Cosentino, a leading manufacturer of quartz, natural stone and recycled surfaces, has earned an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for ECO™ by Cosentino, its innovative surface composed of 75 percent recycled materials. ECO is the first material of its kind to earn such a distinction, according to Cosentino. The EPD was earned upon the completion of a Life Cycle Assessment, which conducts a detailed review of the product's materials and sources as well as the environmental impacts that occur during its lifecycle, from extrusion of raw materials to the end of its useful life. ECO combines a unique proprietary corn oil-based resin with a variety of post-industrial and post-consumer recycled materials, including: mirrors, glass, porcelain and industrial furnace residuals in the form of crystallized ashes. "EPD's are quickly becoming the new sustainability standard for companies like Cosentino that are proactively developing products and manufacturing systems that reduce environmental impact," said Lorenzo Marquez, Vice President of Marketing for Cosentino North America. "This EPD and Life Cycle Assessment underscores Cosentino's commitment to investing in environmentally sustainable technology and infrastructure. We want to remain on the forefront of environmental innovation." Earning an EPD requires increased transparency and the commissioning of a systematic process of continuous improvement for the entire manufacturing process. Cosentino is the first manufacturer in the quartz surfacing category to have it processes validated with an EPD. In the past year, Cosentino analyzed more than 1,500 production processes and 200 raw materials, with three key goals in mind: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing waste and using raw materials and energy more efficiently. The analysis findings allowed Cosentino to create an environmental monitoring system and best practices manual for each division of the company. ECO by Cosentino joins more than 140 products from more than 100 companies in nine countries that have been recognized through the prestigious Environmental Product Declaration (EPD®) by the International EPD Consortium, an independent third-party. Detailed information on the Cosentino's Life Cycle Assessment can be found on the International EDP Consortium's Web site: http://www.environdec.com/en/Detail/?Epd=7938 ECO™ by Cosentino has also been awarded Cradle-to-Cradle Silver Certification, is GreenGuard certified for low chemical emissions and is recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council for contributing up to nine credits toward LEED certification.
