphasis on recycled and zero VOC materials, which remain critical components of the flooring system today.

 

In modern times, epoxy terrazzo offers unparalleled durability, aesthetic appeal, design flexibility, and ease of maintenance while remaining in line with today’s sustainability goals for new construction and renovation projects. The use of recycled and zero VOC materials has become the standard, resulting in an eco-friendly flooring option that is both beautiful and functional.

 

When examining the life-cycle costs and environmental impact of epoxy terrazzo, it is valued for its contribution to LEED points established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). As a result, terrazzo has become an attractive choice for architects, builders, and property owners seeking to incorporate sustainable practices into their projects while creating a durable, visually appealing, and environmentally responsible space.

 

Terrazzo Floor

Concord Terrazzo Advantage

All aspects of our product approach take sustainability into account, from the manufacturing of TERRAZZCO Brand Products all the way to the finished terrazzo floors.

Safe/Zero-VOC

A finished terrazzo floor does not pose health risks. It provides an odorless, VOC-free, and bacteria-resistant floor that requires minimal maintenance without the need for harsh chemicals.

Durability

Terrazzo is a top-performing material, capable of withstanding heavy foot traffic. It can last for decades with proper maintenance, thereby generating lower lifecycle costs compared to other floors.

Carbon Footprint

Concord Terrazzo offers a one-stop shop for terrazzo materials, providing cost-competitive solutions while minimizing waste and lowering transportation emissions.

Recyclable

Terrazzo often incorporates recycled content, and it can be efficiently recycled at the end of its long lifespan, resulting in a significant reduction in waste sent to landfills.

Concord Terrazzo Company is committed to innovating durable, eco-friendly, and visually stunning flooring solutions for a sustainable future.

Green Terrazzo

Green Terrazzo System

 

At TERRAZZCO brands we are committed to supplying our customers with high quality, environmentally sensitive products that stand the test of time. Green Terrazzo is an epoxy terrazzo system made from renewable ingredients that are not Red Listed, and has zero VOCs. This product is safe to install in public buildings such as schools, airports, hospitals, hotels, and other indoor environments.

 

TERRAZZCO Brand Products: 

an environmentally-friendly solution

 

TERRAZZCO Brand Products use the highest amount of recycled and zero VOC materials into their composition as possible. Concord Terrazzo Company continuously researches and develops new products that meet today’s green standards. TERRAZZCO Brand Products are ideal for anyone looking to design a building space that minimizes environmental impact while enjoying the benefits of a beautiful and long-lasting flooring solution.

 

The Health Product Declaration® provides information on contents of building products, along with potential health-related hazards of those contents. TERRAZZCO EZPour Epoxy 158 is a two-part epoxy resin designed to craft durable and aesthetically appealing epoxy terrazzo floors. HPDs are created by manufacturers for their products. Review the Health Product Declaration for TERRAZZCO EZPour Epoxy 158.

 

Greenguard Gold Certified

 

GREENGUARD Gold Certification (formerly known as GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification) offers stricter certification criteria, considers safety factors to account for sensitive individuals (such as children and elderly), and ensure that a product is acceptable for use in environments such as schools and healthcare facilities. It is acknowledged by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Building Rating System.

 

Concord Terrazzo Company is committed to environmental responsibility. Air quality is a major challenge in today’s construction environments. Exposure to volatile organic compounds from building materials is a concern among many as various products containing high chemical emissions pose a health risk for people occupying a building.

 

The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Program was developed to aim at reducing the exposure of VOCs from building materials in new construction and renovation projects. All TERRAZZCO products were tested by a third-party to be VOC-free, obtaining GREENGUARD, and GREENGUARD Gold certification. This means any epoxy terrazzo floor containing TERRAZZCO Brand Products contributes to improved indoor air quality, great for sustainability.

LEED Credits

LEED® Credit Information and Point Chart

 

Terrazzo is known for its life cycle characteristics, and can also contribute to the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) credits for new construction.

MRc1.2 “Building Reuse—Maintain Interior Nonstructural Elements”

 

LEED points may be awarded by re-using a portion of existing non-structural elements, including floors. Terrazzo floors typically last the life of a building structure. Many renovation projects can restore the original terrazzo floor with low-cost repairs and refinishing. By restoring a terrazzo floor over replacement, not only does it reduces overall floor costs but contributes to LEED credits.

MRc2 “Construction Waste Management”

 

LEED points may be awarded by recycling or salvaging nonhazardous construction and demolition debris. If a project requires demolition of an existing structure with terrazzo flooring, terrazzo components may be salvaged for reuse or recycled. Those same components can be later installed in a new terrazzo floor, particularly the aggregates. A qualified terrazzo contractor can assist in the salvaging process.

MRc4 “Recycled Content”

 

LEED points may be awarded for using recycled content in a terrazzo floor or other surfaces. Sources of recycled content include post-consumer recycled glass, and also post-industrial stone or marble salvaged from construction buildings and crushed and processed to be used again in a new terrazzo floor.  A floor incorporating 100% recycled glass aggregates could contain as much as 75% recycled raw material by volume. Aluminum strips may also contain recycled metal.

IEQc4.3 “Low-Emitting Materials – Flooring Systems”

 

LEED points can be awarded if sealers do not contain VOCs in excess of certain limits. Sealers used in terrazzo floors will generally comply. Generally, epoxy terrazzo products will comply.

MRc5 “Regional Materials”

 

LEED points may be awarded if a portion of the project building materials is extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured within a 500-mile radius of the project.

IEQc4.1 “Low Emitting Materials—Adhesives and Sealants”

 

LEED points may be awarded if the terrazzo installation does not include adhesives and sealants that contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in excess of certain limits. Many of today’s epoxy resin suppliers use a 100% solids formula, eliminating any VOCs in the material.

IDc1 “Innovation in Design”

 

Additional LEED points may be awarded under the Innovation in Design category for innovative performance in categories not specifically addressed by LEED or for achieving exemplary performance in an established LEED credit.

NTMA Resources:

Download: NTMA – Green Terrazzo: The Environmental Impact of the Use of Cement and Epoxy Terrazzo 

Download: NTMA – LEED® Case Study 

VOC Off-Gassing and Indoor Air Quality

 

Thin-set epoxy terrazzo is comprised of zero VOC materials. Over the lifetime of a terrazzo floor, expect little to no off-gassing to form, thus improving indoor air quality for sustainable construction projects. In addition to many epoxy resin products containing no volatile organic compounds, epoxy terrazzo is also non-porous. An epoxy terrazzo finish does not support the growth of bacteria, mold or mildew.

 

TERRAZZCO Brand Products are healthy to use, giving you the comfort of knowing that our products have a positive impact on both human and planetary health.

 

Recycle and Reuse Content

 

One of the most notable ways to obtain LEED points is to include recycled materials in a terrazzo floor.

 

The most common source of recycled content is aggregates. Recycled glass comes from post-consumer sources such as mirror, glass bottles, and glass containers. Marble and granite quarries supply post-industrial marble and granite chips to terrazzo contractors for use in a terrazzo project as well. There are other sources of recycled aggregates such as recycled porcelain and recycled concrete. Even new plastic chips contain as much as 20% of recycled plastic material.

 

There are other sources of recycled content designers can incorporate with their sustainable architecture projects to satisfy LEED points. Aluminum divider strips also contain a good amount of recycled material. These are used to control joints and specify a color change on a terrazzo floor. If an underbed is utilized, the steel reinforcing may have recycled content as well. Even cement used in cementitious terrazzo projects may also have recycled content.

Regional Sourcing

 

 

Manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors are located strategically throughout regions of the United States. LEED points can be obtained when materials are distributed within 500 miles of the project site. Terrazzo is manufactured on-site to minimize post-consumer commercial waste and transportation costs. Materials that can be regionally sourced for a sustainable architecture project include epoxy resins, aggregates, divider strips, and sealers.

SUSTAINABILITY BROCHURE

Download our Sustainability Brochure to learn more about how terrazzo can benefit your green building project.

ARCHITECTURAL BINDER

Download our Architectural Binder for more information on terrazzo flooring and TERRAZZCO Brand Products.

CONTACT US

Contact our representatives for LEED documentation or support on how to design terrazzo that meets your sustainability goals.