ECORE International, manufacturer of Everlast sports surfacing with Nike Grind is pleased to announce the following course has been officially approved by the GBCI (Green Building Certification Institute) for 1 CE Hour: "Solid Recycled Rubber Flooring: Health and Fitness Applications".
The "Solid Recycled Rubber Flooring: Health and Fitness Applications" course provides an overview of rubber surfaces, focusing on the benefits of solid recycled rubber flooring in fitness applications, including its positive environmental attributes, along with a discussion of the impact of recycled rubber flooring products on LEED® and FloorScore® accreditation. LEED Professionals must self-report all of their CE hours online through "My Credentials".
The GBCI is a third party organization that provides independent oversight of professional credentialing and project certification programs related to green building. Established in 2008 to administer certifications and professional designations within the framework of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® Green Building Rating Systems™, GBCI continues to develop new programs and offer the marketplace validation that building certifications and professional designations have met specific, rigorous criteria.
Everlast sports surfacing with Nike Grind has launched a custom color application on the Everlast website called “Pattern Play.” The application allows a designer or potential customer to develop a custom color pattern using the standard ColorMill EPDM colors that are offered by Everlast.
“This tool is a great addition to the Everlast website. It allows the customer to have fun mixing the EPDM colors with the black SBR to create a completely custom look for their athletic flooring,” explains Bo Barber, director of ECORE’s commercial flooring division.
Everlast worked tirelessly with developers for several months to design and test this new tool that introduces some new capabilities to mixology which officially launched on the ECOsurfaces’ website on Friday, July 29, 2011. Previously, designers and customers had to request custom pattern mock-ups from the manufacturer, which did not offer the instant gratification that Pattern Play can. Pattern Play encourages customers to “play” with EPDM colors to invent an exclusive custom pattern that they can see come to life (if they like it and choose to order it).
The EPDM color options are based on ColorMill™ colors that are manufactured by ECORE International at their Lancaster, PA facility. There are well over 25 different EPDM colors to choose from, ranging in colors from light grays and tans to bright blues, reds, and greens which allows you to create one-of-a-kind, distinct combinations. ColorMill is also set to release several new EPDM color chips in the next few months.
Up to three custom color patterns can be developed at one time. As a standard, each combination must have at least 5% black, but could consist of a higher percentage of black depending on preference and design scheme. The desired color pattern can include between two and five EPDM colors, but no more than five.
Once complete, the custom color pattern can be printed. The printout includes a summary of what colors were chosen and their percentages within the formulation. If interested in receiving a quote for their custom pattern, customers can fill out the online form within the application to have an Everlast sales rep contact them. To begin designing, please click here.
ECORE International is excited to announce that in early 2012 it will be launching a new line of patterns for many of our brands incorporating eight new EPDM colors. While this line is not ready to be debuted, as part of the evolution of the ECORE ColorMill® EPDM palette and to make way for the new colors, a few less popular colors are being eliminated effective immediately. These drops will not affect the production of current stocked color patterns for ECOsurfaces.
The four colors are:
There is a limited amount of remnant stock of these four colors that may be used in custom patterns at full cylinder yields. To ensure continued availability for as many customers as possible, we are limiting the amount of material that may be used in a single manufacturing run. Specifically: The four colors may be used as long as they do not individually or collectively exceed a 30% total color concentration for any custom pattern. For example, 10% 2040, 10% 1904 and 10% 1906 is acceptable, however 20% 2040 and 20% 1904 is not.
ECORE International, pioneer of the recycled rubber flooring industry for over 20 years, is proud to announce its new “Redeux” material take back program. As an advocate for sustainable design and eco-friendly living, ECORE has developed Redeux to further their commitment to reducing waste, reusing scrap, and recycling old products and samples in order to manufacture new.
Beginning April 1, 2011, ECORE customers now have the opportunity to send back old or remnant recycled rubber and cork products for recycling to ECORE’s Lancaster, Pennsylvania manufacturing facility. The Redeux program partners with building professionals committed to environmental stewardship by providing resources to recycle ECORE’s rubber flooring, underlayments, and rubber and cork industrial products after their useful life which will considerably help keep building materials out of landfills. The reclaimed material will be made into new flooring, underlayments, and industrial products by ECORE.
“The Redeux process is incredibly unique due to the fact that ECORE’s products are already made from recycled materials at their inception and now are able to be “re-recycled” again and again,” states Arthur B. Dodge III, ECORE’s chairman and CEO. “We are proud to be able to reuse our waste, reduce the amount of products going to landfills, and recycle; therefore significantly extending the life of each product we manufacture.”
Due to a proprietary process and complete quality control, no integrity is lost manufacturing new products from recycled materials. Quality is held to high standards due to ECORE’s own recycling capabilities, nothing is outsourced. These capabilities also reduce the use of fossil fuels by eliminating shipping to a separate rubber recycling company.
Customers must first submit an application to have their material accepted into the Redeux program which asks questions about the amount of material to be returned and confirms that the material is free of foreign contaminates like stones, wood, concrete, drywall, etc. Materials accepted into the Redeux program will be shipped to ECORE’s Lancaster facility to be sorted, shredded, cleaned and ground for the next generation of recycled rubber flooring, underlayment and industrial products.
All products manufactured by ECORE are applicable. Materials and samples that have been approved to be recycled include: ECOsurfaces Commercial Flooring, Everlast sports surfacing with Nike Grind, Everlast Contender, TRU, QT Sound Insulation, PlayGuard Safety Surfacing, Training Ground with Nike Grind, Pavesafe, and ECORE Industrial branded products. Materials with ECOguard coating, scrim, products installed with ECORE’s E-Grip III adhesive, and products made with ECORE’s patent-pending itstru Technology will also be accepted.
Materials will be taken back and recycled on a case-by-case basis. Unexpected and unapproved shipments will not be accepted. The full requirements for the Redeux program can be found on ECORE’s website, www.ecoreintl.com
As an active member of the U.S. Green Building Council, ECORE supports sustainable green building policies, standards and practices. The use and reuse of pre and post-consumer waste is foundational to ECORE’s business. With respect for the environment and an understanding that all resources are limited, the company has made responsible development of innovative and sustainable products a top priority.
To join ECORE’s effort to promote awareness, respect of our environment, and support the Redeux recycling program please visit www.ecoreintl.com or email redeux@ecoreintl.com for more information.
Lancaster-based manufacturer, ECORE International Inc., manufacturer of Everlast sports surfacing with Nike Grind is pleased to announce the introduction of its patent-pending itstru Technology and the closing of its $40MM recapitalization and refinancing package.
The introduction of the itstru technology is combined with the introduction of a 98% post-consumer modular floor tile system designed for heavy duty commercial flooring applications. These product launches are building the framework for future manufacturing growth and reaffirm ECORE International’s leadership position as the rubber recycling innovator in the industry.
The corresponding recapitalization opens up opportunities for growth on other business fronts. “Our recapitalization and refinancing package sets the stage for an aggressive capital investment program in 2011 as well as continued investment in business development and prosecution of our intellectual property rights” states ECORE Chairman and CEO Arthur B. Dodge III.
Already committed to using resources to protect the environment, part of the capital investment will include the consolidation of two locations into one state-of-the-art recycling and manufacturing facility while not eliminating any jobs. The consolidation will increase recycling capacity as well as create efficiencies by eliminating resources used currently to transport rubber from ECORE’s Hanover facility to ECORE’s York facility. Dodge states:
“In 2011, ECORE will invest $4.0MM to consolidate our Hanover recycling facility to our York, PA campus. The move will give us over 100 million pounds of refined recycled rubber capacity. We will be able to process all forms of scrap rubber as well as efficiently reclaim our own materials in a closed loop process.”
ECORE International employs over 200 individuals in Central Pennsylvania and operates facilities in New York and California. ECORE’s origin dates back to 1869 when it operated as Dodge Cork Company. ECORE is best known as the creator of Everlast with Nike Grind, a recycled rubber sports surfacing; as well as playground and equine surfacing products presently marketed under the ECOsurfaces, QT, PlayGuard, and PaveSafe brands. ECORE holds two original patents and has two patents pending.
ECORE International announces that its recycled rubber products have received FloorScore certification for a third consecutive year. FloorScore certification, developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute in partnership with Scientific Certification Systems, measures flooring systems according to the stringent indoor air quality criteria established by the state of California. Products that adhere to FloorScore standards are independently certified by Scientific Certification Systems for low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and qualify for use in California’s high performance schools. To meet California state VOC requirements (section 01350), FloorScore requires rigorous product testing. It also entails auditing of the manufacturing site, annual re-certification requirements, product records, and a tangible quality control plan from the organization.
According to ECORE EVP of Sales & Marketing, Rich Campbell, “Gaining FloorScore certification for the third consecutive year represents ECORE’s on-going commitment to producing healthy products and using sustainable manufacturing processes. We make it a priority to ensure our products meet the highest building code standards and support the most stringent requirements for personal health and safety.”
ECORE products feature a combination of PVC-free recycled content and low VOC emissions that allows them to potentially contribute points toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Brands receiving FloorScore certification include ECOsurfaces Commercial Flooring, Everlast sports surfacing with Nike Grind, PlayGuard Safety Surfacing, and QT Sound Insulation. Each brand has been certified under “Rubber Tile and Roll Goods” and will retain its current certification for one year, necessitating renewal in October of 2011. As representation, ECORE has obtained registration number SCS-FS-01793. Click here for more information on FloorScore.
Lancaster, PA – Everlast sports surfacing with Nike Grind announces their sponsorship of the Gold’s Gym Franchise Association. Everlast sports surfacing has partnered with the GGFA as a silver level sponsor through the organization’s Supplier Partnership Network (SPN). Already installed in hundreds of Gold’s Gym locations around the world, Everlast will continue to support the franchise by offering surfacing for new or remodeled facilities throughout the course of their year-long sponsorship.
In addition to supporting Gold’s Gym’s expansion, Everlast’s sponsorship will provide the brand with unique opportunities for product promotion and industry infiltration. Everlast will receive e-newsletter advertising support, listings on the Gold’s Gym Franchisee Association webpage, a profile on the Supplier Partnership Network’s webpage, invitations to the GGFA’s Owner’s Conference and GGI Annual Convention, webinar exposure, GGFA staff support, as well as a sense of community and industry involvement.
“As a brand, we are always seeking new ways to support the growth of the fitness industry,” states Rich Campbell, executive vice president of sales and marketing, ECORE International. “Our partnership with Gold’s Gym allows us to not only support new and existing franchise owners in their construction or remodeling efforts, but to gain valuable exposure and networking opportunities to expand our own business and market reach.”
With over 600 facilities in more than thirty countries and forty U.S. states, Gold’s Gym has been the number one health club franchise in the world for over thirty years. More than three-hundred million members enjoy the organization’s amenities and training support worldwide. The franchise began in 1980 and continues to grow throughout the United States and across the globe, thriving on its mission to support individual fitness goals and a wide range of athletic abilities.
Everlast will maintain its sponsorship with Gold’s Gym for one year, with the opportunity to renew in June of 2011. For more information on Gold’s Gym and their Supplier Partnership Network visit: http://www.goldsgym.com/index.php
Lancaster, PA – Everlast sports surfacing with Nike Grind is proud to partner with United Disabilities Services (UDS) in their efforts to provide service dogs to assist the community’s disabled. United Disabilities Services has introduced a new training center for two of their Labrador retriever pups, preparing them to partner with two individuals as service dogs when they have mastered the necessary skills. The dogs will learn how to complete an extensive array of daily human tasks, ranging from opening and closing doors to turning off lights and retrieving from the refrigerator.
Before USD’s new center was introduced, training was completed at a local animal hospital or in the trainer’s homes. The new facility, located in Greenfield Industrial Park on Homestead Lane in Lancaster, PA, will provide a central location specifically equipped with the necessary amenities to facilitate swift and precise training. Everlast sports surfacing with Nike Grind contributed to the facility by donating 1,400 square feet of recycled rubber surfacing. The 6mm material contained twenty percent green color and provides a durable and easily cleaned surface for the puppies’ daily training activities.
“We are proud to be able to donate to United Disabilities Services and help them grow the quality and capabilities of their organization,” states Rich Campbell, EVP of sales and marketing, ECORE International. “ECORE has always maintained a commitment to improving the health of our environment and the safety and advancement of our community.”
Everlast with Nike Grind products support low VOC emissions and are PVC free. They are comprised of post-consumer tire rubber, pre and post-consumer Nike Grind rubber, ColorMill EPDM, and proprietary binders. This combination of low VOC emissions and high recycled content allows Everlast with Nike Grind to potentially contribute toward earning up to 8 points toward LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Everlast has also expanded its recycling and sustainability efforts by partnering with Nike to include Nike Grind Rubber in all of its fitness surfacing products. Nike Grind rubber is made from sports footwear manufacturing by-products and post-consumer athletic shoes collected through the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program. By implementing Nike Grind material into its products, Everlast will rescue nearly 300,000 pounds of unwanted athletic shoes from landfills each year.
For more information on United Disabilities Services visit:
http://www.udservices.org/default.asp
Lancaster, PA - Everlast sports surfacing with Nike Grind is proud to announce their association with CONSTRUCTION INTERVENTION, an all-new Discovery Channel series. CONSTRUCTION INTERVENTION follows Charlie Frattini, New York Construction Extraordinaire, and his trusted team of contractors and designers as they find businesses that are in danger of failing due to botched, delayed, or impossible construction jobs and rescue them from their construction woes. Everlast was involved in the construction process for the Inwood Boxing Gym by providing recycled rubber fitness flooring throughout the facility.
Everlast donated nearly 3,000 square feet of 8mm rolled material in the Buff Blue/Grey pattern as well as our zero-VOC, single component polyurethane adhesive, E-Grip III, to the Discovery Channel for the speed build. Manufactured in the U.S.A from recycled SBR tire rubber, proprietary EPDM rubber granules, and pre and post consumer Nike Grind rubber, Everlast features sustainable composition and unmatched design capabilities. Its color palette boasts 55 standard patterns, with unlimited custom color and logo options. In addition, its superior durability and resilient composition make Everlast ideal for a wide range of applications including fitness centers, weight rooms, court surfaces, multi-purpose rooms, and more.
“Everlast and its parent company, ECORE International, were excited to partner with the Discovery Channel on this project to rehabilitate an old building and bring it back as a functional and prosperous boxing gym. We are an organization committed to making a positive difference in design and architecture by providing green products for the community,” states Rich Campbell, executive vice president of sales & marketing, ECORE International.
CONSTRUCTION INTERVENTION premiered in April 2010 and new episodes will run through the summer, please visit www.discovery.com for more details.Lancaster, PA - ECORE International, manufacturer of Everlast sports surfacing with Nike Grind, announces the extension of its UltraTile warranty. This warranty extension is the first of its kind in the industry, giving UltraTile a key competitive advantage over other molded rubber tile products. UltraTile leads the modular fitness surfacing industry with patented manufacturing technology for unparalleled durability and versatility in heavy lifting applications. Specifically designed for application under free-weight areas that receive significant wear and tear, UltraTile delivers unsurpassed durability with shock absorptive and noise reducing properties.
The modular tiles are created by laminating a colorful wear layer to a thick-footed tile. Each tile is manufactured from recycled SBR tire rubber and post-consumer recycled rubber materials for total recycled content from 86-90%. The tiles also feature 16 standard color patterns with custom capabilities and are the only recycled rubber molded tile in the industry to be FloorScore certified for indoor air quality.
UltraTile is manufactured in the U.S.A. and has gained a reputation as the highest quality molded product on the market. As a testament to that quality, ECORE International has done extensive testing to raise its former 3 year warranty to a 15 year limited warranty. The warranty continues to cover abnormal surface wear due to ordinary abrasion and installation inconsistency (when installed according to the provided manufacturer instructions). However, the new time specifications ensure lengthened and more complete quality assurance for customers, delivering peace of mind.
“We pride ourselves on quality products here at ECORE,” states Rich Campbell, EVP Sales & Marketing, ECORE International. “UltraTile’s increased warranty is a small way that we can put our customers at ease, proving our unwavering commitment to providing them with the highest quality products and customer support.”
Since its inception 10 years ago, UltraTile has been the number one fitness/weight room flooring choice for Division I colleges and universities, professional sports teams, and military training facilities. “It was an easy decision to extend UltraTile’s warranty based on our proven track record in demanding applications that see significant use and rigorous training regimens on a daily basis,” states Campbell. He goes on to add, “Hundreds of high profile teams and organizations have enhanced their facilities with UltraTile’s custom logos, which are manufactured with intricacy and precision as part of the wear layer to eliminate fading, peeling, or chipping caused by regular use.”
UltraTile’s new 15 year limited warranty operates on a prorated schedule, providing adjusted coverage correlating to the product’s expected wear over time. For the initial six years, UltraTile now offers 100% reimbursement of the purchase price according to the outlined terms as stated in the full warranty. Thereafter, the product is reimbursed according to adjusted percentages per year of application not exceeding 15 years.
ECORE International, manufacturer of Everlast Sports Surfacing, announces the introduction of its premier laminated sports flooring product, Everlast Performance. Everlast Performance features a proprietary factory-bonded composition where the wear layer is made from vibrant EPDM rubber and the underlayment is nearly 100 percent recycled SBR rubber. All components are manufactured in the United States at ECORE’s Lancaster production facility. The bond of these resilient layers delivers high performance and superior durability at an attractive price.
“We are excited about the opportunities that this new lamination technology has opened up for us and we are proud to be a propelling force in architectural and fitness product development,” states Troy Kelley, Everlast Business Unit Manager, ECORE International. “Everlast Performance, with its high recycled content and extreme durability, is a product that will distinguish fitness facilities as leaders in supporting both personal and environmental health.”
The Everlast Performance collection features six standard colors, with a portfolio of up to 33 total color options and is available in 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm thicknesses. The 12mm option is spike resistant for high wear areas such as competitive tracks. The top layer’s saturated color concentration allows for reduced wear visibility and lane color variation. Everlast Performance has also been tested for excellent force reduction and superior ball rebound. Recommended Everlast Performance installations include indoor jogging tracks, tennis courts, gymnasium surfaces, aerobic center floors, and more.
The multi-layer components of Everlast Performance have a very high recycled content. With nearly 100 percent recycled rubber underlayment and a recycled rubber wear layer, Everlast Performance can contribute up to 8 points toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). It also meets the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) criteria, is FloorScore certified for indoor air quality, and supports the ASTM E2129-05 Sustainability Assessment.
ECORE International, manufacturer of Everlast sports surfacing, announced today that it has been selected to the 2009 GoingGreen East 50 Top Private Company List. The GoingGreen East 50 Award is given to private, emerging companies creating new business opportunities in green technology. Ecore International was selected by the AlwaysOn editorial team based on demonstration of growth, market opportunity, quality of innovation and customer traction.
“As a company committed to environmental sustainability and product innovation, we are proud to be acclaimed as a leading green company by the GoingGreen East 50 Award. This recognition represents our continuing commitment of providing quality, sustainable and innovative products for a wide variety of applications.” Art Dodge, President, Ecore International
Ecore International and the other GoingGreen East winners will be recognized at the GoingGreen East Conference at the Four Seasons in Boston, MA, March 9-11. This two-and-a-half day executive conference is co-presented and will feature presentations and high-level debates from CEOs, journalists, industry experts, investors and greentech executives. “The GoingGreen East 50 companies have demonstrated their tenacity even in the toughest economic conditions that the technology world has ever encountered,” said Tony Perkins, founder and editor of AlwaysOn. “We applaud their success in pushing the boundaries of innovation, creating market opportunities and transforming the industry even in the earlier stages of their businesses.”
The GoingGreen East 50 winners were selected from among hundreds of other technology companies nominated by investors, bankers, journalists and industry insiders. The AlwaysOn editorial team conducted a rigorous three-month selection process to finalize the 2009 list. A full list of all the GoingGreen East 50 winners can be found on the AlwaysOn website.
Everlast sports surfacing has received the 2008 Nova7 Award as Best Flooring and Surfacing supplier. Now in its fifth year, the Nova7 Supplier Awards competition, created by Fitness management magazine, is the only reader's choice award in the fitness industry — recognizing suppliers for their outstanding products and services.
“We are very pleased to receive the 2008 Nova7 award. The fact that we were singled out and selected by fitness facility owners, directors and managers - the very people who use our products and live with them every day - makes this honor particularly rewarding,” said Robert Dougherty, general sales manager, surfacing.
Everlast products were praised as a durable, flexible and versatile sports surfacing solution that adheres to demanding environmental standards. Made from recycled rubber, Everlast sports surfacing delivers stamina and style for today's athletic club. Available in a selection of 28 cutting-edge color combinations for rolled goods and tile dimensions, 12 UltraTile colors, plus custom color and logo capabilities. Utilizing the latest technology, Everlast delivers color vividness, low odor and a smooth finish. Its superior resilience and durability will outlast most traditional fitness flooring options, resulting in less replacement costs, saving time and money.
Because of their positive environmental attributes Everlast products have the potential to contribute toward earning up to seven points under The United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, they are FloorScore certified and meet the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) criteria (Section 01350) for indoor air quality in classrooms as described in the State of California's Department of Health Services Standard Practice.
“By combining superior performance, cutting-edge style and eco-friendly materials, we have become the fitness industry's most popular choice in sport surfacing,” said Dougherty. “We have long believed that listening closely and responding to our customers needs, using state-of-the-art technology and exercising responsibility for the environment in new product development is what sets us apart from the competition.”
Fitness Management is the magazine for owners, managers and program directors in physical fitness facilities. Founded in 1985, the magazine publishes 12 issues per year with editorial content emphasizing facility management and preventive health care. Fitness Management also publishes an annual Buyer's Guide with listings of the industry's suppliers, and runs the annual Nova7Awards competitions.Everlast Sports Surfacing has entered an exciting new sustainability partnership with NIKE, Inc. for 2009. Through this partnership, Everlast will begin incorporating Nike Grind rubber in its fitness flooring products which will be called Everlast with Nike Grind.
Everlast with Nike Grind combines raw materials made from Nike’s recycled athletic shoes including out-sole rubber, mid-sole foam and various other shoe components with premium, recycled tire rubber.
“This partnership gives our customers the best of all worlds,” said Brad Drexler, chief marketing officer for ECORE International, maker of Everlast products. “The opportunity to combine Everlast’s products, already the top brand in fitness flooring known for its durability and large color assortment with Nike’s Grind rubber, creates a surface capable of meeting the increasingly higher sustainability standards of facility managers, designers and architects.”
Everlast has been the leading brand in sports surfacing for more than a decade. Its long-lasting recycled rubber floors are found in gyms, fitness centers and athletic facilities coast-to-coast. While it is best known for its durability, low life cycle costs and broad range of color options, its green side has been less understood, until now. In addition to a high recycled content, Everlast products also meet stringent indoor air-quality testing requirements for low-emitting building materials, qualifying them for use in schools and other high-performance buildings.
Initial feedback from customers has been outstanding. “Interest in this product has been incredibly strong, bolstered by the addition of Nike’s Grind rubber product and the line’s level of highly recycled content,” said Drexler. Due to its many positive environmental attributes, Everlast products can contribute points toward the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. Based on LEED criteria, Everlast products can assist specifiers by potentially contributing towards earning up to seven LEED points.
Everlast flooring is made in the United States from recycled tire rubber and colorful EPDM flecks that contain approximately 20 percent post industrial scrap. By using Nike Grind rubber in Everlast Sports Surfacing products, nearly 500,000 pounds of by-products will find a higher value reuse than may have otherwise been possible.
As North America’s largest user of scrap tire rubber, ECORE salvages more than 80 million pounds of scrap tire rubber from landfills each year, converting them into durable product solutions for commercial, industrial and architectural applications.
Everlast Sports Surfacing has entered an exciting new sustainability partnership with NIKE, Inc. for 2009. Through this partnership, Everlast will begin incorporating Nike Grind rubber in its fitness flooring products which will be called Everlast with Nike Grind.
Everlast with Nike Grind combines raw materials made from Nike’s recycled athletic shoes including out-sole rubber, mid-sole foam and various other shoe components with premium, recycled tire rubber.“This partnership gives our customers the best of all worlds,” said Brad Drexler, chief marketing officer for ECORE International, maker of Everlast products. “The opportunity to combine Everlast’s products, already the top brand in fitness flooring known for its durability and large color assortment with Nike’s Grind rubber, creates a surface capable of meeting the increasingly higher sustainability standards of facility managers, designers and architects.”
Everlast has been the leading brand in sports surfacing for more than a decade. Its long-lasting recycled rubber floors are found in gyms, fitness centers and athletic facilities coast-to-coast. While it is best known for its durability, low life cycle costs and broad range of color options, its green side has been less understood, until now. In addition to a high recycled content, Everlast products also meet stringent indoor air-quality testing requirements for low-emitting building materials, qualifying them for use in schools and other high-performance buildings.
Initial feedback from customers has been outstanding. “Interest in this product has been incredibly strong, bolstered by the addition of Nike’s Grind rubber product and the line’s level of highly recycled content,” said Drexler. Due to its many positive environmental attributes, Everlast products can contribute points toward the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. Based on LEED criteria, Everlast products can assist specifiers by potentially contributing towards earning up to seven LEED points.
Everlast flooring is made in the United States from recycled tire rubber and colorful EPDM flecks that contain approximately 20 percent post industrial scrap. By using Nike Grind rubber in Everlast Sports Surfacing products, nearly 500,000 pounds of by-products will find a higher value reuse than may have otherwise been possible.
As North America’s largest user of scrap tire rubber, ECORE salvages more than 80 million pounds of scrap tire rubber from landfills each year, converting them into durable product solutions for commercial, industrial and architectural applications.
ECORE has earned FloorScore certification for its ECOsurfaces commercial flooring, Everlast sports surfacing, PlayGuard playground safety surfacing and QT sound insulation products. The certification is given to products which meet stringent indoor air-quality testing requirements for low emitting building materials, and was developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) in conjunction with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS).
“Maintaining the quality of the environment we live and work in has been a priority at ECORE since our inception, and indoor air quality is a key element of that interest,” said Brad Drexler, chief marketing officer. “FloorScore certification clearly demonstrates our commitment to this critical issue and provides our customers the added confidence that using one of our products can help assure the overall indoor air quality of their building."
The FloorScore program complies with the IAQ performance requirements for low emitting building materials as independently established by SCS-EC-10-2004.
The test requires both independent laboratory testing and third-party certification to demonstrate compliance with California Section 01350 VOC emissions limits and includes certified site audit and documented control system requirements. Floor coverings bearing the FloorScore label meet these VOC emissions requirements. These flooring products qualify for use in high performance schools and office buildings. Third-party certifier, Scientific Certifications Systems, Inc., reviews the results of VOC product emissions, as well as the raw materials and manufacturing processes.
Because of their positive environmental attributes, many of the building products ECORE produces, including ECOsurfaces commercial flooring, Everlast sports surfacing, PlayGuard playground safety surfacing and QT sound insulation, to name a few, already have the potential to help contribute toward earning points under The United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.
USGBC’s LEED 2009 rating system document, currently open for member ballot, gives further support to FloorScore in its EQ Credit 4.3, which, if adopted, would provide LEED credit for low-emitting flooring systems, including hard surface flooring certified under the FloorScore program. In addition, the California Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) officially recognizes products certified under FloorScore for low-emitting materials credit (EQ2.2) in the CHPS Criteria.
“FloorScore certification not only assures that our products are in compliance with current indoor air quality standards, but can potentially allow us to offer our customers additional benefits under the proposed LEED 2009 rating system.” said Drexler.
The Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) is an industry trade association of North American manufacturers who produce resilient flooring products. More information on the FloorScore certification program can be found at www.rfci.com.
As North America’s largest user of scrap tire rubber, ECORE recycles 80 million pounds of scrap tire rubber each year, helping conserve more than 1 million barrels of oil in the process to convert pliable treads into durable products for the construction, consumer, commercial, industrial and sports and leisure markets worldwide. www.ecoreintl.com.
