As one of the largest interior finishes in terms of volume, installing carpet can have a significant impact on the design and comfort of an interior. It can also potentially be a high contributor of embodied carbon emissions, as indicated in this breakdown from architects Gensler where carpet ranks third highest in the interior materials category.
Source: Gensler
Continual innovation in carpet materials and production processes is now helping to drive down the carbon footprint of carpet. To support this, reputable manufacturers of commercial carpet now provide third-party verified embodied carbon ratings with their products. While this provides specifiers with a good indicator, being aware of all the aspects that impact a carpet’s footprint will help ensure you are specifying a low carbon rated product across its full lifecycle, not just at the time at which it is installed.
In this blog, we guide you through six key areas to consider when specifying low carbon carpet tiles.
1. Choose modular carpet for minimal wastage
For most commercial applications, carpet tiles are usually the product of choice, and for good reason when considering carbon ratings. Specifying carpet in modular or tile format will considerably reduce wastage compared to broadloom or full-width carpet, particularly on smaller or irregular shapes spaces. For installation like these, wastage for carpet tiles is estimated at around 14% compared to as much as 65% for broadloom carpet. That is more than half the material potentially being wasted without ever being installed on the floor!
Milliken Shoe Lane Collection
2. Consider re-used carpet tiles and carpet tile recycling
Given the choice of carpet tiles, depending on your interior project, specifying reused carpet tiles may well be an option to consider first. While the past decade has seen a huge increase in recycled carpet tiles where they are either processed into other products or as waste to energy, the more favourable option of carpet re-use is now a realistic choice. As the commercial interiors industry begins to embrace the circular economy, forward-thinking manufacturers are working with carpet re-use specialists to develop reliable infrastructures for uplifting, cleaning and making used carpet tiles available in an easily accessible way.
Uplifted Carpet Tile Recycling
Rated zero-carbon and with an ever-growing inventory, this offers specifiers a sustainable option with increasing product choice. Some manufacturers, including Milliken with its N/XT LIFE Circularity Programme, provide these products with an EPD that includes their transportation and an additional wear warranty. They also qualify for LEED credits and contribute to BREEAM certification.
As part of this sophisticated carpet take-back network, companies can also provide their carpet for uplift and cleaning to donate carpet via charities and social enterprises for re-use via their distribution hubs.
Find out more in our blog: EMBRACING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY: HOW CARPET TILE RE-USE WORKS
3. Carbon Offsetting and SBTi targets
Some manufacturers with carbon-off setting initiatives are already undertaking carbon mitigation programmes that ensure their new carpet tile products can be offered as fully carbon neutral. However, in the future the construction industry will be required as part of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) to focus specifically on the embodied carbon of the product itself based on its material content, its manufacture and supply chain.
In addition, in 2026 the EU Greenwashing Directive will no longer allow companies to make carbon neutral claims based on offsetting with the aim of ensuring greater transparency.
Learn more in our Blog: HOW CARPET TILE RECYCLING CAN HELP ACHIEVE YOUR CARBON AND ESG GOALS
4. Specifying carpet tiles with high recycled content
By minimising the use of oil-based materials, manufacturers are now engineering carpet tiles with increasingly lower levels of embodied carbon. When considering a product’s material content, it is important to make holistic choice that offers high levels of recycled content along with optimum product performance and therefore product longevity. Specifying a carpet tile with a high % of recycled material that only lasts a few years will ultimately have a higher embodied carbon rating for the product’s lifespan. The two primary components for carpet tiles to consider are the yarn and the backing material.
Yarn content
Given that carpet tiles manufactured with nylon yarn typically offer the greatest durability and therefore longevity, there are many options available today that include regenerated nylon yarns. Specifying products with high levels of recycled content such as Econyl® or Thrive® matter will reduce the yarn carbon footprint by up to 85% and will ensure a significantly reduced embodied carbon in the final product.
Northward Bound - Snow, Glacier, Ice with Thrive® matter
Backing material
Carpet tiles can be found with a wide variety of backing materials. Again, an investigation of the backing material’s recycled content, balanced with what it delivers in terms of extended wear performance and a long lifespan, will provide the lowest overall embodied carbon rating. Carpet tiles with a recycled polyurethane cushion backing integrated into the product can offer and optimised choice.
5. Specify with carpet tile recycling ‘designed in’
As referenced earlier in this blog, carpet tile recycling in the form of ‘re-use’ is becoming part of the specification landscape. However, when selecting new carpet tiles, it is crucial to consider products that have been specifically designed from the outset for future re-use. When evaluating first-use specification, there are two key questions to ask:
Are the carpet tiles designed for glue-free installation?
Uplifting carpet tiles that are glued firmly to the floor will likely cause damage to the product and leave behind debris on the sub-floor which is difficult to remove. Glue-free carpet tiles are specifically designed to be uplifted after use without damage to the product or the floor underneath leaving them ready for re-installation.
TractionBack® glue-free carpet installation
For further details, read our related blog: CARPET TILE RECYCLING: WHY GLUE-FREE INSTALLATION IS THE FUTURE
Are the carpet tiles designed for longevity?
Quality, high performance carpet tiles are generally engineered to last. As outlined earlier, it is vital to consider a product’s embodied carbon over the lifespan of its wearable life. Products that offer a long wear warranty are more likely to last for a second life and even beyond their original wear warranty. Carpet tiles with an open-cell polyurethane cushion backing include wear warranties of up to 15 years.
Does the manufacturer have a carpet take-back scheme?
Ensuring that a manufacturer offers a service to uplift their carpet tiles for re-use or for recycling when required will provide the assurance of a streamlined circular life for the product being specified. In some cases, a certification of re-use can also be provided.
6. Manufacturer’s environment credentials
As a final point of guidance, it is worthwhile ensuring that a manufacturer is working hard to mitigate climate change the whole way through its supply chain and manufacturing processes.
Sustainability Reporting
– a manufacturer committed to fighting the climate crisis will regularly publish its goals and progress on its reductions in GHG emissions energy and water usage.
Third Party Certifications
– full disclosure and transparency for its products and processes should also be sought through global standards and certifications such as Declare® and Cradle to Cradle. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) will also help demonstrate a product’s carbon impact over its entire lifecycle. Certifications that demonstrate responsible manufacturing and material sourcing will also provide further assurance.
Carbon Off-Setting Programmes
– manufacturers with carbon-off setting programme and a proven track record of embodied carbon reductions will once again be a good indicator of a company’s commitment already to tackling climate change. However, as referenced earlier, the focus should shift in future to a company's product, processes and supply chain.
You may also be interested to read our blog: SUSTAINABLE CARPET TILES: 7 KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR SUPPLIER
