Embracing a Future-Friendly™ Philosophy in Architecture

At Coverings ETC, sustainability meets design innovation. Our mission has always been to lead “future-friendly” manufacturing, providing architects with high-performance materials that are as gentle on the planet as they are striking in appearance. In the world of commercial architecture, this means you no longer have to choose between elegant design and eco-conscious specification. Our ECOverings® Collection, dedicated exclusively to regenerative and recycled materials, embodies this philosophy by turning industrial waste and natural by-products into award-winning surface solutions. From corporate lobbies to boutique hospitality projects, architects are discovering that future-friendly materials can redefine both the aesthetics and the ethics of a space.

In today’s sustainable design movement, terms like “circular economy” and “regenerative design” are more than buzzwords – they’re guiding principles. We take these principles to heart. By prioritizing recycled content, recyclability, and low-impact production, Coverings ETC aims to close the loop on material usage. Our surfaces do more than look good; they tell a story of environmental stewardship – each one is a step toward buildings that give back to the environment rather than merely take from it.

Eco-Terr® Terrazzo: Timeless Aesthetics with Recycled Content

Terrazzo has long been beloved in commercial design for its classic look and incredible longevity. Eco-Terr® takes this timeless material into the 21st century by infusing it with a sustainable twist. Every Eco-Terr tile and slab is composed of an innovative mix of recycled ingredients: namely, recycled Portland cement, industrial fly ash (redeemed from coal power waste), and reclaimed marble and granite chips from defunct quarries. The result is a robust terrazzo that not only captures the speckled, natural beauty of stone aggregate, but also literally contains the history of those stones – giving new purpose to remnants of past construction and excavation.

Design & Performance: Eco-Terr boasts the same versatile applications as traditional terrazzo. It can be used for expansive flooring in offices or retail settings, wall treatments, stair treads, restroom surfaces, even exterior paving and pool surrounds. Thanks to modern engineering, Eco-Terr is available in a spectrum of colors and aggregate sizes – from finely speckled surfaces that read as solid tones, to bold large-chip mixtures that create visual texture and pattern. Customization is possible too: designers can work with our team to develop bespoke color and aggregate combinations to match a project’s palette or evoke a local material vernacular. Technically, Eco-Terr is produced in both tiles (for easy installation in smaller modules) and large slabs (for seamless expanses and countertops), giving designers flexibility in how to integrate it.

When it comes to durability, Eco-Terr truly shines. It is formulated to be exceptionally hard-wearing – suitable for high-traffic commercial floors that must withstand decades of use. The material is rectified and calibrated during manufacturing, ensuring each piece has precise dimensions and smooth edges for tight, clean installation. Once installed and sealed, Eco-Terr surfaces are non-porous and highly resistant to stains and moisture. Perhaps most impressively, our Eco-Terr contains no resins or epoxy binders at all. This means the product avoids the brittleness or yellowing that some resin-based terrazzo might experience over time, and it can also be refinished multiple times – effectively giving it a “limitless lifecycle.” In a commercial setting, that translates to floors or walls that can be restored to like-new condition even after years of wear, rather than needing replacement. As a zero-VOC product with a mineral-based binder, Eco-Terr also will not emit any unpleasant odors or toxins at installation or over time. It even naturally inhibits microbial growth, contributing to healthier indoor environments.

Sustainability Credentials: Eco-Terr exemplifies what it means to be “future-friendly.” It contains a high percentage of pre-consumer recycled content (the cement and aggregate components are largely sourced from waste or by-product streams), which can contribute to materials and resources credits in green building certifications. Using Eco-Terr can help projects aiming for LEED certification: its inclusion can support credits for recycled materials, low-emitting materials (since it has no added urea-formaldehyde or VOCs), and innovation points for sustainable product design. Eco-Terr is a USGBC-friendly choice – it “may help contribute toward LEED® credits” on registered projects by virtue of its composition and production process. Importantly for commercial use, Eco-Terr is also fire-resistant (non-combustible) and slip-resistant (especially in our textured finishes), aligning with safety codes and performance needs. We offer finishes like Honed, Polished, and Riverwash; the latter provides the highest DCOF (Dynamic Coefficient of Friction) in the market for terrazzo, ideal for wet areas or entryways where extra grip is essential.

By choosing Eco-Terr, architects and developers are investing in a material that echoes the past, adorns the present, and protects the future. Each installation speaks to a design narrative where longevity and legacy matter – the surface may contain chips of marble from a century-old quarry or recycled components that reduce the need for new cement (which in turn lowers carbon emissions). It’s a contemporary material with an old soul, ready to perform in modern architectural marvels while quietly advancing the cause of sustainability.

Inspiring Design, Sustainable Future

Coverings ETC’s approach demonstrates that the path to sustainable architecture is one of innovation and inspiration. Commercial architects around the world are leveraging these future-friendly™ surfaces to achieve designs that tell a compelling story – one of regenerative cycles, material ingenuity, and aesthetic excellence.

Ready to explore more? Visit our Product Gallery to see the full range of sustainable surfaces, request samples, or get in touch with our Material Solutions team for guidance on specifying the perfect future-friendly materials for your project.

Together, let’s build spaces that delight the senses, perform for generations, and nurture our planet – this is the future of commercial architecture, and it’s happening now.