Nusantara Stone Mosaics™
Environmental Benefits
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Abundant Supply of Raw Material - The amount of beach stone available for harvest is enormous. The abundant supply of raw material used in Nusantara Stone Mosaics™ is harvested by hand from over 1,500 kilometers of beach on ten separate Indonesian islands. Glaciers, frequent land slides and constant tectonic activity has for millions of years created a constantly renewable supply of beach stone. Rainfall eroding and carry stone continuously from mountains to sea shore where waves finish the shaping and polishing. This process maintains the ongoing natural supply chain. As long as there are mountains and rainfall in Indonesia, there will be a reliable supply of beach stones.
- Resource Extraction - Where typical mosaic tile material originate from either a stone or clay quarry where removal of original land and plant cover causes substantial damage to land, surface and subsurface water, Nusantara Mosaics® are hand harvested off beaches above the high water line, sourced as waste from marble and onyx quarries or recycled from Terra Cotta roofing tiles.
- Water Use - Water use is minimal in extraction and manufacturing of Nusantara Mosaics® and any water that is used is collected, separated, filtered and reused.
- Toxic Chemicals - Some off gassing of solvents in the locally sourced and produced adhesive used to attach the stones to the mesh backing occurs in the manufacturing phase; however, it is minimal, low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) content and quickly eliminated from the work place through prevailing winds and ceiling fans. Like all mesh backed mosaics, Nusantara Mosaics eliminate any exposure to glue after the application of grout during the installation process.
- Wildlife Impacts - While the quarry process is very damaging and disruptive to wildlife and surrounding environments, the hand harvesting of beach stones occurs above the high tide line and has little or no impact on wildlife. Within days and in some weather conditions, hours after harvest, wave action turns over new stone and returns the site to its original conditio.
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Environmental ChoiceM Program
CERTIFICATION CRITERIA DOCUMENT
CCD-167
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