Alusid has launched its first range of mass-produced wall tiles made from its sustainable materials with Topps Tiles, the retail arm of Topps Tiles Plc (or “Topps Group”), the UK’s no.1 tile specialist.
The wall tile has already been launched exclusively in UK retail by Topps Tiles and is now available in four colours online and in store. Called Principle, the tiles are made on industry-standard mass production equipment from a minimum of 91 per cent recycled industrial waste, one of the highest levels in the global tile industry.
The industrial waste used includes tile dust, tableware production sludge, glass and ceramics and much of this has no other use and is sent to landfill. Using recycled material also means fewer raw materials, such as clay, feldspar and quartz, need to be mined. Each square metre of Principle tiling saves 8kg of waste from landfill and 14kg of raw material from extraction.
Because Alusid’s patented recipes and methods remove processing stages during manufacture, the Principle tiles are made using 23 per cent less gas during production than the processes used to make the equivalent type of tile.
Alusid’s products have attracted significant industry interest. Following a collaboration with Imerys, a global leader in speciality minerals, the Company is now trialling mass production of hard-wearing floor tiles, which comprise some 60 per cent of the total tile market in the UK, according to MTW Research.
As well as Topps Tiles, customers of Alusid include Starbucks, Pret a Manger, H&M, the BBC and the Stonehenge Visitor Centre, run by English Heritage. The Topps Tiles agreement builds on the existing relationship with Parkside, the commercial arm of Topps Group, which is also selling Principle and a hand-made range, Sequel.
The Alusid-made Principle range combines high-quality and good looks with a level of recycled content among the highest in the industry. We believe they will prove popular with our customers. Backing innovative suppliers, such as Alusid, to support recycling and circularity, is an important part of our goals to achieve environmental leadership in the sector and our aim to be carbon neutral in 2030 with regards to scope 1 and 2 as set out in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. This is only the start of our relationship with Alusid, and we look forward to developing new products with the company in the years to come.
Tim Tatlock, Buying Director Topps Tiles
The launch of Principle with Topps Tiles is a huge step forward for Alusid into mass production and scalability and is the result of many years hard work from our team. We’re excited about the potential this unique partnership with the UK’s leading tile retailer holds in the coming years, and to working with the company to reduce the environmental impact of the ceramic tile industry.
Alasdair Bremner, Alusid Chief Executive Officer
Alusid’s agreement with Topps Tiles represents strong validation of the Company’s technology and the high quality of the tiles produced – and at industrial scale. We are very excited by the company’s potential, given the size of the global tile market, successful trials of mass-made floor tiles and the unique nature of the patented technology.
Frontier IP Chief Executive Officer Neil Crabb
