What is GreenBuilding Rating? Explaining sustainable building products

Anyone who wants to build or renovate sustainably quickly meets labels, scores and certificates. One of them is the GreenBuilding Rating. This blog explains what it is, what you can and cannot say with it and how you can use it when choosing building materials. We rely only on what Kerakoll itself publishes and leave out concrete figures: they are on the technical data sheet of each product.

👷 Calling in a professional is never superfluous. A label says something about a product's environmental impact, not whether it is the right choice for your substrate, room and load. A tiler or adviser knows that.

What is the GreenBuilding Rating?

Kerakoll uses the GreenBuilding Rating to assess the environmental impact of its products and express it as a score on a scale from ECO 0 to ECO 5. A higher ECO value means a lower environmental impact. According to Kerakoll this covers, among other things, the origin of the raw materials, emissions and the way of application. You find a product's score on its technical data sheet. It is therefore a manufacturer's system for its own products. It is not a statutory mark for a building as a whole.

What does the rating sit alongside?

Kerakoll's website states that the company uses several certification schemes:

• CE marking for product performance.
• EPD (Environmental Product Declaration): a verified environmental statement based on a life cycle assessment (LCA).
• GreenBuilding Rating and ISO 14021 for the environmental properties of products.
• Management systems such as ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), ISO 45001 (health and safety) and ISO 50001 (energy).

These documents complement each other. The rating is a short, comparable label; an EPD provides the extensive substantiation.

How do you use the rating when choosing materials?

1. Ask for the technical data sheet. It states the ECO score of the exact product, not just of the product line.
2. Compare within the same application. Compare adhesive with adhesive, grout with grout.
3. Look at more than the score. A product also has to suit the substrate, the tile and the room. Good adhesion and a long service life are also sustainable, because less repair means less material.
4. Watch the application. Work according to the data sheet, mix the right quantity and do not throw away leftover material that you can reuse.
5. If in doubt, ask a professional.

⚠️ A high score says nothing about suitability for your situation. Always check the technical data sheet of the exact product and the requirements of your substrate.

Examples from tiling

At Saniso you find Kerakoll products for tiling, such as the gel adhesive Kerakoll H40 gel adhesive, grey and Kerakoll H40 gel adhesive, white, and the grouts Kerakoll Fugabella Color grout and Kerakoll Fugalite Color grout. To prepare the substrate you can use a deep-penetrating primer. Always read the product's data sheet. You can read more about the system in our blog on the Kerakoll tile system, and about tiling itself in our blog on tiling a wall.

Working economically and cleanly

• Measure and calculate carefully before you order material, so you have little left over.
• Use a good trowel: a notched trowel with soft grip gives an even layer of adhesive.
• Mix with a mortar mixer for an even mix without lumps, and use a clean bucket.
• Work accurately with tile levelling system and adjustable 4 mm tile spacers, so you have less to repair.
• Clean with a floor sponge before the material hardens.

PPE

Tiling means dust, splashes and long periods on your knees:

• Gloves: work gloves with nitrile coating protect your skin.
• Safety glasses: a safety goggles protects your eyes from splashes and dust.
• Dust mask: an FFP2 dust mask limits inhaling dust when mixing powders.
• Knee protection: knee pads spare your knees.

You can read more about planning in our guide to planning your bathroom: our guide to planning a bathroom renovation.

When do you call a professional?

• With questions about the right adhesive or grout for your substrate.
• With large floors, wet rooms or special tiles.
• If you have sustainability requirements for a project, for example for a certification.

A professional is never superfluous. They look at the whole and know what the product has to do.

Frequently asked questions

Is the GreenBuilding Rating a statutory mark?

No. It is Kerakoll's assessment system for the environmental impact of its own products.

Where do I find a product's score?

On the technical data sheet of that product. Use that for your choice, not just the product line.

Does a higher score mean a better product for my job?

A higher ECO value means a lower environmental impact. Whether a product suits your substrate and room is determined by the technical data sheet. If in doubt, ask a professional.

Is an EPD the same as the rating?

No. An EPD is an extensive, verified environmental statement. The rating is a short score.

Read also: Sustainable tile adhesive and grout: what to look out for and Low emissions and a healthy indoor climate when renovating.

Where can you find everything for this job?

At Saniso, the online store for DIYers and professionals, you will find tools, materials and personal protective equipment for your job.

• Browse our construction tools and our workwear and safety.
• Create a customer account and order easily.
• Working on a bigger project or want to hand over the job? Request a project quote.
• Book a showroom visit, at least 24 hours in advance.
• Not sure which material suits your job? Get in touch with us.

In doubt about the approach? Feel free to call in a professional.

Saniso – Build your home with Saniso.