This year, the Coverings ceramic tile and natural stone exhibition and conference held in April, in US, centered around four key tenets — Health and Wellness, Sustainability, Outdoor Spaces, and Timeless Luxury. The show opened on Earth Day, setting the stage for sustainability topics and activities to reign large throughout the week.

Daily educational sessions and the debut of numerous sustainable products on the show floor heightened the sustainability buzz. In the panel session, “Deciphering Embodied Carbon and Green Architecture and Design,” it was noted the conversation was just beginning and could be continued at the inaugural Flooring Sustainability Summit to be held on July 17-18, 2024 in Washington, D.C.

The Summit, co-hosted by the National Wood Flooring Association, the Natural Stone Institute, the North American Laminate Flooring Association, and the Tile Council of North America, 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.

“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,” stated Flooring Sustainability Summit Chairman, Bill Griese.

Coverings 2024 featured more than 1,000 global exhibitors from 40 countries and was the stage for the presentation of some of the world’s most innovative tile and stone products.

Projected industry leaders who will attend include architects and designers, procurement officers, distributors, manufacturers, installers, policy makers, advocacy groups, and standards organizations.

The Summit program is packed with a day and a half of panel sessions, workshops, and sustainability briefings. The key topics will focus on:

  • Embodied Carbon: Alignment on a clearer definition of embodied carbon and a discussion on embodied carbon standardization, transparency, accountability, and reduction.
  • Health and Material Reporting: Tips on how to navigate the complex landscape of material ingredient information and new strategies for efficiently communicating this information through the supply chain.
  • Education on Green Building Standardization: Updates on green building standards, rating systems, and regulations to prepare for future green building developments.

Opening keynote speakers have been announced to include sustainability leaders Alexander Cochran, American Institute of Architects; Vicki Worden, Green Building Institute; Cheryl Durst, International Interior Design Association; and Peter Templeton, US Green Building Council.

As there is an increasing demand for more eco-conscious building materials and more rigorous sustainability standards, the inaugural 2024 Flooring Sustainability is an opportunity for attendees to be at the forefront of change. The program has been carefully curated by the Summit co-hosts and flooring industry sustainability leaders along with strategic consulting from WAP Sustainability. See the full program planned for the Summit to make the most of this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow. Attendees that register before May 17th will secure a reduced rate at www.flooringsummit.com.

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Text: Ryann Coyle whytile.com