COVERINGS ETC

Sustainability and style haven’t always been considered the most compatible of characteristics but the range of ecological alternatives to standard architectural products that don’t compromise on aesthetics is gradually improving. For Ofer Mizrahi, who founded solid surfaces brand COVERINGS ETC in 1998, sustainable production is key to reducing the strain on natural resources and can still result in solutions that meet the highest specifications. ‘I see it as our duty to leave behind a better environment for the generations coming after us,’ says Mizrahi, who has developed a collection produced using non-toxic components or materials that are fully upcycled and fully recyclable.

Mizrahi founded COVERINGS ETC in response to what he perceived as a dearth of high-quality hard surfaces on the local market. The entrepreneur started out by presenting materials, including imported natural stones, to clients in his apartment, before opening his first showroom in the city. ‘Later on, I could not find what I was looking for so I started my own production with my specifications and invented my own products,’ explains Mizrahi, who sought out discarded materials from other industries that could be transformed into high-performance hard surfaces.

One of the early successes was ECO-TERR®, a pre-cast terrazzo product for floors and countertops that incorporates 70 per cent recycled content in the form of marble or granite aggregate. The stone chips are combined with a cement-like binder containing five per cent fly ash – a residue produced by coal-fired power plants. ECO-TERR® slabs and tiles come in a range of colours and compositions and have been used in projects such as the Whole Foods Market in Miami’s South Beach and Starbucks coffee shops, for which COVERINGS ETC developed special aggregates to meet the client’s design requirements. ‘As we are not focused on mass production, we can supply bespoke products and add more flexibility to fulfil the needs of our clients,’ Mizrahi points out.

Some of the other innovative products manufactured by COVERINGS ETC employ more familiar materials that have been sustainably sourced and processed to improve their ecological credentials. The ECO-CEM® tile collection, for example, is made of fibre cement that combines fly ash with post-consumer, recycled wood pulp. The tiles are available in various colours and dimensions and have been used in projects with leading design and retail brands, including Boffi S.p.A., CB2 and Chipotle. Reclaimed porcelain dust is the main constituent of the ECO-GRES® tiles and mosaics, which emulate the properties of traditional porcelain. The tiles are extremely resistant to impact, scratches, stains and fading, making them ideal for use in bathrooms or kitchens. Both of these product lines successfully demonstrate intelligent and attractive applications for industrial by-products that make the most of their inherent properties.

COVERINGS ETC also employs a more direct approach to recycling waste material in some of its products. Glass from recycled bottles is used to create BIO-GLASS®, an attractive slab glass product manufactured in a range of six natural colours. The product can be used for external cladding or interior surfaces and is recyclable at the end of its lifespan. The company has received a number of awards and acclaim, such as the coveted Red Dot Design Award for the BIO-LUMINUM® tiles, which make use of scrap aluminium sourced from the world’s many aircraft graveyards. By formulating a method for melting the reclaimed metal into a block that is then sliced to create the tiles, COVERINGS ETC reduced to five per cent the amount of energy that would otherwise be needed for first-generation aluminium production. According to Mizrahi, it’s time that architects and developers embraced these sustainable alternatives to outdated and inefficient products. ‘The building material industry is very conservative and not open to change, but through the collection of raw materials and using technologies from different industries, we are demonstrating opportunities for innovation.’

Looking ahead, the company is working with major soft drink brands, using their empty glass bottles to develop new BIO-GLASS® products, and has been approached by a major airline interested in recycling metal from its old aircraft into BIO-LUMINUM® tiles. Continuing its commitment to pioneering new uses for industrial waste, COVERINGS ETC is also close to unveiling a new product – BIO-PLASTIQUE – which will recycle plastic into boards that could replace plywood in many scenarios.

The sustainable practices promoted by COVERINGS ETC also extend to initiatives implemented at its headquarters in Miami Ironside: a mixed-use development also founded by Mizrahi for business in the arts and design industries. This holistic approach emphasizes the company’s commitment to sustainability, which it also implements through consultations with clients aimed at improving the ecological performance and certification of their projects. In an industry where the focus is so often on aesthetics and superficial details, COVERINGS ETC is striving to create a better future by concentrating on what goes on beneath the surface, incorporating innovation and sustainability at every stage of the design process.