Choose Italian ceramics to reduce the embodied carbon in buildings

(July 2025) | The growing frequency of extreme weather events in recent years has underscored the need to drastically reduce CO₂ emissions. The construction sector is a major contributor, accounting for approximately 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

However, attention is often focused exclusively on the usage stage of a building (prevalently heating and hot water production), while overlooking the CO₂ released during the manufacture and transport of the materials used in its construction.

This is why it is important to understand the concept of embodied carbon as the total quantity of CO₂ emitted over the entire life cycle of building materials, before, during and after construction (from raw materials extraction through to manufacture and transport of the finished products, construction of the building and, finally, demolition, disposal or recycling).

 

The importance of reducing embodied carbon

For this reason, an informed approach to the choice of construction materials is vital for minimising a building’s overall environmental footprint. However, emissions must be controlled over all stages of a building’s life cycle, with day-to-day operation remaining a key factor for mitigating climate change.

Italy has introduced a series of policy tools to support this approach, one of which is the Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) for public buildings, which specify the use of construction products that promote circular economy practices both during production and at the end-of-life stage. Despite this, too many buildings are still designed and constructed without considering the impact of the chosen materials over their entire life cycle or how product durability will affect the building’s overall sustainability performance.

 

Italian ceramics: a sustainable and responsible choice

Due to their low embodied carbon footprint, Italian ceramics are one of the materials that best meet these sustainability requirements. The production process is designed to minimise environmental impact during the manufacturing stage while achieving highly durable products. Through continuous investment in innovation, the Italian ceramic industry has achieved some of the world’s highest sustainability standards, including low-emission production processes and technologies that minimise energy use and CO₂ emissions.

 

Italian ceramic tiles are also exceptionally hard wearing. Their technical characteristics guarantee excellent performance, reducing the need for maintenance or replacement and extending service life to beyond 50 years. This enables them to make a positive contribution to reducing emissions over the entire life cycle of a building.

Italian ceramic tiles comply with the most stringent environmental standards and their environmental performance is declared transparently through the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which analyses the impact of materials according to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method.

 

A tangible contribution to decarbonisation in the construction sector

As defined by the World Green Building Council, embodied carbon includes the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the entire life cycle of a material, from production, transport, installation and maintenance through to end-of-life disposal. Because of their exceptionally long lifespan, Italian ceramic products contribute significantly to reducing emissions within the construction industry.

They not only improve the environmental efficiency of new buildings, but are also ideal for energy-efficient renovations.

 

I Choose Responsibly: the role of ceramics in the ecological transition

As part of the new Ceramics of Italy campaign entitled “I Choose Responsibly”, a video about embodied carbon explains how important it is to consider the environmental impact of building materials from the earliest design stages. Responsibility is a value that for years has set Italian ceramic manufacturers apart from their international competitors, reflected in sustainable production cycles, low-impact materials and a commitment to employee health and safety.

Choosing Italian ceramics means making an ethical and responsible decision that combines aesthetics and performance with care for the environment.