MMB produces M'sia's first green tile

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 19): Malaysian Mosaics Bhd (MMB), the manufacturer of the MML brand of ceramic tiles, has created the first-eco-friendly tile in Malaysia.

The product called Oxida has been awarded the Green Label certification by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) recently.

Oxida is a porcelain tile that is manufactured from recycled materials. As part of the certification process, the product was assessed thoroughly for its eco-friendly features by independent accredited laboratories, said the company in a statement recently. It was certified "green" by the SEC once it has met all the stringent requirements under the Green Label's Building Materials category.

"Clearly, the benchmark for the Green Label certification is high," said MMB managing director Ron Delaney.

"This goes to show that MML is focused on developing new and innovative products that are not only of the highest quality but are also able to minimise their impact on the environment in tangible ways."

According to Delaney, "green" building materials are a growing trend amongst end-users and property developers.

"Malaysian consumers are both discerning and environmentally-conscious. At the same time, industry participants, from developers to architects, are driven to incorporate sustainable elements into their plans as certifications like the Green Building Index typically enhances the value of developments."

"Our R&D (research & development) team is also hard at work developing more eco-friendly solutions. These range from products that can help reduce the carbon footprint to those developed from 'green' or recycled materials," Delaney added.

SEC executive director Jose Raymond said, "By being the first Malaysian company to obtain the Singapore Green Label for its Oxida series, MMB is proving that any business can make profits and at the same time, be responsible stewards of the environment in which we live in."

MML Oxida comes in five variations: Naxos, Madras, Rojo, Gris and Musgo. Tiles are highly durable and with long lifespans, lasting a minimum of 50 years. They also facilitates good health and hygiene as they are easy to clean, do not release any volatile organic compounds (VOC) and are hypoallergenic.