Sustainable Self-Leveling Mortar: Porcelain and ceramic shards transforming into a smooth, green floor.

Level Up Your Home: Turn Ceramic Waste into Dream Floors with Self-Leveling Mortar!

Elliot Brynn in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how innovative self-leveling mortar, made with recycled porcelain and ceramic, can transform your floors while helping the environment."

Self-leveling mortar (SLM) is changing the game for subfloors, especially when you want to get the job done quickly and efficiently. Unlike traditional mortars, SLM has properties that increase productivity on the construction site because it reduces the number of stages significantly when compared with conventional mortar and the material guarantees fast and productive leveling of subfloors before applying the final layer.

While Europe has been on board since 1977, SLM is still catching on in Brazil, where only a few companies sell it in bags or produce it in plants for direct application by pumping. But there’s another exciting twist: using waste materials to make SLM more sustainable and cost-effective. This is where porcelain and red ceramic waste come in, transforming what was once discarded into a valuable resource for building.

Harnessing the power of these recycled materials not only reduces waste but also addresses the environmental impact of traditional cement production. By incorporating porcelain and ceramic waste, we can create high-performance self-leveling mortars that are both eco-friendly and functional. Let’s explore how this innovative approach is paving the way for a greener future in construction.

Why Choose Self-Leveling Mortar Made from Recycled Materials?

Sustainable Self-Leveling Mortar: Porcelain and ceramic shards transforming into a smooth, green floor.

SLM, like other cement-based materials, faces a trade-off between workability and mechanical strength. Achieving the right consistency without causing bleeding or segregation is tricky, especially since high water-to-cement ratios are often needed. The goal is to create a material that levels itself perfectly, stays uniform, and boasts impressive mechanical properties. It's the fluidity without compromise.

Another huge plus is the reduced reliance on cement, a major source of carbon dioxide emissions. By incorporating waste materials, we’re not only diverting trash from landfills but also minimizing the carbon footprint of our construction projects. It’s a win-win for performance and the planet.

Eco-Friendly: Reduces reliance on traditional cement, lowering carbon footprint.
Cost-Effective: Utilizes waste materials, potentially reducing material costs.
High-Performance: Achieves excellent fluidity, uniformity, and mechanical strength.
Waste Reduction: Diverts porcelain and ceramic waste from landfills.
Durable: Offers low water absorption and permeability, enhancing longevity.

In Brazil alone, electrical porcelain insulator production generates thousands of tons of waste annually. By repurposing this waste into SLM, we're turning a significant environmental challenge into an opportunity for sustainable construction. Similarly, red ceramic waste from the building industry, which makes up a large portion of urban solid waste, can also be given a new life in self-leveling mortars.

The Future of Flooring is Green

Self-leveling mortar made with porcelain and red ceramic waste isn't just a trend; it's a practical step towards a more sustainable construction industry. By choosing these innovative materials, we can reduce waste, lower carbon emissions, and create durable, high-performance floors. Whether you're a homeowner, builder, or designer, embracing eco-friendly SLM is a smart move for your project and the planet. It's time to level up your floors and your commitment to sustainability.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1155/2018/6378643, Alternate LINK

Title: Fresh And Hardened Properties Of Self-Leveling Mortars With Porcelain And Red Ceramic Wastes

Subject: Civil and Structural Engineering

Journal: Advances in Civil Engineering

Publisher: Hindawi Limited

Authors: Valdir M. Pereira, Gladis Camarini

Published: 2018-06-11

Everything You Need To Know

What is Self-Leveling Mortar (SLM) and why is it beneficial?

Self-Leveling Mortar (SLM) is a specialized cement-based material designed to create a perfectly level surface. Unlike traditional mortars, SLM offers increased productivity by reducing the steps in the construction process, leading to faster subfloor leveling before the final flooring layer is applied. Its benefits extend to enhanced fluidity, uniformity, and impressive mechanical properties, making it an efficient and effective solution for construction projects.

How does using recycled porcelain and ceramic waste in Self-Leveling Mortar contribute to sustainability?

Incorporating recycled porcelain and ceramic waste in Self-Leveling Mortar significantly boosts sustainability by reducing the reliance on traditional cement, a major source of carbon dioxide emissions. It diverts waste materials, like porcelain and red ceramic, from landfills. This approach minimizes the carbon footprint of construction projects and transforms discarded materials into valuable resources, creating a more eco-friendly and sustainable building process.

What are the key advantages of choosing Self-Leveling Mortar made from recycled materials?

Choosing Self-Leveling Mortar (SLM) made from recycled materials provides several key advantages. Firstly, it's eco-friendly because it decreases reliance on traditional cement, thereby reducing the carbon footprint. Secondly, it's cost-effective, potentially lowering material expenses by utilizing waste. Thirdly, it offers high performance, delivering excellent fluidity, uniformity, and mechanical strength. Additionally, it contributes to waste reduction by diverting porcelain and ceramic waste from landfills and offers enhanced durability through low water absorption and permeability.

What is the environmental impact of traditional cement production, and how does recycled material in Self-Leveling Mortar address it?

Traditional cement production is a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions. Using recycled porcelain and red ceramic waste in Self-Leveling Mortar (SLM) directly addresses this environmental impact. By incorporating these waste materials, the need for traditional cement is reduced, consequently lowering the carbon footprint of construction projects. This approach not only minimizes environmental harm but also transforms waste into a valuable resource for creating durable and high-performance floors.

How does the use of Self-Leveling Mortar with recycled materials compare to conventional flooring methods, and what is its future potential?

Self-Leveling Mortar (SLM) made with recycled porcelain and red ceramic waste presents a significant advantage over conventional flooring methods by offering increased productivity and sustainability. While traditional methods may require multiple stages, SLM streamlines the process, providing a faster subfloor leveling experience. Furthermore, by using recycled materials, SLM reduces waste and lowers the carbon footprint compared to standard flooring options. The future potential of SLM is vast; it represents a practical step towards a more sustainable construction industry, offering durable, high-performance floors while promoting environmental responsibility.