Mosa World's First Cradle to Cradle Tile Factory

Leading Manufacturer Increases Recycling Inside and Outside the Company

MAASTRICHT, The Netherlands, December 21 - Holland's Royal Mosa is the world's first ceramic tile factory to
receive the Cradle to Cradle certificate. The company changed the ingredients
and materials used in its tiles to make them recyclable for life and cause
no damage to the environment. It also launched pilot projects to collect
tile waste as raw material to be used for new tiles.

(Photo:
www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091221/371486-a )

(Photo:
www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091221/371486-b )

(Photo:
www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091221/371486-c )

An intensive research and development program, lasting two years,
preceded the certificate. Together with the EPEA Institute of Prof. Michael
Braungart, founder of the Cradle to Cradle principle, Royal Mosa scanned its
entire manufacturing process, raw materials, suppliers and products.
Materials that were not sustainable were replaced by materials that are. Mosa
adapted their production methods where possible to make high quality tiles
which are recyclable. Now Mosa tiles contain 10 to 40 percent recycled
material. Tile waste from within the factory was already recycled in a closed
cycle, but other tile waste often ends up on dumping-grounds. Therefore the
company has started a pilot project in the Netherlands to separate and
collect tile waste from construction sites and use it for new tiles. The
result of this program is that most Mosa tiles are being classified as 'to be
used in the technical Cradle to Cradle-cycle, but safe for the biological
cycle'.

"Our tile factory exists for over 125 years and we want to continue
manufacturing tiles in this place for a long time. Every company who aims for
a healthy future has to create sustainable products. That's the reason we are
doing this," Arthur Thomaes, CEO of Royal Mosa, says.

Mosa received the basic Cradle to Cradle certificate for the collection
of unglazed floor tiles and the silver certificate for its collection glossy
wall tiles. It's the beginning of further investments in sustainability.

Royal Mosa is an international design award winning company with 600
employees and a 125 million turn-over in 2008. The company also wants to be a
leader in sustainability and started a strategic partnership with EPEA. Mosa
is a member of Green Building Councils in several countries.

More information: www.mosa.nl

Photo:
www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091221/371486-a

www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091221/371486-b

www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091221/371486-c

For further information, please contact Guy Geuskens, manager sustainability and project leader of Mosa's sustainability program, tel +31(0)43-3689387 or +31(0)43-3689444.