Sustainable and environmentally friendly flooring installation
The environment is one of the most important issues facing the construction industry. LEED & BREEAM certification aims to produce sustainable buildings and improve the safety of products to create a healthy work environment. If you want to improve your carbon footprint, UZIN can support you and provides a number of helpful tips below.
As a responsible manufacturer, UZIN is doing everything possible to improve climate protection for future generations and we have developed and embraced sustainable initiatives throughout our business. See below for details or find the UZIN UTZ Group's sustainability policy and report here.
A history of sustainability
SAFE & LOW-EMISSION PRODUCTS
Most UZIN products are solvent-free, low in emissions and awarded EMICODE EC1 PLUS® certification, making them safer and healthier for you and your clients. They are also more environmentally friendly because they release no damaging pollutants or impurities.
Products with EMICODE EC1 PLUS® certification are solvent-free, very low emission and guarantee excellent indoor air quality as well as providing the most ecological approach for flooring installations. Such products are also ideal for LEED & BREEAM certification. UZIN also have several products which have Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which are suitable for clients which require a SKA rating or require products to meet ISO 14025.
For more information about EMICODE EC1® certification click here


RESPONSIBLE MANUFACTURING
Some UZIN products are manufactured at our CO2 neutral factory in the Netherlands. The energy efficient facility is one of the most sustainable factories in Europe, receiving a “score” of 8.66 from GPR Gebouw, a Dutch Green Building Rating.
The sedum roof insulates, improves biodiversity and diffuses carbon dioxide whilst releasing oxygen. The heating is generated by a combination of pellet and geothermal heating, rainwater is used for flushing toilets and the air, light and temperature are sensor controlled. Together with numerous other initiatives, the premises embody the latest sustainable technology and helps offset the environmental impact of manufacturing.
Cube It Simple Recyclable Packaging
UZIN is focused on innovating new environmental solutions and have innovated the Cube It Simple recyclable packaging. As well as the UZIN L3 Gold range of products, the packaging is now available for UZIN PE 260 & UZIN PE 360 PLUS primers. The new packaging means:
- 77% less CO2 – The cube packaging allows much more efficient method of transporting as more weight and units can be put on a pallet. Transportation is therefore reduced and less CO2 discharged.
- 85% less waste – Only the liner is made from plastic, which can be returned and disposed off. The box is made from recycled cardboard which can be recycled. This also saves floor contractors the hassle of disposing large amounts of plastic containers.

TIPS FOR FLOORING CONTRACTORS
CHOOSE PRODUCTS WHICH PRODUCE LESS CO2

Use UZIN products with the ECO2 CHOICE logo. UZIN has increased the proportion of raw materials from bio-based origins in some of its products without altering the quality. The combination of renewable resources and fossil fuels, compared to fossil fuels alone, significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Your CO2 footprint would therefore be lower than if you were to use similar products.
USE GYPSUM BASED SMOOTHING COMPOUNDS
Gypsum smoothing compounds have a naturally better carbon footprint compared to cementitious smoothing compounds, as the gypsum binder creates less CO2 when produced. Reducing the carbon footprint of cementitious smoothing compounds without affecting the technical performance is also a significant challenge. If possible, use a gypsum smoothing compound rather than a cement-based smoothing compound.
CHOOSE PRODUCTS WITH RECYCLED PACKAGING

Cardboard packaging is an alternative to plastic bottles and is considerably better for the environment. Cube It Simple boxes are made from recycled cardboard and are recyclable. A box saves 85% less plastic waste than a plastic bottle, as only the inner liner and cap are plastic. It also saves 77% less CO2 because more weight and units are on a pallet. As a result, transportation is reduced, and less CO2 is discharged.
USE SOLVENT-FREE PRODUCTS

Solvent-based products pollute the air with volatile organic compounds and can harm the user unless suitable PPE (personal protective equipment) is worn. Products with EMICODE EC1 Plus® are solvent-free, very low emission, and guarantee excellent indoor air quality. They also provide the highest possible protection against emissions. However, solvent adhesives are still often used to install skirting. A safer and easier method to install skirting, capping and coving is with UZIN Remur tape, which provides a durable bond, preventing shrinkage and gapping.
INSTALL PVC-FREE FLOOR COVERINGS

Making PVC through a chemical reaction between chlorine, carbon, and ethylene releases harmful chemicals and environmental pollutants. PVC-free flooring is, therefore, better for the environment, and many manufacturers include recycled materials within their PVC-free floors. UZIN KE 2000 S pressure sensitive adhesive can be used to install PVC-free floors.
INSTALL UNDERFLOOR HEATING

The proportion of underfloor heating systems used in flooring installations has risen sharply. Buildings can be heated without gas when underfloor heating is combined with solar panels and air-source heat pumps. It helps reduce CO2 emissions and saves energy. UZIN works closely with various manufacturers of underfloor heating systems and offers tailored product systems.
Just some of the UZIN products with EMICODE EC1 PLUS® certification
Remur 95 / 145 mm Special Tape System for PVC skirting
Installing PVC skirting securely
- dimensionally stable
- avoids use of contact adhesive
- no prior fitting and priming
- 3 – 5 times faster
- solvent-free
- will not dry out or become brittle
UZIN KE 2000 S Universal wet and pressure sensitive adhesive
Dispersion adhesive for all common resilient coverings, textile coverings, wall coverings and UZIN insulation/installation underlays
- Odourless during and after application
- Excellent working properties
- Good tack with stringing
- Solvent-free
UZIN KE 66 Fibre-Reinforced Adhesive
High temperature adhesive for luxury vinyl tiles, vinyl and rubber
- Excellent working properties
- Very low consumption
- Short open time
- Solvent-free
UZIN NC 110 Gypsum Smoothing Compound
Calcium sulphate based smoothing compound, with Level Plus Effect S.
- Superior flow characteristics
- Very smooth surface
- Rapid drying progress
- Low stress
UZIN NC 151 Cementitious high-performance levelling compound
Floor smoothing compound for textile and resilient floor coverings as well as wood flooring for thicknesses from 0-20 mm.
- Very good flow characteristics
- Great surface finish
- Consistent, reliable and fast drying on absorbent and non-absorbent substrates
UZIN NC 196 Fibre-Reinforced Smoothing Compound
Fibre-Reinforced Smoothing Compound for thicknesses from 3 to 40mm
- Fibre reinforced
- Thickness range from 3 to 40 mm
- Excellent flow properties and pumpable
- Low stress
- Excellent absorbency
UZIN NC 888 S Feather Coat
Rapid drying feather coat
- now with better adhesion and smoother finish
- from a ”feather-edge” up to 4 mm thickness
- no primer required
- extremely rapid drying
- excellent surface finish
- fine aggregate
UZIN PE 280 Super Fast Primer
Dispersion primer with carbon technology for smooth and dense surfaces
- Ready to use
- Film-forming
- Ideal bonding agent on dense surfaces
- Also suitable for wall applications
- High-speed construction product
UZIN PE 360 PLUS Ready Mixed Primer
Moisture tolerant dispersion-based primer for absorbent substrates, screeds and concrete
- ready mixed
- very economical
- rapid drying
- reduces the absorbency of the substrate
tolerant against alkaline moisture
UZIN PE 404 Resin Moisture suppressant
1-component, rapid drying resin Residual Moisture suppressant
- Rapid drying
- Easy to use
- Ready mixed
- Solvent-free
UZIN PE 480 2-Component Epoxy DPM/ Primer
1 coat epoxy resin primer or DPM on very damp substrates
- Water, chemical and frost-resistant
- Solvent-free
- Excellent covering and filling capacity
Can be used on wet substrates
UZIN U 2100 Slip-resistant tackifier
Slip-resistant dispersion for loose-laid carpet tiles
- Very low consumption
- Fast drying
- Covering is easy to remove and relay
- Anti-static