J. JOSEPHSON, INC.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY STORY
J. Josephson, Inc., the manufacturer of Vycon® vinyl wallcoverings, has long been a leader in its eco-efficient production processes and as an environmentally responsible supplier to the design community.
Vinyl is an acceptable product in sustainable projects, and has successfully been used in a LEED® EB Platinum building. Vinyl is an important part of everyday life and is used throughout the healthcare industry, from the pipes that carry drinking water to IV bags in hospitals.
With so many green messages in the marketplace, we hope to clarify the misconceptions surrounding vinyl and provide useful information in regard to J. Josephson’s sustainability story and ongoing commitment to our world’s environment.
THE TRUTH ABOUT VINYL
Vinyl is composed of two simple building blocks: chlorine, based on common salt, and ethylene, from crude oil. Vinyl is a synthetic material. Think of what life would be like without synthetic materials; many of the things you see around you would be gone. Vycon vinyl wallcoverings are free of harmful chemicals such as lead, chromium, formaldehyde, *PFOA, cadmium, mercury, *PBDE and *DEHP. In addition, they are free of PBT’s (persistent bioaccumulative & toxic chemicals) as listed by the EPA’s TRI list.
EMISSION ELIMINATION
The manufacturing process for Vycon vinyl wallcoverings exceed clean air emission standards. In fact, Vycon captures 99.5% of its total emissions—exceeding the 95% guideline set by the Clean Air Act.
A by-product of the emission destruction process is energy. This energy is used to power our machines and significantly reduces our overall energy requirements.
LOW VOCS FOR BETTER INDOOR AIR QUALITY
J. Josephson has low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds); we also have available products that meet the strict California 01350 specifications for healthy indoor air. Vinyl products, properly installed, have no recognized adverse impact on indoor air quality, and the small amount of VOCs emitted are dissipated quickly through normal ventilation. Tests have shown that, in such cases, the initial odor of vinyl wallcoverings dissipates much faster than the odors associated with paints.
VINYL IS SCRUBBABLE AND DURABLE
Vinyl is an easy-to-clean surface; and therefore helps to control pathogens and promote a sanitary environment in healthcare settings. This is one of several reasons why J. Josephson’s vinyl wallcoverings are widely accepted and specified by hospitals and healthcare providers. In fact, we have a 5-year guarantee on our products; making them far more sustainable than paint products.
VINYL WALLCOVERINGS CAN BE PERMEABLE
J. Josephson offers microventing (in-house) as an option for any of its designs that provides a permeable or breathable surface that can potentially help prevent the growth of mold and mildew. J. Josephson’s microventing technology has no impact on the strength and beauty of the wallcovering and can be used in situations where condensation build-up is a concern.
VINYL RECYCLING PROGRAM
Vinyl is highly recyclable and post-industrial, pre-consumer and post-consumer waste can be fabricated into products such as, garden hoses, pipes and sound-deadening panels for automobiles—importantly not sent to landfills when their useful life is concluded. J. Josephson has an initiative in place to reclaim and recycle vinyl wallcoverings. If you are removing vinyl from a project, please contact us so that we may recycle together and reduce the strain on our landfills.
MANUFACTURING RECYCLING INITIATIVES
J. Josephson has long been committed to reducing waste from its manufacturing processes and has a remarkable recycling program in place.
- Recycle printed and unprinted vinyl waste for use in alternative manufacturing processes
- Recycle printed, embossed/laminated material
- Recycled 2 million pounds of vinyl waste each year
- Recycle 100% of printing inks
- Recycle the heat generated from our compressors to heat our facility in the wintertime
In addition, J. Josephson has made it a priority to innovate state-of-the art environmentally conscious manufacturing processes:
- Use NON-HAPs inks
- Lowered VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions by installing a closed-loop ink dispensing system
- Installed a more efficient lighting program throughout the facility; lowering lighting energy usage by 75%
HAPS FREE INKS
J. Josephson, Inc. continues its commitment to the environment by utilizing only HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants) free inks. J. Josephson recycles 100% of its printing inks in a sophisticated oxidizer that reduces energy consumption—generating heat that can be returned to the operation and virtually eliminating any hazardous emissions of carbon monoxide. Due to this, Vycon vinyl wallcoverings are not required to file an annual report according to the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations on TRI (Toxic Release Inventory).
COMPLIES WITH STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS
J. Josephson meets or exceeds state and federal regulations including:
- Federal Clean Air Act
- OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
- ECRA (Environmental Conservation Recovery Act)
- State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Requirements
*PFOA- PERFLUOROOCTANOIC ACID
*PBDE- POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHER
*DEHP- DI (2-ETHYLHEXYL) PHTHALATE
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