Respect for the Environment
Lamicolor has always pursued the goal of matching productivity, quality and respect for the environment and in recent years it has focused on the eco-sustainability of its production cycle and the lifecycle of its products.
That's why Lamicolor is constantly engaged in improving the quality of the environment both inside and outside the company.
Raw Materials
HPL plastic laminates are obtained starting from cellulose fibers (paper) impregnated with phenolic and melamine resins.
The suppliers of Kraft and decorative paper follow the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) protocol and/or equivalent standards, which aim at a management of forests that allows for the safeguard of the environment and local populations.
Phenolic and melamine resins are all strictly water-based: for several years now Lamicolor has stopped using alcohol-based resins.
Production cycle
All the stages of the production cycle have been analyzed to make the workplace healthier through the capture of the emissions of the single processing stages.
The emission of gases into the atmosphere is strictly monitored and widely meets the limits set forth by existing legislation.
The new systems that have now completely replaced the old ones have been designed and built to achieve top performance while focusing on energy recovery.
The production of HPL laminate does not generate waste water containing pollutants.
Lamicolor is also keen on the prevention of noise pollution during the production cycle and it plans on adopting in its new systems all the measures needed to reduce noise to a minimum and also intervening on existing systems.
Wastes and rejects
Rejects are mostly reused for Ecopack panels that are utilized in the company to pack the finished product, while the waste from the finishing line is sent to authorized refuse-to-energy incinerators.
Not only are wastes subject to thorough management and separation in compliance with existing regulations, but Lamicolor has also implemented a differentiated refuse collection system for those material that can be reused in the relevant production chains such as paper, carton, nylon and polypropylene.
Considering the intensive use of laminates in closed environments and the relevance of the emissions of organic substances, Lamicolor has tested its products to identify the main pollutants:
The following table shows the results obtained.
| Chemical contaminant | Measure | Emission Limit* |
|---|---|---|
| Total VOC (mg/m3) | 0,06 | 0,5 |
| Formaldehyde (ppb) | 10 | 50 |
| Total aldehydes (ppb) | 12 | 100 |
| 4-phenylcyclohexene (mg/m3) | 0,0006 | 0,0065 |
* According to the Greenguard protocol
As it can be easily seen, Lamicolor laminates are Class E1 for formaldehyde emissions according to standard EN 717-1 (allowed threshold of 100 ppb). In September 2009 Lamicolor obtained product certification from the Singapore Environmental Council and the Singapore Green Label. Since January 2010, Lamicolor is a partner of Green Building Council Italy, an association that promotes sustainable building while ensuring the proper use of water, soil and energy resources and high standards of indoor and outdoor comfort.