Antimicrobial ceramic surfaces were once largely associated with hospitals and clinical environments. Today, their role is expanding into commercial kitchens, bathrooms, communal areas, and other public spaces.
This reflects a wider shift in how manufacturers and building owners think about surface performance. The focus is no longer only on how a surface performs immediately after cleaning, but on what happens between cleaning cycles and how surfaces can remain more resilient over time.
In the Autumn 2026 edition of Tile & Stone, Giorgio Rimini, Senior Director of Business Development (EMEA) at Microban International, explores this shift and the role of built-in antimicrobial technology in ceramic surface design.
Building more performance into ceramic surfaces
High-traffic, moisture-prone environments can encourage microbial growth. While regular cleaning remains essential, its effects are temporary, and demanding cleaning routines can contribute to higher maintenance costs, material replacement, and waste.
Antimicrobial technologies can be incorporated directly into ceramic glaze during manufacture. Once fired, the technology becomes an intrinsic part of the glaze, meaning it doesn't wash off or wear away and works alongside regular cleaning to continually inhibit microbial growth.
By helping prevent microorganisms that contribute to material degradation, built-in antimicrobial protection can support the durability and service life of tiled surfaces.
Why the technology matters
Not all antimicrobial treatments work in the same way. Photocatalytic technologies, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), require strong UV light and moisture to exert their antimicrobial effect, which can limit their efficacy indoors.
Built-in antimicrobial technologies do not rely on the simultaneous presence of strong UV light and water. They can be permanently incorporated into wall and floor tiles, laminated tiles, and sanitaryware, providing durable protection as part of the finished product.
Read the full Tile & Stone feature
Read Giorgio Rimini's full article in Tile & Stone to discover how built-in antimicrobial technology is helping manufacturers enhance the hygiene, durability and long-term performance of ceramic surfaces.
