The Tile Council of North America, National Wood Flooring Association, Natural Stone Institute, and North American Laminate Flooring Association announce the inaugural Flooring Sustainability Summit to take place on July 17-18 in Washington, D.C. 

This summit aims to bring together policymakers, advocacy groups, standards organizations, manufacturers, distributors, construction professionals, architects, designers, and procurement officers. Attendees can participate in dynamic panel discussions, networking sessions, and working groups that will provide valuable learning opportunities and foster direct lines of communication with key sustainability decision makers. 

Registration is now open. Early registrants will secure a reduced rate. Registration information can be found here.

“The summit provides the information attendees need to make educated business decisions and help their organizations enter the next chapter of sustainability. These insightful discussions among various stakeholders are a big step towards shaping the future of flooring,” said Flooring Sustainability Summit Chairman Bill Griese. 

The following preliminary key sustainability topics will be addressed with additional timely topics being added as the Summit program evolves:  

Alignment on Embodied Carbon: Attendees will delve into the concept of carbon emissions and push for alignment on a clearer definition of embodied carbon. Participants will learn about and discuss embodied carbon standardization, transparency, accountability, and reduction. Topics include:

• Incentivizing low-carbon procurement
• Embodied carbon policy and how it impacts the flooring industry
• Embodied carbon calculations and what they mean

Health and Material Reporting: Participants will learn how to navigate the complex landscape of material ingredient information and discuss new strategies for efficiently communicating this information throughout the supply chain. Topics include:

• Improvement of health & wellness through sustainable procurement
• Unintended health and material consequences from the push for low-carbon products
• The future of material ingredient reporting, including embodied chemicals

Education on Green Building Standardization: Attendees will receive updates on green building standards, rating systems, and regulations in order to stay ahead of the curve. Topics include:

• The role of green building standards in state and federal policy
• An update on what’s coming next from leading green building standardization groups
• How changes in green building certifications will impact flooring choices, installation practices, and overall project compliance