FLOORING MANUFACTURERS DRIVE SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH CARPET
RECYCLING UK Carpet Recycling UK (CRUK) recognised a clear change in attitudes towards sustainable solutions for textile flooring waste from key decision-makers at the 2021 Harrogate Flooring Show.
Several key manufacturers, including members and potential members, approached the not-for-profit 107-strong membership association for advice on how they can ‘make a difference’ ahead of any forthcoming legislative/extended producer responsibility changes.
CRUK manager Adnan Zeb-Khan said: “We are impressed that the sector is concerned about the amount and types of waste being produced and wants to reduce this for environmental reasons, and to help reduce costs of disposal. Overall, we have more than 70 leads to follow up on and a number of these are companies that want to reassess where their textile flooring waste ends up.
“Manufacturers were also talking to us about how they are focusing on including more recycled content within their product ranges and designing products with reuse and recycling in mind at the end of life. Raw material suppliers also enquired about how we can help promote their products to our network as they see us as being the right vehicle to do so. All in all, a very positive show for us.”
Carpet Recycling UK non-executive director Robert Barker commented: “It was great to be back to 'normal' times again at The Flooring Show.
It seems
that sustainability has moved on considerably during the last two years.
“Manufacturers and retailers alike are realising that not only is there a story that needs to be told about sustainability, but there is also a realisation that sustainability should be built – in-depth – into their culture, products and marketing. This is not an easy change for some, and others have only just started the journey – but the
news is positive – and that will be good for floorcoverings in the long term.”
Carpet Recycling UK also has greater representation among the non-woven sector, with underlay manufacturers Interfloor and Ball & Young Ltd demonstrating their corporate social responsibility through CRUK’s network and wider outreach.
CRUK’s Membership Services Manager Marie Rhodes said: “We shared members’ information on topics such as sustainable underlay, carpet and carpet tile ranges, alongside tips on how segregation and the right logistics can help push quality clean materials up the waste hierarchy back into manufacturing.
“Event carpet was a key topic and the flooring from the show will be recycled into polypropylene that can be turned back into fabric. Companies are not just wanting to save money by reusing and recycling their textile flooring waste; it is more about doing the right thing.”
Core funding for Carpet Recycling UK comes from the manufacturers Balsan, Betap, Brintons, Cormar,
30 | THE FLOORING SHOW REVIEW
DESSO, ege Carpets, Headlam Lifestyle Floors, Milliken and Shaw which are taking voluntary producer responsibility for the flooring products they place on the market.
Set up in 2008, Carpet Recycling UK helps the UK carpet and textile flooring sector to become more sustainable by expanding and promoting options for reuse, recycling and treatment of this waste, recognising it as a valuable resource, and diverting waste from landfill.
According to the latest CRUK figures, the industry is diverting approximately 65% of textile flooring waste from landfill. Around 430,000 tonnes of carpet and textile flooring waste arises annually in the UK.
www.carpetrecyclinguk.com.
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