VIEWPOINT
Vertilux invests in the future
The Evolution of his year marks the 45th anniverary of Earth Day, the one-time “hippie holiday” that is now a recognized force for environmental sustainability. Today, conservation-minded habits such as recycling and using environmentally responsible materials are part of our lives and our industry, and green has a whole new, widely accepted meaning. Because windows have such a large impact on a building’s overall energy profile, it’s not surprising that window treatment companies have long provided products designed to reduce heating and cooling costs. But many of the energy-efficient shading fabrics on the market are carbonbased (meaning they are derived, in part, from oil) and so require some of the same resources to produce that the end product is trying so conserve. Not to mention that PVC and other commonly used materials contain additional “ingredients” such as phthalates, formaldehydes and lead, all of which have been found to cause adverse health effects. This is why third-party certification programs have become so valuable, even though the fabrics covered under these programs can include phthalates, formaldehydes, or other chemicals in small quantities and still be considered “safe.” Through its Healthy Choice program, Vertilux demonstrates the evolution of green— from its early adoption of use of recycled materials, to a current emphasis 26
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on production that puts clients’ health and wellbeing first, with fabrics that are 100% free of harmful chemicals and compounds. A Healthy Influence “Since Vertilux was founded, 32 years ago, the company has been working with ecofriendly and recycled materials,” said general manager José Alexandre García. “Our Itaca fabric line, made of recycled cotton, was one of the first collections that Vertilux introduced and it has remained one of our top-selling collections for many consecutive years.” Other important offerings include the Polyscreen Vision collection, which has grown and By working closely with their suppliers Vertilux can now ensure evolved over the years as that the plasticizers and colorants used in its fabrics are 100% free from harmful substances. Vertilux contracts with the best spinning chemiCurrently, the company is working cal suppliers, who work with safer directly with its textile manufacturchemicals. “Vertilux wants to give ers to expand its Healthy Choice our customers a complete window fabric collection, which includes treatment solution, in which not only Itaca; Planet, which is made of 100% the fabric, but also all the comporecycled PET; Renaissance, which is nents that are used to make a shade, made of 95% recycled cotton and the are free from harmful substances,” Polyscreen Vision collection,which explained García. “More specifically, since January 2014, is 100% free of our objective is to make 100% of our harmful substances. products completely healthy.