The Porcelanosa Group reduces air pollution with its Eco Conscious programme

The eight firms in the group comply with a Sustainable Development Plan in their manufacturing plants, logistics centres and offices. In these locations waste recycling, sustainable water management and energy saving have been implemented within the framework of the UN 2030 Agenda and the new lines of activity specified by the EU.

The company has also proposed a range of solutions to reduce its carbon footprint and to speed up industrial modernisation with an emphasis on digitalisation, research and ecological design.

Energy saving and control of air pollution

The first of these involves streamlining manufacturing processes with energy-saving measures and the introduction of new methods for detecting and evaluating air pollution as priority issues.

Porcelanosa calculates its carbon footprint in accordance with the ISO 14064-1:2018 standard. “We are committed to the environment and sustainable production. We have intensified our efforts to improve our brand with technology, R&D&I and industrial diversification as drivers of change. Protecting the natural environment and minimising air pollution is a priority in Porcelanosa’s business model,” company representatives point out.

The company’s decisions have included the incorporation of efficient combustion control systems with ceramic firing furnaces using automatic air-gas ratio control technology, the installation of suspended particulate filters, soundproofing systems fitted on grinding machinery, and reforestation to combat the emission of toxic gases originating from industrial processes. “We have been monitoring our carbon footprint since 2012 to measure the CO2 emissions produced by our industrial activities. This allows us to identify all the sources of Greenhouse Gas emissions that we generate in order to establish measures aimed at reducing their impact,” they add.

We have been monitoring our carbon footprint since 2012 to measure the CO2 emissions

This principle has been applied by Venis in its particle filtration systems (16 wet filters and 14 dry filters) and the new dryers and sprays. “We have redesigned our policies in line with a more sustainable long-term model with environmental measures ranging from cogeneration with gas to dry grinding,” say the company.

Another firm that has updated its environmental standards is L’Antic Colonial, whose production sites now include dry bevellers and dry extractor booths, as well as water jet cutters for natural stone. “Water keeps the machinery cool and retains the dust particles that accumulate on the discs. The process also includes a purification system where production equipment is cleaned. All our products undergo Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) analysis to ensure a low concentration of toxins and comply with Floorscore, the indoor air quality certification standard. An example of this respect for environmental considerations is Linkfloor, a vinyl fabric that imitates natural tissue and wood and whose plastic components have been subjected to phthalate checks to guarantee the sustainable nature of our collections,” L’Antic Colonial tell us.

Gamadecor has decided to introduce bag filters to collect sawdust and dust from sanding, thus eliminating volatile organic compounds from wood. The firm has also replaced traditional varnishes and transparent lacquers with water-based coatings to reduce the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air.

At Urbatek, they have opted to update their fleet of diesel vehicles by using the AdBlue system to reduce harmful emissions. The group’s investment in certified renewable energies has also benefited other firms, such as Noken, where the traditional machinery in its central warehouse has been replaced by electric equipment that eliminates environmental pollution.

Ventilated façades that purify the air

Butech‘s commitment to reducing air pollution can be seen in its ventilated façade systems with Krion K-Life as a coating. This compact mineral, produced by Krion, uses KEAST® technology to reduce environmental pollution thanks to its high content of activating minerals. In addition to resisting the effects of climate and extreme temperatures, Krion® K-Life has certifications such as NSF, Greenguard, A+, BPA Free, HPD and Declare as being 100% recyclable and because of its ecological benefits.