Mapei UltraColor Plus is the first of a new line of iconic carbon neutral products for tile and stone installation to be available in the UK.  Initially launched by Mapei to the Italian market earlier this year, the range is now being introduced around the world. The new line will provide contractors and specifiers with durable, high-performance products with CO₂ fully offset in the entire life cycle.^[1]

CO₂ emissions - measured throughout the life cycle of products from the Zero line in 2023 using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, verified and certified with EPDs - have been offset through the acquisition of certified carbon credits in support of renewable energy and forestry protection projects. The portfolio demonstrates Mapei’s commitment to the planet, to people and to biodiversity.

UltraColor Plus is Mapei’s signature anti-efflorescence, quick-setting and drying polymer-modified grout, featuring water-repellent DropEffect® and mould-resistant BioBlock®.  In the UK, zero-line adhesives are to follow in the future.  The international product line includes Keraflex Easy S1 Zero, Keraflex Extra S1 Zero, Keraflex Maxi S1 Zero and Ultralite S1 Flex Zero adhesives and Ultracolor Plus grout.

“At Mapei, the road to carbon neutrality is, first and foremost, through the optimisation of formulations to offer products with a smaller carbon footprint and, at the same time, high performance properties.  Ten years’ ago, we were the first to introduce the offsetting of CO₂ emissions with the introduction of Keraflex Maxi S1 Zero, our best-selling cementitious adhesive for ceramic tiles,” said Marco Squinzi, Mapei CEO. “And, in 2022, thanks to the decision to also include our iconic grout Ultracolor Plus amongst our offset products, we present the first ever carbon-neutral system for installing ceramic tiles. Now, we are taking a further step by introducing an entire Zero line and we will carry on paving the way for the entire construction chain.” 

Francesco Stronati, corporate product manager of the ceramic line, added “The adhesives and grout from the Zero line combine the quality of our products with the commitment we reserve for people and the planet. At this historic moment, where sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessity – as can be seen with the development of various environmental protocols for the classification of buildings – we want to bring our real contribution to the ceramic and construction sectors.”

For Mapei, the road to innovation passes - first and foremost - through research. Mapei’s Corporate Environmental Sustainability, at its Corporate Research Centre in Milan, is totally dedicated to the environmental sustainability of products and processes and was fundamental in creating the new Zero line. The team measures the impacts products have on the environment throughout their life-cycle using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods. The results are then included on an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Currently, more than 80% of Mapei products are covered by EPDs. The team also works with the Laboratories to create products with an increasingly lower impact on the environment by researching, from the initial formulation phase, solutions to reduce consumption of raw materials and extend the use of recycled materials even further. It is also responsible for identifying carbon offsetting projects and other methods to mitigate the impact production processes have on the environment, while continuing to guarantee the quality and durability of work performed.