Addressing Carbon: Policy and Standardization Drivers in Europe and the USA and Opportunities for Ceramic Tile
Panel Debate
It is widely understood that buildings and construction account for more than one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, a significant portion of which is comprised of the carbon emissions attributed to materials. Whereas carbon accountants previously focused more on the operational energy loads of buildings, more recently, much attention has been given to the carbon footprint of products used in buildings. Carbon accountants, purchasers, designers, and regulators must consider not only industrial decarbonization but decarbonization attributed to all other modules making up the full “cradle-to-grave” lifecycle of products.
This panel will discuss leading carbon policy and standardization drivers impacting the ceramic tile industry in Europe and the USA. It will share views on “embodied carbon,” generally defined as a product’s cradle-to-grave global warming potential (GWP) associated with its raw material extraction, manufacture, in-use maintenance, replacement, end-of-life demolition, disassembly, and disposal. Updates will be provided on the implementation of embodied carbon policy in the USA under the Inflation Reduction Act and the potential relevance of embodied carbon to European directives such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Furthermore, it will explain the relationship between life cycle assessment, GWP, and carbon accounting, including relevant standardization updates internationally. Most importantly, the panel will discuss the competitive landscape and opportunities for the ceramic tile industry if carbon accountants appropriately consider cradle-to-grave GWP of products.
Bill Griese is deputy executive director for the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), an international trade association involved with standards development, product testing, research, and representing North American ceramic tile and allied product manufacturers in regulatory, legislative, trade, and environmental matters.
Griese is the 2024 chair of ASTM International’s Board of Directors. Additionally, he serves as chair of ASTM Subcommittee C21.06 on Ceramic Tile and is active in ASTM Committees E60 on Sustainability and C15 on Manufactured Masonry Units. Griese also serves as a U.S. delegate to the World Ceramic Tiles Forum, ISO/TC 189 on Ceramic tile, and ISO/TC 159/SC 17 on Sustainability in Buildings and Civil Engineering Works, and he previously served on ISO/PC 277 on Sustainable Purchasing. He is a member of the TCNA Handbook Committee and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Committee A108 on Ceramic, Glass, Stone, and Other Hard Surfaces used in Flooring, Wall Coverings, and Countertops, and Related Installation Materials. Each year, Griese speaks at industry events in the U.S. and abroad and is a regular author and columnist in several industry publications.
Griese is a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) with a specialty in Building Design and Construction. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Ceramic and Materials Engineering from Clemson University in Clemson, SC, USA.
Industrial Engineer from Jaume I University of Castellón.
I am Head of the Environmental and Sustainability Department at ASCER, the Spanish Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers. My professional experience has been predominantly focused on the ceramic tile manufacturing sector, particularly in the fields of environmental management, sustainability, and energy. I have represented the industry in both national and international forums within these areas.
Within the association, I have had the opportunity to participate in diverse sectorial projects, providing me with a comprehensive perspective on the evolution of the ceramic industry in the realms of sustainability and energy. In recent years, I have gained specific expertise in the fields of climate change and emissions trading. It is noteworthy that our current efforts within the association are directed towards addressing the significant challenge posed by the decarbonization of ceramic manufacturing processes.
William Paddock is the founder & managing director of WAP Sustainability, a leading provider of sustainability services that include carbon accounting, life cycle assessments, toxicological assessments, product transparency programs, and supply chain sustainability services. For the past 15 years, William has been a trusted advisor to industry on sustainable procurement, carbon accounting, ESG regulation and now low carbon procurement. He has worked with TCNA for nearly a decade including a majority of tile and tile setting material members in the US and abroad.
Paddock is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Environmental Science and earned his MBA from The Institute for Sustainable Practice at Lipscomb University where he is now an Adjunct Professor.
Paddock has served as chair of the LEED Materials and Resource Technical Advisory Committee (MR TAG), WELL Materials Advisory Committee and Ecosystem partner to the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). Paddock also is a past Board Member of the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) and former member of the Health Product Declaration Collaborative (HPDC) Technical Committee.
He holds an MSc degree in Chemistry from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Throughout his academic career, he gained diverse international research experiences in Australia, Italy, and Switzerland, focusing on Catalytic water reduction for green hydrogen production and Cobalt complex Luminescent transition metal complexes in life science.
With a long-standing passion for environmental issues, he currently serves as the Sustainability and Climate Policy Manager at Confindustria Ceramica, the Italian association of ceramics. In his role, he addresses sustainability-related topics with a comprehensive approach, considering policy-making, regulatory aspects, and business perspectives. His primary areas of expertise lie in the field of CO2, covering aspects from Life Cycle Assessment to the EU Emission Trading System.
Additionally, he acts as the Convenor of CEN TC 67 WG 5, overseeing Product Category Rules for Ceramic Tiles and Ceramic tiling systems, and holds the position of Group Leader for ISO TC 189 WG 7, responsible for Sustainability Standards for Ceramic Tiles and Ceramic tiling systems.
