With a raft of sustainability initiatives planned for 2021, Carpet Recycling UK is taking a dynamic and positive approach to representing and supporting the flooring sector against a backdrop of challenging policy changes.
Set up in 2008, the non-profit trade association 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.
Carpet Recycling UK has over 100 members from across the supply chain. Its core funders are Balsan, Betap, Brintons, Cormar, DESSO, ege Carpets, Headlam Lifestyle Floors, Milliken and new core funder Shaw Europe Ltd; all companies that are committed to taking voluntary producer responsibility for their products, many of whom are already developing greener flooring solutions as well as helping to take back flooring waste via the Carpet Recycling UK network. “We are delighted to have Shaw on board, says “Adnan Zeb-Khan, Carpet Recycling UK Manager. “To have one of the largest carpet tile producers in the world actively involved within our membership demonstrating its commitment to sustainable carpet tiles is a great achievement for us.”
Andrew Jackson, Commercial Director, says: “Shaw is pleased to be part of Carpet Recycling UK. Recycling and repurposing products is critical for a circular economy approach. It is something that we have been working on in line with our adherence company-wide to the Cradle-to-Cradle philosophy over many years, in running our reTURN (take-back) programme, and as we continue to innovate and bring new products into the market.”
Design for recycling
Supporting and promoting more circular design that would enable carpet and textile flooring to be more readily recycled through closed loop initiatives, thereby reducing waste, is a key aim. In representing the sector regarding Government policy, Carpet Recycling UK is also collaborating with producers to better identify and minimise waste.
“We are trying to influence the sector in working with us and taking voluntary steps forward to invest in design for recycling,” says Adnan Zeb-Khan. “We are in a strong position to represent the sector in discussions with the Government on policy change. That is why we have to ‘fly the flag’ for sustainable products and design for recycling, so that if and when policies change, the sector is one step ahead and stands to benefit from more favourable terms, given their environmental stance.”
To help the industry cope with the challenges faced by potential policy changes, Carpet Recycling UK can assist with developing and producing guidance on how companies can adapt to meet future sustainability requirements.
“For example, if companies have voluntarily made changes early and invested in sustainable practices to reduce waste, their forward-thinking approach would gain recognition ahead of others,” continues Adnan.
Sustainable Solutions
Fully understanding the sources and volumes of how much carpet waste arises every year in the UK is vital to Carpet Recycling UK’s on-going work in finding sustainable solutions for this difficult waste stream.
In response to industry requests for independent verification and to gain an accurate assessment of the annual carpet and textile flooring waste stream, Carpet Recycling UK appointed consultants Oakdene Hollins (OH) to quantify the total annual waste arising and to produce a full-net cost calculation and assessment of end-fates. Using Carpet Recycling UK’s 2019 figures as a baseline, the OH study concluded that around 430,000 of carpet waste arises annually in the UK. The study discovered more pockets of carpet and textile flooring waste being diverted via other routes, such as council-run HWRCs and mixed within the overall MSW (municipal solid waste), that were previously outside Carpet Recycling UK’s ‘reporting radar’.
“Based on that up-to-date figure and using the reuse, recycling and treatment routes that currently exist, it is estimated that the industry as a whole is diverting 65% of carpet waste from landfill, so that is quite impressive,” says Adnan. “It demonstrates if treated correctly, carpet can be used as a valuable resource; our aim is to push this resource up the waste hierarchy into more meaningful reuse and recycling applications.”
Extended Producer Responsibility
As part of the UK’s Resource and Waste Strategy 2018, DEFRA is considering potential Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for several markets including bulky household waste which textile flooring/carpets come under. Such an EPR scheme would take into consideration many factors including textile flooring/carpet sales, volumes and costs associated with treating this waste at the of its original life. Essentially EPR is about ensuring that producers bear the financial responsibility for the impacts of products they place on the market.
Carpet Recycling UK aims to represent the sector to DEFRA with a view to influencing any such scheme which is favourable to both the Government and industry. Therefore, we are calling for the manufacturers of carpet and textile flooring to join together in these discussions via Carpet Recycling UK to demonstrate their commitment to reduction of waste and development of products designed for recycling.
Dissemination events
“Communication throughout the supply chain is a key area for Carpet Recycling UK, helping to find specific textile flooring and carpet waste types which are in demand by our recycler members and to update industry on latest developments,” says Marie Rhodes, Carpet Recycling UK’s Membership Services Manager. “We are planning to hold a virtual conference and member awards event later this year to share new ideas, developments and progress, with details to be confirmed. A series of webinars is also being considered and potential speakers are invited to submit content.
“We are currently creating a best practice guide for the reuse and recycling of commercial carpet tiles aimed at helping more contractors find sustainable solutions for their flooring waste, by providing practical points to consider, and attracting enquiries to our network.” This guide will be available to download from our website www.carpetrecyclinguk.com
Meet Carpet Recycling UK at the EXPO
Carpet Recycling UK is looking forward to taking part in the first CFJ Online Flooring EXPO on 1st July 2021 as an exhibitor and featuring Adnan Zeb-Khan on the panel for sustainability alongside key participants.
Carpet Recycling UK has long been an associate member of the Contract Flooring Association and has several flooring contractors within its membership. Marie says: “We are keen to include more manufacturers and flooring suppliers into our membership and will take the opportunity of EXPO Live to discuss how we work and what we can offer.
“Delegates will hear the latest updates in sustainability relating to design for recycling and we will inform them of solutions for carpet tile, carpet and other textile flooring waste. Companies will hear about best practice and what to consider when considering diverting contract flooring waste like carpet tiles or fitting offcuts from new homes building from landfill. Please join us!”
Carpet Recycling UK welcomes enquiries from all types of organisations interested in finding new outlets for their waste carpet as well as finding information when specifying sustainable products.
For more information, please call 0161 440 8325, email info@carpetrecyclinguk.com or visit www.carpetrecyclinguk.com