WE'RE PRO-ACTIVELY GREENER. FOR A GREATER IMPACT.
Here at Johnson Tiles we have always been at the forefront of sustainability initiatives. In recent years; to maintain
our strong position as the UK’s leading ceramic tile manufacturer, we have shifted our focus to include the three pillars of sustainability: People, Profit and Planet.
We are constantly setting new environmental standards in the manufacturing of ceramic tiles in the UK.
Proudly operating from our home in the Potteries’ heartland of Stoke-on-Trent, our commitment to sustainable manufacturing has seen us develop over 50 environmentally-friendly ranges, inspiring and enhancing projects around the world. We are currently the only UK tile manufacturer to hold an EPD certificate! Our Environmental Product Declaration transparently communicates the environmental performance and impact of our UK manufactured products over their lifetime, and it signals our commitment to measuring the environmental impacts of our products and the strive to discover ways to further reduce this. We have also carefully calibrated our ceramic recipe to ensure that every single tile we manufacture contains up to 20% recycled ceramic material as part of our pioneering ceramic waste recycling system.
HOW WE’RE REDUCING OUR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
We have a long standing commitment to our environmental management and we have had a formal Environmental Policy in place since 1992. Certified against the ISO 14001 standard; in 1998 we became the first ceramics company within the white-wares sector to gain this certification and have since successfully upgraded it to meet the latest requirements of ISO 14001:2015. Here is what we have achieved in recent years, with a brief look into our sustainability projects and our plans are for the future.
IN-HOUSE SUSTAINABILITY TEAM
The forming of the in-house team has allowed us to focus more on sustainability related projects and ensure our sustainability goals are at the front and centre of our strategy.
SINGLE-USE PLASTICS FREE
We now remove approximately 100 tonnes of single-use plastics, per year, from our manufacturing, merchandising and logistics processes.
RECYCLED & RECYCLABLE CARDBOARD
Each year we purchase approximately 390 tonnes of cardboard packaging, all of which is produced using 100% recycled and recyclable materials. This means that we stop around 2,600m3 of landfill space from being filled by virgin cardboard materials.
SUPPLY CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY SCHOOL
We have engaged heavily with the Supply Chain Sustainability School and moved our membership from Bronze to Silver status.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RECOVERY
2021 saw the energy market become more volatile, with prices increasing. To combat this we took a closer look at our manufacturing plant to see where efficiencies could be implemented and assessed opportunities for energy reduction and recovery.
BARRATT ZED HOUSE PROJECT
During 2021, we partnered with Barratt Developments on their zero-carbon concept home. For this project we reduced the thickness of our 600x300mm tiles to reduce the raw materials used and the energy used during production.
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATION
Published in June 2022, our EPD covers all of our UK manufactured products, making us the UK’s only ceramic tile manufacture to hold an EPD certificate.
SUPPLY CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY SCHOOL
After collaborating further with the Supply Chain Sustainability School, contributing a case study showcasing our environmental successes, we gained Gold membership status.
BES 6001 ACCREDITATION
We have successfully completed our Stage 2 BSI assessment against the BRE Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products standard and have been awarded our official accreditation.
ENERGY HOUSE 2.0 PROJECT
In the latter half of 2022, we became a partner on the Energy House 2.0 developed by Saint-Gobain, along with Barratt Developments.
RECYCLED CONTENT INCREASE
By the end of 2022, we increased the amount of recycled ceramic material added to the body of our UK manufactured tiles to 20%.
FURTHER RECYCLED CONTENT INCREASE
We have targeted a further increase to the amount of recycled ceramic material that is added to the body of our UK manufactured tiles to 25%.
DE-CARBONISATION AND NET-ZERO
We have started on our route to net-zero, partnering with CEN-ESG to help with reporting our scope one, two and three emissions.
FURTHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECTS
This will include looking into further heat-recovery options from within our manufacturing plant.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOLUTIONS
We are working with the British Ceramic Confederation and also supporting the Hydrogen Valley Project looking at hydrogen as an energy alternative to gas in our firing process.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Our aim is to leave zero waste with our customers and we will be starting ‘packaging recovery trials’ to see the practicality of this.
WASTE REDUCTION OPPORTUNITIES
We have recently formed our in-house ‘Waste Recovery Team’ to look into our manufacturing, merchandising and logistics processes and find opportunities for further waste reductions.
RAIN WATER HARVESTING AND RE-USE
We are looking into areas of our manufacturing site where the collection of rainwater can be most effective and give us the best possible results when re-using.
OUR TARGET: TO BE THE WORLD LEADER IN SUSTAINABLE TILE PRODUCTION
WE ACTIVELY PROMOTE THE EFFICIENT USE AND RE-USE OF RESOURCES, MATERIALS, TRANSPORT, SUPPLIES AND ENERGY
It’s not just what we make, but how we make it. We’ve dedicated over two decades to finding better ways to operate across every aspect of our business by cutting energy consumption, diverting waste, reducing carbon emissions and through digital initiatives. We’re constantly improving, making sure our setup isn’t just world class, but also making a difference on the issues that impact us all, at a local and global level.
UP TO 20% RECYCLED CERAMIC MATERIALS
We recycle approximately 12,000 tonnes of ceramic waste from our production processes...
12,000 tonnes of ceramic is enough produce 32 million dinner plates or 72 million teacups...
and is equivalent to the total annual house-hold waste of 23,500 people.
RECYCLING AND RE-USE OF WATER
In our manufacturing sites' body preparation areas, we recycle and re-use around 22,000m3 of water per year...
22,000m3 of water is enough to flush a single house-hold toilet over 3.5 million times...
or fill approximately 280,000 bath tubs or 8 olympic sized swimming pools.
100% RECYCLED PACKAGING MATERIALS
Every year, we purchase around 390 tonnes of cardboard packaging, which is made using 100% recycled and recyclable cardboard materials.
This means that annually we are stopping approximately 2,600m3 of landfill space from being filled by virgin cardboard and packaging materials.
REPAIR AND RECYCLED WOODEN PALLETS
We purchase second-hand wooden pallets and also repair damaged wooden pallets wherever possible. Annually this saves around 1,500 tonnes of virgin timber.
1,500 tonnes of virgin timber is equivalent to saving 12,000 new trees from being cut down each year.
IN-HOUSE ENERGY SAVING INITIATIVES
Annually we save approximately 50 million kWh of energy through our in-house energy saving initiatives...
50 million kWh would be enough energy to boil the water in over 24 million kettles...
or provide electricity to power a single television set for 17,000 years.
REDUCTION IN OUR CARBON EMISSIONS
Through significant changes to our manufacturing operations we save around 1,700 tonnes of CO2 each year...
1,700 tonnes of CO2 is the equivalent to travelling 6.5 million miles in a petrol powered car...
or fly a Boeing 747 from London to Glasgow approximately 70 times.
WE MADE IT. 100% SINGLE-USE PLASTICS FREE IN 2020
Each year, starting in 2020, we’ve removed approximately 100 tonnes of single-use plastics from our manufacturing, merchandising and logistics processes; making us the first tile manufacturer to do so. Our single-use plastics free consists of the following; fully recycled and recyclable plant-based sugar cane wrap, 100% recycled and recyclable cardboard pallets and re-used and re-usable wooden pallets.
Fully Recycled and Recyclable, Carbon Neutral, Bio-based Pallet Wrapping.
100% Recycled and Recyclable Cardboard Boxes, Pallets and Paper Pallet Strapping.
Shredding Used Cardboard Packaging To Protect Our Future Shipments and Sample Tiles.
SUSTAINABLY SOURCED RAW MATERIALS
All of the raw materials used in the manufacturing process of our tiles are sourced from within the UK; with our manufacturing and warehousing facilities centrally located for the most carbon efficient and environmentally sustainable method of supplying tiles into the UK market.
Our Raw Materials:
Ball Clay (35%) - Sourced from Dorset (approx. 195 miles from Johnson Tiles)
China Clay (19%) - Sourced from Devon (approx. 205 miles from Johnson Tiles)
Sand (17%) - Sourced from Cheshire (approx. 35 miles from Johnson Tiles)
Limestone (9%) - Sourced from Derby (approx. 40 miles from Johnson Tiles)
Pitcher / Recycled Ceramic (20%) - Sourced from Johnson Tiles in Stoke on Trent
% = Amount of raw material used in our tile body.
Our Manufacturing Facilities are Centrally Located for UK Deliveries:
Edinburgh - Approx. 250 miles / 4 hours 35 minutes from Johnson Tiles
Newcastle - Approx. 250 miles / 4 hours 30 minutes from Johnson Tiles
Manchester - Approx. 45 miles / 1 hours from Johnson Tiles
London - Approx. 165 miles / 3 hours 20 minutes from Johnson Tiles
Exeter - Approx. 205 miles / 3 hours 30 minutes from Johnson Tiles
OUR EPD - A COMMITMENT TO A TRUE SUSTAINABLY BUILT ENVIRONMENT
WE ARE THE FIRST AND ONLY TILE MANUFACTURER, IN THE UK, TO HOLD AN EPD CERTIFICATE!
EPD stands for Environmental Product Declaration and is produced by conducting a Life Cycle Assessment of the product. Through this analysis, we look at the product construction and the origins of the raw materials, the packaging we use and the transportation and installation process, right through to the product’s end of life and how it is disposed of.
Environmental Product Declaration certificates make it possible for specifiers to compare the impacts of materials at the product selection stage, ensuring that the most sustainable options are specified. We’re proud to be leaders on this sustainability journey and are committed to discovering more ways in which we can support the built environment and positively impact the planet.
This EPD has been verified in accordance with ISO 14025 by an independent, third-party verifier by reviewing results, documents and compliancy with reference standard ISO 14025 and ISO 14040/14044.
SECURING A GOLD PLATED FUTURE IN SUSTAINABILITY
Our commitment to improvement extends to local and global environmental impact, which is why we worked with the team at the Supply Chain Sustainability School to further strengthen our operation and awareness on sustainability.
We collaborated with the school due to their aligned ethos of bettering the environment, working within our industry on topics such as waste and resource efficiency, sustainability strategy and environmental management. By attending multiple events and workshops in collaboration with house developer clients, we kick started our journey to the esteemed Gold accreditation.
Our impact on the environment naturally extends to our customers and colleagues, who are more engaged with sustainability than ever before. By utilizing the fantastic resources available through SCSS, we’ve committed to targeted competency training for colleagues throughout our business with ongoing learning and action plans already in the works.
Making It. Beautifully. CPD SUITE
Develop and enhance your skill-set with our new suite for Continuing Professional Development: Making It. Beautifully. Taking inspiration from the ‘Living with Beauty’ report by the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission in 2020, our suite of four CPD’s explores the topic of beauty to understand how it can be examined, re-imagined and incorporated into the built environment to create spaces that foster a sense of wellbeing and community. See more about our Making It. Beautifully CPD suite here.
OVER 50 ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY RANGES
PROUD TO HAVE SET THE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD IN THE WHITE WARES SECTOR
We’ve come a long way since we committed to our strict environmental policy in 1992.
With every tile we manufacture containing up to 20% recycled content, we’ve evaluated
every aspect of production to eliminate waste wherever we can. We’re constantly improving,
making sure our setup isn’t just world class, but also making a difference on the issues that
impact us all, at a local and global level. See our Standards & Accreditations here.
Let's Work Together
Our friendly and experienced team is here to help. If you’d like to get in touch, contact us via the email or telephone details below... Let’s Work Together.
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