Certifications

Emilgroup ensures that its products comply with the requirements of CE marking, in accordance with the applicable regulations.

Emilgroup has fulfilled the requirements of the UKCA marking for placing its products on the UK market.

Over the years the company has sought to implement projects which reduce the environmental impact of its products and processes. Back in 2012 it implemented an LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) to evaluate environmental effects right throughout the entire life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to processing, the distribution of the product, its installation and maintenance, and through to its removal with recovery or disposal. The results obtained above all from the company’s primary data and not just from general databases were verified and published in the EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) which guarantees transparent communications to consumers. The EPD contributes to the attainment of LEED credits.

Emilgroup makes all of its products in accordance with the CAM (minimum environmental criteria) which define the sustainability characteristics of the construction materials used in public works. These parameters lay down threshold values which must be respected in order to reduce water consumption in the production cycle, increase the recovery of process water and waste connected with production activities, and reduce air and water emissions. Respect for these requirements is verified in the EPD.

The French QB UPEC certification offers a quality guarantee to users: it confirms that Emilgroup products bearing the QB and UPEC marks comply with the NF EN 14411 standard and meet the criteria defined by the relevant certification guidelines. These products fulfill the performance requirements set out by CSTB in the document “Technical specifications for the UPEC classification of ceramic floor coverings.”

Emilgroup develops its products using raw materials of natural origin like clays, feldspars, sands and inorganic pigments. To guarantee the transparency of its information, since 2016 the company has published an HPD (Health Product Declaration), a self-declaration on the chemical composition of the product which enables users to verify the level and type of danger associated with the individual components of construction products. The HPD is recognised by LEED credits.

Declare is a voluntary self-declaration programme that aims to steer the building materials industry towards healthier, more eco-friendly products through transparent ingredient disclosure.

Emilgroup slabs are certified MOCA (Materials and Objects in Contact with Food).

Emilgroup has made its FDES (Environmental and Health Declaration Sheet) available in the INIES database. The document, compliant with ISO 14025, NF EN 15804+A1, and NF EN 15804/CN standards, describes the environmental performance of construction products and provides information on health-related aspects.

Emilgroup promotes the principles of sustainable construction. For this reason it has been a member of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) since 2008 and the Green Building Council Italia (GBC Italia) since 2010, implementing and adopting their rules by manufacturing products in accordance with the principles of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. LEED certification assesses and certifies the environmental, social and economic sustainability of buildings from the design phase through to routine management. All Emilgroup products contribute to obtaining LEED credits in the Materials and resources (MR), Sustainable site (SS) and internal Environmental Quality (EQ) areas.

Emilgroup is listed among the qualified companies by Confindustria Ceramica for participating in the GPP (Good Phytosanitary Practices) program, which governs proper phytosanitary procedures for the handling and shipment of ceramic tiles to the U.S. market.

In 1997, Emilgroup certified its qualitymanagement system according to the ISO 9001 standard. The company’s guiding principle is the satisfaction of its customers’ needs with innovative products of reliable standards of quality, produced thanks to continuous improvements to its processes and products.

Occupational health and safety: as well as scrupulously respecting the provisions of the relevant legislation, Emilgroup strengthens and extends its commitment in this field right across the board by adopting the additional requisites of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System, certified according to the BS OHSAS 18001 standard since 2014 and now the international ISO 45001 version. Workers and their representatives are actively involved in the management system, suggesting possible improvements, organising emergency teams and undergoing continuous training on risks and the use of protective equipment.

In 2016 Emilgroup certified its Energy Management System according to the ISO50001 standard, tangible proof of its daily commitment to the informed, attentive and responsible use of energy. The company pursues energy savings through the continuous monitoring of its consumption, the improvements carried out to its production plants, the self-production of energy through the cogenerator and the recovery of residual heat which is reused in production.

In 2011 Emilgroup certified its environmental management system implemented according to the ISO 14001 standard. Adopting a “life cycle perspective”, the company is committed, on a daily basis, to developing products and processes aimed at reducing environmental impact, adopting an approach based on transparency, cooperation and prevention.

The healthiness of the environments in which we live and work is of the utmost importance. Emilgroup develops safe products, as certified by the stringent American Greenguard standard, which guarantees respect for very low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC), and by Greenguard Gold, with more restrictive limits for sensitive environments, like schools. The Greenguard and Greenguard Gold brands contribute to LEED credits.

Emilgroup is a member of the Green Building Council Italia, the Italian association of leaders committed to transforming the construction market toward environmental sustainability and building more livable communities. GBC Italia members promote environmental, economic, and social responsibility by innovating the way buildings are designed, constructed, and used.

The CCC Certification, in effect since 2002, is mandatory for both imported products in China and those manufactured locally for the Chinese market. It certifies compliance with safety and health requirements. As for ceramic tiles, the regulation applies exclusively to porcelain stoneware tiles with a water absorption rate equal to or less than 0.5%. The certification is issued by bodies officially accredited by the Chinese authorities, all based within China.