Flooring Sustainability Summit 2025 Recap
IS IT THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?
John Trendell, Labor Committee Chair
The second annual Flooring Sustainability Summit was held in Washington DC, July 16 & 17. There were almost 250 attendees representing all different types of flooring and all aspects of the industry from architects to manufacturers to installation. Once again, the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) put on a first-class program of experts, workshops, and speakers. In attendance representing TCAA were Ed Conners, president of the Greater NY and NJ Tile Contractors Association and myself. Our partners, IMI and IUBAC, were well represented with four participants.
The first portion of the program was a discussion of the changing landscape of sustainability. While there was common agreement that market driven forces are always the preferred impetus to providing well-built healthy buildings using sustainable materials and practices, public policy certainly can provide additional help in meeting these goals.
Right now there are federal initiatives for less regulations but that does not preclude state and local interests in sustainability. There is also the AIA materials pledge which adheres to good sustainable practices. And most encouraging, private practices in sustainability are growing.
During one of the panel discussions I heard, at least for me, the most interesting comment of the entire program from a gentleman representing union labor. He pointed out that labor represents anywhere from 40-60 percent of the cost of flooring. So, without a qualified well-trained workforce, green initiatives and proper design fail. Absolutely!
The final keynote speaker was an architect with both a cautionary and positive outlook for the future of sustainability practices going forward. We have not done enough. But a simple question he poses to all his clients, do you want a safe, secure, and healthy building for the people and for our environment?
So, as I suggested in the title, how do we go about reaching our goals? Of course, it doesn’t matter how or what methods we use. In fact, a multi-pronged set of actions, taken on by all of us, will help insure that we are doing the right things to build great buildings the right way.
I look forward to our continued efforts and to next year’s Flooring Sustainability Summit!
The Tile Contractors’ Association of America is excited to participate in the 2025 BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest hosted by IMTEF! Location: Huntington Place Convention Center, Detroit, MI Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025 Event Info: https://imtef.org/iac/ Join us for a hospitality suite and welcome reception, open to all local industry partners and contractors. Meet the next generation of union craftworkers and celebrate excellence in the trades. TCAA will also host guided tours of all 8 competition areas, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the skills and dedication of this year’s top apprentices. This is a fantastic opportunity to network, connect with peers, and support our shared mission to elevate union craftsmanship and training. Stay tuned for more details at www.tcaainc.org. We look forward to seeing you in Detroit, MI!
Coverings 2026 Las Vegas, NV
March 30 – April 2, 2026