Circular economy: the case of the ecological production of "terrazzo" tiles, Questions & Answers

The Eco Tiles project fits well within the objectives of the life topic. It fosters the reuse/recycling of high quantities of Construction & Demolition Waste: ▪ today one of the biggest volumes of waste discarded in Europe. Construction and demolition are among the sectors that generate higher volumes of waste in Europe. Each year it produces one ton per capita, or 500 million tons in the EU; ▪ and also products of energy-intensive processes needed to fire/treat the original raw materials. The Life Eco Tiles project will demonstrate the possibility to produce recycled (up to nearly 70%) high-grade pre-casted cement-based products (Terrazzo tiles) using recycled glass (approximately 50-60% of total weight) from urban and industrial waste, ceramic and Construction & Demolition Waste (CDW). Main innovations are related to the adding of CDW and/or construction waste precursors (up to 15% weight of the tile) to the traditional commercially available cement with the purpose to reduce cement intake although maintaining the properties.