full brochure

Transcription

full brochure

Our White paper
on Green Policies
IVC_3069_ECO-brochure_update2014_EN_8 IVC.indd 1
16/12/14 11:43
IVC
paves
the way
2
IVC GROUP
16/12/14 11:43
Jan Vergote
Filip Balcaen
Towards more eco-friendly floors
Here at the IVC Group, we believe in products that are built with the
future in mind. Products that rely on sustainable practices and spirited
people whose achievements are reflected in our company s clear
commitment to the marriage of elegance and ecology.
How do we propose to keep this promise to our employees and
partners, and to the people who enjoy our floors? By taking the
necessary time to pause and reflect on the impact of our entire
strategy and operation, and by taking action accordingly. That is why
our vinyl flooring plants are among the leanest and greenest in their
class. That is why we continue to lower our emission levels and
dependence on fossil fuels, while raising the bar in recycling processes
and low-impact production. And that is why we invest in clean-air
technology and cutting-edge manufacturing methods, using only
choice materials whose safety is guaranteed throughout their long
and versatile life.
In today s discerning market, actions speak louder than words.
So I invite you to discover, in the pages of this brochure, all the exciting
things the IVC Group is doing for the environment: working through
its certified and award-winning policies, its skilled and inspired people,
and a product portfolio that manages to combine good value and
responsibility in increasingly efficient ways, we ve been able to make
a real difference.
Come join us as we continue to create new and improved generations
of eco-efficient floors; floors that raise the industry norm and reduce
our carbon footprint, paving the way to a greener tomorrow .
Jan Vergote
CEO IVC Group
Filip Balcaen
Chairman
OUR WHITE PAPER ON GREEN POLICIES
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16/12/14 11:43
EXPORT
112
COUNTRIES
Established in 1997
Corporate HQ IVC GROUP
Avelgem, BE
IVC GROUP
15
YEARS
4
IVC GROUP
16/12/14 11:43
IVC past and present
The IVC Group was
established in 1997 and
quickly developed into an
independent powerhouse
in the market of synthetic
flooring solutions.
Originating in Belgium, the
IVC Group is currently active on two
continents, delivering first-rate
products and services to 112
countries around the world. As
Europe s residential market leader
in resilient flooring and a worldclass manufacturer of premium
vinyl, laminate and LVT flooring
products for private and professional applications, the IVC Group
strives to satisfy the demands of its
customers and partners in each
stage of the game.
Every day, the 1,250 members of
the IVC family bring to life our
company creed and commitment
to a unique range of floors that are
designed to set trends and inspire
confidence and style.
In the IVC Group, we presume
nothing and pay attention to
everything, and that has allowed us
to break the mould for more than
15 years.
Balterio,
Vielsalm, BE
Did you know?
That the IVC Group employs
over 30 different nationalities
worldwide? This many cultures
and inspirations go into our
eclectic floor designs, which
explains their global appeal.
IVC US HQ
Dalton, GA
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Our brands
Leoline® / Flexitec®
Under the brand names Leoline
(Europe & Russia) and Flexitec
(US), the IVC Group offers a huge
selection of resilient vinyl flooring
for private residences and
high-street commercial applications. Ranging from classic
elegance to contemporary cool,
and resisting everyday wear and
tear along the way, our home
brands provide a smart all-round
flooring solution that strikes the
perfect balance between quality,
durability, economy and style.
These residential brands are
distributed through retailers and
wholesalers and also available
under private label. Our Leoline
catalogue comprises three tiers of
quality and performance ‒ smart,
solid, and super ‒ delivering the
styles and specs to match any room
or requirement.
Did you know?
That Leoline and Flexitec floors are
equipped with high-performance
wear-layers that shield against dirt and
dust? A little water will go a long way in
keeping them clean and healthy for the
duration of their long life ‒ no need for
caustic cleaning products or energythirsty appliances.
The IVC Group leads Europe s private
market for resilient flooring with a
worldwide capacity of 140 million
square metres of sheet vinyl per year.
Itec®
The Itec moniker was coined in 2008
and brings together the IVC Group s
rich and diverse selection of
contract floors. These hardwearing
products are a firm favourite with
professionals, offering a responsive
and assured flooring solution that
meets the most exacting market
demands in terms of build quality,
health and safety, and the
environment.
Did you know?
That Itec s isafe and acoustic floors are not only a great
safeguard against uninvited slips and sounds, but also
a strong thermal insulator, and completely recyclable?
6
Itec also specialises in robust safety
and acoustic flooring, and lends its
name to several stunning collections
of highly practical vinyl floors that
feel right at home in the most
challenging settings: the healthcare
sector and social housing applications, hospitality, business and
commerce ...
IVC GROUP
16/12/14 11:43
Moduleo®
Moduleo, established in 2011, is the
IVC Group s latest in-house development and foremost designer brand
for residential and light commercial
applications. Moduleo is all about
modular inspirations, celebrating
the marriage between invention
and style in a big way.
Moduleo s luxury vinyl tiles and
planks are created in our green LVT
production facility in Avelgem
(Belgium), making them the
fashionable and eco-smart flooring
choice for anyone looking to
transform their room from the
ground up.
Did you know?
That Moduleo s patented L2C
click-technology keeps glues
firmly out of the flooring
equation? The same holds true
for our easy-going ClickXpress,
DropXpress and PressXpress
systems. And what s more, 35 to
50% of your Moduleo design
floor has lived a prior life,
reincarnated into a roomful of
beauty and style.
Balterio®
Balterio, which the IVC Group
acquired in 2013, produces
laminated flooring whose exceptional quality and aesthetic
versatility have set a new benchmark in the business. The trendy
product collections under the
Balterio brand are made in Vielsalm
(Belgium) and are known for the
great customer service they arrive
with. Balterio aspires to remain a
green-hearted pioneer and
trendsetter in the high-end market
of laminate floors, and is ready to
embrace the future.
Did you know?
That MDF boards are not only
less energy-intensive to
produce than most other
building materials, but they
also have excellent insulating
qualities, making them ideal for
low-energy and passive
building applications.
Did you know?
That a 2005 study by BASF, the world s largest
chemical concern, ranks laminate as one of the
most eco-efficient floor types on the market today?
It has the lowest energy requirement, uses a high
percentage of renewable materials, and has a great
track record in recycling. Balterio, moreover, has
joined the European Producers of Laminate
Flooring in signing a standardised Environmental
Product Declaration that has raised the ecological
bar for the entire industry.
Spanolux®
Spanolux produces a variety of
performance MDF and wood-based
solutions for building, construction
and interior decoration purposes.
All Spanolux products are
CO2-neutral and made from
recycled woods. Our MDF production plant in Vielsalm is the only
one of its kind in Belgium.
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Our markets
3
1
4
2
5
Sold in
112
countries
and counting
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IVC GROUP
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6
7
8
9
EUROPE
1. HQ Avelgem & Vielsalm (BE)
2. Wiltz (LU)
3. Derby (UK)
4. Dusseldorf (DE)
USA
5. HQ Dalton (GA)
Russia
6. ST-Petersburg (RU)
7. MOscow (RU)
8. NOVOsibirsk (RU)
Production units
Asia
distribution centres
9. Shanghai (cN)
Sales offices
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A brief history of
eco-responsible innovations
1997-2008
1997
IVC Group policies include:
A closely monitored recycling process for
internal waste streams and PVC paste.
Strict wastewater management and air
protection measures using end-of-pipe
technology and rigorous monitoring
procedures.
Avelgem, Be
Introduction of 100% water-based inks
and topcoats.
Closed-loop and eco-efficient production
methods that re-use in-house resources
and conserve energy.
2008
2008
IVC Group takes action to collect and
compress PVC scrap, which is recycled into
new products by partner companies.
2010
Avelgem, Be
2012
Launch of the Moduleo production
site in Avelgem (Belgium), geared to
sustainable projects.
2012
2010
2011
2014
Three wind turbines ‒ inexhaustible
sources of energy ‒ supply power to our
industrial estate in Avelgem. The three of
them combined account for more than
one third of the annual energy
consumption of our factories.
10
Dalton, GA
2011
Intensive R&D programme results in significant
reduction of VOCs at the plant, process and
product levels.
2012
The IVC Group achieves ISO 14001
certification for its environmental
management system.
Moduleo starts successful on-site waste
recycling program.
IVC US opens an eco-efficient
production plant in Dalton, Georgia.
Its emission levels are 250% lower
than the industry norm.
2013
2013
Our Scheldt water project, using river water as
a coolant, yields impressive energy savings.
2014
IVC Group takes over Trinterio and its brands
Balterio and Spanolux, capitalising on their
long-standing tradition in the field of
environmentally friendly production.
The IVC recycling plant in Avelgem is audited
and becomes certified under the Eucertplast
Scheme for European Plastic Recyclers,
resulting in the Recovinyl Plus label.
IVC GROUP
16/12/14 11:47
2014
wind park in Avelgem
is fully operational
N
balta
W2
W1
IVC
W3
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Our community, our creativity
Our catalogue of products
may be our international
calling card, but the real
core and capital of the
IVC Group are its
employees. Without their
boundless enthusiasm and
unique creative talents, we
simply wouldn t be able to
produce the quality
products our customers
have come to expect
from us.
AGE
-25Y
In return, the IVC Group has created
and continues to foster a safe and
inspiring working environment for
its people to thrive in. Everyone is
invited to join in and help shape
the shared vision of the Group,
regardless of sex, age, colour or
creed: working together as
individuals, free to express their
opinion and explore their talents to
the fullest extent, the floor is theirs
for the making ‒ and taking.
25-30Y
30-50Y
50-60Y
+60Y
5% 20% 61% 12% 2%
As a group, we also believe strongly
in the communities our companies
and employees belong to. We give
voice to this philosophy by
supporting local charities and
partner programmes that reinforce
the fabric of the places we operate
in. The IVC Group always tries to
engage local talent: nearly three
quarters of the IVC US workforce,
for instance, resides in North
Georgia and the greater Dalton
area.
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IVC GROUP
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Training & development
We as a group intend to stay ahead
of the learning curve. The search for
real innovation and inspiration
requires we expand our horizon
every day. The IVC Group prides
itself on giving its employees every
opportunity to develop their
individual skill sets, explore new
and exciting possibilities, and
advance their knowledge and
career. Assuming our corporate
social responsibility means giving
our people the time and tools they
need to pull together and progress,
as a team, in a direction that s right
for everyone.
Our hands-on creative process,
has always been a joint effort too,
based on the everyday exchange of
information and ideas. Throughout
the IVC Group ranks and departments, moreover, we organise
tailor-made seminars and training
courses that empower our people
to grow personally and professionally towards a proactive role in their
respective jobs. In today s rapidly
changing marketplace, responding
to the increasingly vocal demands
of consumers, it is crucial that we,
as a tight-knit family, continue to
keep our know-how and imagination up to speed. So that s exactly
what we do.
A safer workplace
From the outset, we have been
deeply committed to preventing
accidents and reducing the
number of safety hazards in the
workplace. This resolve underpins
the IVC Group s on-going efforts to
organise and sustain a working
environment that complies with
the latest health and safety codes.
Did you know?
In 2013, as part of BBC s charity
Children in Need, Moduleo
donated a large selection of
wheelchair-friendly and
hardwearing flooring to the
refurbished Little Miracles
centre. Little Miracles is an
organisation for children with
additional needs, disabilities
and life-limiting conditions
based in Peterborough.
TRANSPORT
As a grassroots business
distributing our products
through local networks and
outlets, the IVC Group is able to
keep transport and commuter
traffic down. And less fuel going
up in smoke means better
mileage on the road towards a
more sustainable future!.
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Our eco-efficiency explained
Energy-efficient Systems
)3/
ISO 14001
Clean energy
Since 1997, the IVC Group has put
considerable effort in the implementation of a finely tuned and
fully integrated environmental
management system. This carefully
thought-out approach has allowed
us to strike a sound balance
between economic profitability,
which keeps us in the black, and
environmental integrity, which
inspires us to go green.
■ Wind park
In 2012, the IVC Group obtained the
required construction and environmental permits for a wind park on
its premises. The construction of
the 3 wind mills started in spring
2014. This inexhaustible source of
energy now supplies power to our
factories in Avelgem and the three
of them combined account for
more than one third of the annual
energy consumption of our
factories. All turbines comply with
strict health and safety standards
with regards to noise nuisance and
view.
"52%!56%2)4!3
#ERTIFICATION
In December 2012, following a
tough external screening, the IVC
Group was awarded ISO 14001
accreditation. This certificate of
eco-achievement not only reflects
positively on our past endeavours
and present-day compliance with
environmental rules and regulations, but also recognises our
systematic commitment to the
fight against global warming and
pollution.
The current climate gives us every
reason to switch to clean and
renewable energy: lower energy
bills, significant fuel savings, less
greenhouse gasses and a smaller
carbon footprint.
Merit Badge
ISO 14001? This merit badge
pays tribute to an international
standard in environmental
management systems and lets
everyone know that a company
is actually living up to its
promises and policies.
14
IVC GROUP
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wind
Avelgem, be
13.3 GwH/year = equivalent
1,145 tonnes of oil (TOE)
annual electricity consumption
of >2,000 households
riding the winds
of change!
2,300 KW
2,300 KW
2,300 KW
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■ Solar power
In Dalton, Georgia, IVC US has
green-lit the future. 454 solar
panels, capable of generating a
combined per annum total of more
than 10,000 kWh, provide enough
clean and renewable energy to
power the company s fleet of
electrical lifting trucks, which run
on rechargeable batteries. And
there s more: this garden of
photovoltaic panels will create a
healthier environment while
reducing the plant s overall
emission levels, which are already
impressively low. How low exactly?
250% sub industry par. Now that s
impressive!
SOLAR
Did you know?
The solar power station in
Dalton is equipped with a
tracking device that keeps
tabs on the sun as it moves
across the sky. This automatic system of alignment
allows us to reap the full
rewards that come with
every ray of sunshine!
Dalton, GA
True or false?
A 24/7 production line consumes less energy than
one that is shut down intermittently. True! The
high-tech Dalton plant was engineered to remain
fully operational at all times. Around-the-clock
operation also lowers the cost of production,
which means better-priced floors for our
customers. It s a win-win-win!
a clean energy policy
that truly shines!
454 photovoltaic panels
Sunny Side Up
Luminosity =
3,846 x 1,026 Watts
10,000 KWH/year
= 1 year of electricity
for US household
IVC Forklift
Trucks are Go
16
IVC GROUP
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WATER
closed-loop system with heat recuperators
the gift that keeps on giving!
Avelgem, be
Run: 350 Km
Debit: 103 m3/s
Temp: max 25°
C
No impact
on Nature!!
Heat exchangers
SCHELDT
Clean river water
Low-energy pumps
(Make less noise)
Strictly
Separated Flows!!!
more
ECO efficient!!!!
Process
cooling water
floor-making machine
(Closed Loop)
Responsible production
■ Scheldt Project
The manufacture of high-grade vinyl
floors requires cooling water, which
will absorb heat in the different
stages of production. Thinking
outside the box, the IVC Group has
invested in a bold experiment that
uses surface water from the nearby
river Scheldt as a secondary coolant.
Using only a minimal amount of
electricity, river water is pumped up
and sent along the closed-loop flow
of our plant s process cooling water.
The exchange of thermal energy
(up to 2,500 kW) is achieved through
state-of-the-art heat exchangers,
so there is no direct contact
between the river water and
the process water en route.
So far, the results have been very
positive: since its introduction, the
Scheldt Project has led to a 30%
increase in energy efficiency for
the production of PVC floors. The
project has also allowed us to
phase out up to 80% of our
mechanical cooling system, which
uses less environmentally friendly
Freon-based refrigerants. Another
important advantage of eliminating
the need for machine-driven
coolants is the significant noise
reduction on site.
Did you know?
A scientific study conducted by
the University of Antwerp has
shown that the environmental
impact of IVC s Scheldt Project
on the local fauna and flora is
negligible. At no point does the
river water come in contact
with our process water, and the
temperature increase of
the thermal exchange is
minute.
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AIR
■ Natural refrigerants
The Moduleo plant tells a different
story. Compared to cushioned vinyl,
the making of LVT requires cooling
agents whose temperature is
considerably lower than those
afforded by the river Scheldt. For
this reason, IVC has chosen the next
best medium available: ammonia,
or NH3, a natural and biodegradable compound that has been used
as a refrigerant for more than a
century.
avelgem, be
anhydrous ammonia
(NH3), natural refrigerant
Global warming and
ozone depletion
potential = 0
fans
condenser
free cooling
(Gravity)
gas
LIQUID
evaporator
Natural circulation
no running
compressor needed
energy saving 40%
NH3
At the heart of our innovative
thermosyphon free cooling system
is ammonia, which circulates
between an evaporator and a
condenser, air-conditioning the
plant s closed-loop water process.
Free or dynamic cooling is applied
when the outside temperature is
lower than the process water
temperature, and relies on gravity.
This natural principle cuts the high
energy cost of a compressor, heat
exchangers or additional gadgets,
which makes for a great (and green)
return on investment - by a simple
flick of a switch, however, we can
revert to mechanical cooling when
the outside temperature becomes
too high.
Unlike synthetic refrigerants (HFCs),
which are being phased out by the
EU, ammonia is perfectly safe and
harmless to the environment and
the ozone layer.
Process
water
Did you know?
bye-bye to harmful HFC refrigerants!
18
That 15% of Belgium s total
energy consumption is spent
on refrigeration? The IVC
Group is proud to ride the
wave of innovation that will
help reduce this glut!
IVC GROUP
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The Big Commute
(Fall-Winter) 110°
C
(Summer- Spring) 250°
C
60°
C
3
The magic
of CONVECTION
2
Hot
oil
H20
A breath of
fresh air!!
220°
C
Make-up Air unit
Thermal
oils
Cooled
oil
80°
C
3
VOCs
neutralised!!
720°
C
(harmless)
Hot flue gas
INCINERATOR
low-voc smokey gas stream
A blast
of warm
air!
Converted
back
to
LIQUID
floor-making machine
1
Re-used
■ Recuperating resources
A lot of love goes into the making
of our PVC flooring products. And
only a little energy is allowed to
escape. In all of our plants, we
recover and re-use materials and
energy in the maze-like course of
We recycle:
1
materials
2
water
3
heat
the production process. IVC calls
this internally coordinated system
of reciprocation and reconversion
The Big Commute .
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Environmental care
Raw materials & Recycling
Homeward bound
The IVC Group uses only choice
materials to build its quality
products. We have also spent a lot
of time and effort structuring and
streamlining the waste collection
and recycling processes in our
plants around the world, making
sure not a scrap goes to waste.
Here s a brief overview of what
we ve been up to:
Sustainable woods
Balterio makes a point of using
only PEFC-certified materials in its
high-density fibreboards. This
means that the woods inside our
products are sourced from
sustainably managed forests,
where the local resources and
ecosystems are treated with the
love and respect they deserve.
green fact
Green Fact. In Dalton, GA, all of
IVC s leftover plastics are locally
recycled into automotive floor
mats, giving new meaning to
the motoring phrase flooring it .
Recycled plastics
Recycling the ingredients that make
up IVC s distinct flavour of floors is
key to our vision on sustainable
management. 35 to 50% of any
Moduleo design floor consists of
recycled materials of a controlled
origin. Through post-industrial
recycling, moreover, we are able to
distil a particularly pure type of
PVC with a very limited impact on
the environment. Similarly, Leoline s
Greentex floors, which have a
padded textile back, use up to 60%
recycled household plastics, such as
PET bottles and plastic containers.
Waste water
H2O is pivotal to our core business,
which is making premium floors: water
is used as a coolant and medium in the
production cycle, but also as a cleaning
product during the printing stages.
But having a watertight system of
closed loops doesn t mean we re not
careful about the way we treat this
most valuable resource. That is why we
go the extra mile to collect, process,
purify and recycle the water than runs
through the veins of our plants,
without any risk or exposure to the
outside environment.
Waste not!
That fresh water is now officially
the most valuable resource on
the planet, surpassing fuels like
natural gas and oil? According
to the United Nations, water
treatment and purification
systems are the way forward to
combat the worldwide shortage
looming large.
{greentex}
GREENBACK®
20
IVC GROUP
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Waste management
Separation and removal
of waste streams by container
= less residual waste
90
60
30
kG / 1000m2
Since 1997, the IVC Group has
made a point of recycling the PVC
waste streams that are generated in
the manufacture of its products.
Vinyl scraps, for instance, are
salvaged and then pressed into
bales, ready to be re-used in a wide
variety of applications. All surplus
PVC paste is similarly recovered and
injected back into the production
process of our sheet vinyl.
Residual waste Moduleo Avelgem, Be
Moduleo Recycling Unit
up and running =
streamlined waste
management
0
In 2012, the Moduleo plant
acquired a special recycling unit
that bundles it various waste
recovery systems. This facility was
set up with sustainable projects in
mind. It is completely self-sufficient
and enables us to recycle our own
PVC scrap, without the help of
external handlers and transport
companies.
In two years time, the recycling
unit turned over an annual volume
of 17,500 tons of scrap, including
the plant s post-industrial waste.
A new R&D programme is also
looking into the practical benefits
of recycling materials sourced from
elsewhere: post-industrial, postinstallation and even postconsumer materials, bits and pieces
that are ready to be reassembled
into durable and elegant-looking
floors.
The company was rewarded for its
efforts in 2013, when the Avelgem
site became certified under the
EuCertPlast Scheme for European
Plastic Recyclers and received the
Recovinyl Plus label.
2012
Pack(ag)ing light
Sure, we can tell you all about the
bare-bones packaging we ship our
products in, how we significantly
reduced the bulk of our outbound
commercial vinyl or why, as a
low-volume producer, we hate to
see perfectly good plastic go to
waste. We d rather provide a point
in case: our Spanolux branch can
boast the blessing of Der Grüne
Punkt (The Green Dot), whose
pan-European directive demands
we retrieve and recycle all our
Balterio product packaging. In
2011, these salvage operations
amounted to carbon emission
savings of no less than 31 tons.
Waste not, want not!
2013
connecting green DOTS
Inspired by the German dual
waste collection system, the
European Packaging and
Packaging Waste Directive
94/62/EC has called on the
conscience of some 130,000
companies in 23 countries in
a joint rally to reduce waste.
That s 460 billion packages
worth of commitment.
Did you know?
That the IVC Group members
own and operate their own
container parks, where refuse is
neatly separated and labelled?
That makes them highly
economical and easy to
maintain in perfect order, much
like our floors!
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Safeguarding the air
Indoor Air Quality
The processing of PVC inevitably
releases low concentrations of
volatile organic compounds, or
VOCs, which are sublimated into
the surrounding air. While these
substances are a natural and
ubiquitous fact of life ‒ and typically
harmless ‒ the IVC Group always
plays it safe, making sure that the
emission of VOCs is nipped in the
bud and neutralised from the
factory floor to the living room, in
line with the most stringent
European laws and regulations.
In Belgium, the third European
country to have introduced
stringent emission norms for the
flooring sector, the IVC Group
collections score equally well: both
our vinyl and modular floors remain
well below the emission mark of
the 270 potentially harmful
substances blacklisted by the
Federal Public Service for Health,
Food Chain Safety and the
Environment.
■ Germany: DIBt/AgBB
The certification behind
the DIBt/AgBB-label is by
far the most unforgiving
interpretation of the
European directive for
the safe and sustainable use of
construction products: stricter even
than the French and Belgian
regulations stated previously.
Owing to the IVC Group s
continued research into more
eco-effective floors, our vinyl
products satisfy the stringent
emission criteria as stipulated by
the renowned DIBt Institute in
Berlin.
IVC GROUP
IAQ around the world
Z-156.603-1054
IVC Design Floors
VOCs are a fact of
life when building
materials are
concerned: even
wood and stone cannot escape the
natural law of sublimation over the
longer term. Fortunately, the IVC
Group can guarantee the Indoor Air
Quality of the countless homes and
businesses that enjoy our floors.
Don t take our word for it though:
here is a telltale list of international
credits, certificates and realisations, proof positive of our commitment to the protection of living
(and working) environments!
■ France & Belgium:
bringing our A+ game
Our European
brands, Balterio,
Leoline, Itec and
Moduleo, carry
the green A+ label, the highest
accolade awarded by the French
authorities. This tried and tested
hallmark, based on the European
Construction Products Directive
(CPD), validates the environmental
soundness of our flooring solutions.
22
■ US: FloorScore®
Moduleo s luxury
vinyl planks and
tiles meet the rigid
health and safety
requirements of the
flooring products programme for
indoor air quality, which was
developed by the Georgia-based
Resilient Floor Covering Institute
(RFCI) in collaboration with
Scientific Certification Systems Inc.
This has earned us an excellent
FloorScore®, which qualifies our
products for safe use in public
spaces, like schools and healthcare
by
facilities, under the strict auspices
of Californian law. The IVC Group s
confident environmental rating is
an important stepping stone
towards making the grade of
leading industry credit systems in
Europe and the US, such as the
LEED Green Building programme.
■ Europe: CE mark
Laminate flooring is
known to contain
traces of formaldehyde, which might
release into the air over time.
Balterio has managed to eliminate
the risk factor of this endemic VOC:
in terms of emissions, their
laminate floors are on par with
natural products like wooden
floorboards. As a result of this,
Balterio is able to toe the very strict
mark of the CE EN 14041:2004
standard. But there is more: going
beyond the call of duty, Balterio s
laminate products outperform the
proviso for E1 CE-conformity by a
factor of 10!
Did you know?
We not only safeguard indoor
air, but also indoor comfort and
quiet? Our floors provide great
thermal and acoustic insulation
that let you turn down the
heating a notch (without
disturbing the neighbourly peace).
IVC GROUP
16/12/14 11:49
REACH
■ Making our commitment click
IVC s patented
click-lock systems
ClickXpress, DropXpress, PressXPress,
together with our Balterio attachment clips and the Moduleo Click
system with L2C technology, are
easy to install ... and easy on the
environment: they banish potentially noxious glues and adhesives
from the installation process of the
floor and skirting, resulting in a
perfect fit with a healthy finish.
■ Water-based inks & PU coatings
In the past, the majority of manufacturers relied on solvent-based inks
when printing their patterns and
designs. The IVC Group, looking
towards the future, uses only
water-based inks for its printing
purposes. This decision has
completely eliminated the risk of
hazardous emissions being released
into the air, and markedly reduced
our carbon footprint overall.
Water-based inks, of course, are
100% recyclable and emit zero
fumes.
The polyurethane finish that
protects our Moduleo floors and
keeps them looking fresh is entirely
water-based. So are the PU lacquers
that are used on the Leoline and
Itec floors in our Luxemburg
branch. That s good news for
Mother Nature, and for the people
who enjoy the clean air comfort of
our products every day.
The IVC Group
carefully vets the raw
materials we buy and
process, making sure
that they do not contain suspect or
potentially harmful substances.
This system of quality assurance is
in accordance with the European
Union directive for the Registration,
Evaluation, Authorisation and
Restriction of Chemicals, also
known as REACH. The IVC Group
works exclusively with suppliers
who conform to the REACH
regulation, safeguarding the
integrity and quality the finished
product we deliver to the end user.
Did you know?
That not only our
raw materials and
finished floors are
perfectly safe and sound to use,
but also our auxiliary products?
IVC s Flex-Tech is the only
pressure sensitive adhesive to
have earned both the GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality
certification (UL Environment)
and the Green Label Plus
warranty from the American
Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI).
23
16/12/14 11:49
Sustaining the cycle
Lifecycles & Ecology
Blue Angel
BRE Ecopoints
The German Blue
Angel certification
gained international
fame and authority as
the world s very first
eco-label for products and services.
Since 1978, the organisation has
been endorsing companies that
have distinguished themselves in
making their products and services
more environmentally friendly. The
Blue Angel jury is comprised of
people who are active in environmental organisations and consumer
protection groups. Through this
label, they provide information to
the increasingly eco-smart
consumer, who is looking to buy
sustainable products from companies that care. As of August 2012,
our Balterio laminate floors carry
the Blue Angel seal of approval
(RAL-UZ38).
Both our Itec and
Moduleo brands are
certified by BRE
Global, an affiliate
of the Building
Research Establishment in the UK.
Under the BRE scheme, a product
is subjected to a full life-cycle
assessment that examines the
environmental impact associated
with the individual stages in a
product s life from cradle
to grave.
This evaluation yields an objective
score expressed in so-called
ecopoints : the lower the score,
the better the result.
Our Itec and Moduleo floors
passed the BRE litmus test with
flying colours: their excellent
A+ and A ratings are testament
to the real progress we have
made in reducing the environmental impact of our products.
These top marks are also good
news for builders and property
developers: fitting our certified
floors will bring them one
step closer to the coveted
BREEAM-certification, which
rates a building s environmental
performance.
How did we do?
Go to www.greenbooklive.co.uk,
look up our BRE score, and find
out how our products compare
to rival floors.
(hint: rather favourably)
Green Fact
All sourced wood is PEFCcertified for Balterio branded
products. This means that
Balterio only uses wood of
sustainably managed forests to
produce its laminate floorings.
For each tree that is
cut, a new one is
planted.
24
IVC GROUP
16/12/14 11:49
Embracing the Future
Balterio has the future firmly in its
sights. It has instituted a wellbalanced sustainability programme
that revolves around four strategic
axes: production, innovation,
certification and community. The
objective of the Embrace the
Future programme is to bracket
and address ecological, social and
economical concerns in a way that
is both profitable and responsible.
The programme has paid green
dividends: the emission of
greenhouse gasses is down by
almost 10%, and there has been a
significant reduction of the glut in
process waste and primary energy
consumption. Most of the plant s
resources are recycled and re-used
in the production line. And
Balterio s source material, of
course, is of a pristine quality and
PEFC-approved.
Innovations in product design
have extended our products
lifespan, moreover, and improved
the indoor air quality: our laminate
floors contain ten times less
formaldehyde than is the current
norm. Their healthy reputation has
earned the Balterio brand the Blue
Angel, DIBt Ü and A+ labels, which
fit into a long tradition of ecoexcellence established with the
company s ISO 9001 and 14001
certifications.
By the way: Balterio laminate
flooring is perfectly compatible
with energy-efficient floor heating
systems, keeping the residential
energy bill very much in check.
“Sustainable development meets
the needs of the present
without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet
their own needs.”
‒ Our Common Future , UN World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) ‒
For more inspiration, check out the Embrace the Future
story @ www.balteriosustainability.com
25
16/12/14 11:49
26
IVC GROUP
16/12/14 11:49
Our promise for the future
Continuous Improvement
Facing the great challenges of our
time, our company creed resonates
with new import. More than ever,
we want to heed the increasingly
vocal demands of customers and
consumers who are fully aware of
the real difference and impact their
individual choices can make on the
world. To do so means to innovate
the past, transform the present
and sustain the future, and to
invest in our people and products
in ways that benefit the local
economy and the global
environment.
In doing so, we hope to inspire a
new generation of designer floors
that dares to choose enduring
substance over fleeting fashions.
Floors that manage to combine
beauty, practicality and ecology,
yet never take the world, nor its
wellbeing and resources, for
granted.
So we will continue to combine our
efforts towards the development of
cleaner, safer, and more sustainable
products and services. Reduce our
carbon footprint, and combat
global warming with an open visor;
develop new technologies to
reduce waste and harness the
unlimited power of alternative
energy sources; and make good on
our social and ecological commitments through concrete and
calculable actions.
The IVC Group
continues to lead
the way and refuses
to take anything
for granted.
27
16/12/14 11:49
S079XX999Z.ECOE - Eco brochure EN - Dec. 2014
www.ivcgroup.com
IVC group ¦ Nijverheidslaan 29 ¦ B-8580 Avelgem ¦ Belgium
T +32 (0)56 65 32 11 ¦ F +32 (0)56 65 32 29
info@ivcgroup.com
16/12/14 11:50

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