New partnership puts sustainability at the heart of our operation

Always striving to put sustainability at the heart of our operation, we actively seek to form partnerships with factories that work to the highest possible environmental standards.

With this commitment in mind, we’ve teamed up with Florim – the first ceramic company in the world to gain B Corp certification.

To receive this prestigious accolade, Florim needed to prove that it was not only driven by the desire to make a profit, but also to positively contribute to the future of the planet and the health and wellbeing of the communities which surround its factories.

Companies that are awarded B Corp status are required to demonstrate that they fully embrace a regenerative business model, as opposed to an extractive one, where tangible actions are reflected in economic, social, and environmental improvements. Just 3% of businesses that apply for the certification pass the rigorous verification process, putting Florim among the world’s most environmentally evolved companies.

100% of electricity needed to power the factories is self-generated

Florim has installed more than 42,000 m2 of photovoltaic panels and two cogeneration plants which, in optimal conditions, can generate up to 100% of the electricity needed to power its factories. On top of this, the photovoltaic plants have significantly reduced the company’s CO2 emissions. Since 2012, 95,000 fewer tons of CO2 have been produced.

100% of wastewater generated during production is recycled

100% of the wastewater generated during the production cycle at each of Florim’s sites is recycled. Furthermore, the company has worked with its partners to develop and implement a series of systems that operate without the use of water, enhancing its already impressive green credentials.

100% of raw tile and slab waste is recovered and reused

At a time when natural resources are reaching unsustainably low levels, Florim has pledged to recover and reuse all of the dust residue and waste produced by raw tiles and slabs. It also recycles more than 90% of its total waste, either internally or externally, as well as recycling waste generated by other companies.

Jo Sinclair, Creative Technical Associate, on a recent visit to the factory

All packaging is reused and recycled

All of Florim’s products are packed in reused paper which, in turn, can be recycled by the customer. State-of-the-art machines which modulate and cut the cardboard packaging to measure – reducing waste to zero – have been installed in each of the company’s Italian factories. In partnership with its Italian-based supplier of plastic films, used to cover the finished products, Florim has developed a method to sort and send plastic waste back to the manufacturer for recycling. The material is then treated and regenerated into a new product.