A recent article by the World Economic Forum highlights the transformative potential for businesses that embrace the Circular Economy. Similar to how early adopters of digital technologies have outpaced their peers, it recognises why companies need to adapt quickly to this new paradigm where sustainability is no longer a choice but an essential component of success.
In the built environment, a sector historically characterised by high growth and high waste, while some have moved from a Linear to a Recycling mindset, there’s still enormous scope for taking the leap towards a more circular approach.
For commercial new builds and refurbishments, flooring is often one of the largest volume interior finishes, with carpet tiles predominately used in office and educational environments. For businesses looking at ways to embrace a circular approach, re-thinking their carpet specification can make a significant and positive impact. Through collaborative partnerships and innovative technologies, it is now possible for building managers and specifiers to realise more value from existing carpet assets. And it’s much easier than you might think.
CARPET TILE RECOVERY FOR RE-USE
While many carpet tile manufacturers now offer carpet take-back programmes, where they will recover their carpet from a building, it is important to be aware of where that material will end up. For a circular approach, as much of that carpet tile product as possible should be re-used.
Reputable manufacturers will now have a carpet tile recovery service where a representative will visit your site to assess the potential for the used carpet tile product to go on to have a second life. This will involve assessing the quantity, examining the level of wear, the product backing, and the method by which it has been installed. This will indicate the carpet’s potential to be uplifted without damage to the product or the sub-floor and for it to be subsequently cleaned for re-use.
Learn more in our GUIDE TO SPECIFYING LOW CARBON CARPET TILES
For carpet tiles that have been approved for re-use, through a network of specialist flooring recovery partners, they will then arrange for the carpet to uplifted, palletised and removed for cleaning and re-installation. This service is usually undertaken for a fee or included in the purchase of a new carpet product from the same manufacturer.
WHERE WILL MY CARPET TILES BE USED?
The recovered carpet tiles can be put to good use in a few different ways:
Social and Charitable Sectors
In recent months, this growing floor covering re-use sector has already provided tens of thousands of metres of carpet to families in social housing to create warmer and more comfortable, carpeted spaces for families in need. This process is now providing a streamlined, efficient flow of usable carpet tile products directly to where it is needed.
Commercial Carpet Re-Use
The recovered carpet can also be directed by the manufacturer to specialists commercial carpet suppliers such as Orak in Paris and Re-Carpet in Stockholm. These companies stock a wide range of high quality uplifted and cleaned carpet products for specifiers and building managers to choose from for re-installation as a ‘buy-new’ experience.
Customer Carpet Re-Use
For companies with large and/or multiple buildings, it is also possible for them to use a manufacturer’s Circularity Programme to re-allocate their own carpet into another part of their own building stock. Equally they could nominate a preferred charity or social enterprise with a requirement for carpet as a recipient.
Some manufacturers are able to provide full traceability for their used carpet tile products. Using barcodes applied to the carpet tiles post-recovery, you can find out where precisely your carpet has eventually been re-installed. A ‘Certificate of Carpet Take Back’ can also be provided where required.
DIRECT CARPET TILE DONATION
In the UK, an alternative route for carpet tile re-use is by direct donations through the Salvation Army’s national network of distribution centres. As the UK’s largest textile collector, the charity diverts over 250 million items to good uses every year. For carpet, they are able to accept delivery of up to 2 pallets (around 200m2) of full tiles in re-usable condition and often larger quantities by special arrangement. These centres either sell or donate the product to those in need with any proceeds used to support homeless projects and others in need. Once again, reputable manufacturers will be able to provide a means of traceability for these donated products.
WHAT IF THERE ARE CARPET TILES THAT CANNOT BE RE-USED?
While the aim is always to re-use and then recycle where possible, there will inevitably be situations due to excessive soiling, damage or incomplete tiles where carpet products cannot be re-used. Where this is the case, ‘retired’ carpet tiles can be disassembled into their constituent material streams and reprocessed in various different ways.
Through circularity-driven collaborations between carpet tile manufacturers and yarn producers, such as Aquafil, the nylon yarn component can be reprocessed back into new regenerated yarn for re-use in new carpet tile products. Alternatively, as a downcycling option, the nylon component can also be reprocessed as a raw material in the manufacture of nylon components for machines.
Painted Garden featuring 100% Econyl regenerated yarn
In most cases, limestone can also be extracted from carpet tiles and recycled into a raw material for cement production. The remaining hydrocarbon-based content can then be converted into energy, reducing the amount of fossil fuel used in the cement making processes. As a key component in concrete production, which accounts for approximately 6% of all global CO2 emissions, this resource for cement production can ultimately deliver an important environmental benefit.
Finally, as a last resort, carpet tile can be converted into fuel pellets as secondary fuel in certified waste to energy processing. This again helps to reduce the consumption of fossils fuels. It is worth noting however, that this process is not an option for PVC based carpet tiles.
REPLACING OLD CARPET TILES
Adopting a circular approach also requires a shift of mindset when specifying new or replacement carpet tiles. Depending on the end use requirement, it is worth considering first whether purchasing from the stock re-used carpet tiles from a specialist supplier, as referenced earlier in this blog, is a viable option.
Where a new carpet tile product is required, ensuring that you continue to embrace the circular approach means it is crucial to choose a new product that has been designed from the outset for future recovery and reuse:
Product content - Circular products begin with healthy materials, so a carpet tile product that is certified Red List Free will maximise the opportunity for its potential re-use. High levels of recycled material content without compromise to the product’s performance or longevity will optimise its lifetime carbon emissions rating and further promote the circular economy.
Longevity and maintenance - Specifying a product with a long wear warranty which, once installed, is maintained regularly will once again maximise the potential for re-use.
Glue-free installation - Products designed for re-use will also be engineered for installation without the use of adhesives. Ensuring a clean uplift without damage to the carpet or sub-floor is important to ensuring efficient recovery of re-usable tiles. (Find out more in our Blog WHY GLUE-FREE CARPET TILE INSTALLATION IS IMPORTANT FOR CARPET TILE RECYCLING)
The NBS’s recent Sustainable Futures Report 2024, which surveyed construction professionals on their views on the industry’s sustainability practices, highlighted the need for sustainability to be considered as early as possible in the design process. When it comes to floor covering choice, thinking holistically and embracing the circular economy is entirely achievable by ensuring re-use where possible and thoughtful specification of carpet tiles designed for re-use and minimal carbon rating from the outset.
Learn more about Milliken’s N/XT Life™ Circularity Programme here or contact: N/XTlifeeurope@milliken.com to start the Milliken N/XT Life Carpet Tile Re-Use process.
You may also interested in reading our blog: SUSTAINABLE CARPET TILES: 7 KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR SUPPLIER
