If creating a sustainable home is important to you, why not use eco-friendly tile for your kitchen backsplash or shower surround? Taking care of our planet is important to us, and helped influence our manufacturing process in several ways:

Shown Above: Lantern Handmade Tile in Sage Green Watercolor, Slate Gray & Smoke

1. Single Firing: Rather than manufacturing in two firings - a bisque firing followed by a glaze firing - we achieve exceptional quality in a single firing, reducing our energy use significantly. While getting a BFA in Ceramics from the University of Kansas, Julep Tile co-owner Kirsten Sharp did an internship with the fabulous potter Steven Hill. Single firing is a tip she picked up from him, and it has saved us countless kiln firings over the years. (Thanks, Steven!) 

Shown Above: Hiser Handmade Tile in Glossy White (niche) & 3x6" Handmade Subway Tile in Julep Crackle

2. Mid-Range Firing Temperature: Rather than firing to the hottest temperature (cone 10) that require the most energy, we create a durable product at a mid-range (cone 5) temperature. 

Shown Above: (L to R) Cobham in Slate Gray, Hiser in Light Gray, Bloom in Julep Crackle, Bloom in Sky Blue Crackle

3. Reducing Waste: When an order is complete, leftover clay scraps are recycled allowing us to use them for the next order. Since not all tiles that come out of the kiln pass  quality control, we often fire more tiles than we actually need for an order. Any "good" tiles that are leftover are used for sample packages. "Bad" tiles are often donated to local schools or community projects. Packaging materials are reused whenever possible. 

Shown Above: Bloom Handmade Tile in Glossy White

Looking for eco-friendly tile for your home renovation? You can check out our sample packages here: