The environmental performances of modern ceramic manufacture and products, used as competitiveness factors - The experience of the European and Italian ceramic tile industry

This chapter deals with the relationships between ceramics and the environment, with particular reference to a specific ceramic sector - floor and wall tile - and to the European ceramic tile industry. In Europe, the Italian ceramic tile industry has a long and significant experience in prevention and reduction of environmental impacts, and can rely on a quantitative knowledge of those impacts, achieved through regular monitoring activities of emissions in force for more than 25 years. Now, however, the whole European ceramic industry, and the ceramic tile sector in particular, is involved in the application of new legislative prescriptions: IPPC Directive (96/61/CE) on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control, and, in part, ETS Directive (2003/87/CE), establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the European Community. These prescriptions are, in general, more demanding, in terms of environmental performance, compared to the proceeding laws, and may require additional costs, with possible negative effects on competitiveness.