Carpet Recycling UK (CRUK), which will be exhibiting at The Flooring Show 2021 in September, says it is seeing emerging trends on the repurposing of carpet and textile flooring waste as a resource in all types of refurbishment projects.

The independent non-profit membership association works with companies across the flooring sector and wider industries to develop viable solutions for carpet, carpet tiles and other textile flooring waste.

Commenting on several emerging trends, CRUK manager Adnan Zeb-Khan welcomes the shift towards better outcomes for unwanted textile flooring that is increasingly being moved up the waste hierarchy.

The flooring trade has continued to remain busy and CRUK has seen a surge in enquiries from a new sector – the fit out/demolition contractors stripping out textile flooring such as carpet tiles from offices and quality broadloom from hotels.

“Fit out companies are contacting us because their customers – developers and designers – want to embrace sustainability and repurpose materials where possible,” Zeb-Khan said. “They are requesting that projects incorporate sustainable flooring, which can include repurposed commercial carpet tiles, as well as specifying products made with recycled content or designed with take back and recycling in mind.

“Flooring contractors see the value in working with us, using our branding to demonstrate their green credentials to customers to show that carpet is being repurposed, whether for reuse or recycling.”

Examples include Contract Flooring Solutions, Designer Contracts and new homes flooring contractor Saint Flooring, whose MD David Heafey can testify to the value of CRUK membership.

“Across the group, we’re saving around £150,000 to £170,000 annually on skips and waste costs by recycling carpet, as well as underlay, cardboard and polythene,” Heafey said. “CRUK supported us throughout and our membership helped us to find partners to recycle the carpet. Without being a member, I do not think we would have had this success.”

At the Flooring Show, CRUK plans to showcase some of the products from the nonwoven recyclers who are working with some of their key flooring contractor members, including Anglo Recycling, Edward Clay & Son and John Cotton Group.

Underlay manufacturers including Interfloor are also keen to demonstrate the recycled content in their products and interest is building in this sector.

 “Many of these manufacturers use recycled PU foam in their products and realise that it’s beneficial to align with our network, branding platform and large outreach,” said CRUK’s membership services manager, Marie Rhodes. “We aim to try to push carpet up the waste hierarchy for repurposing and reuse where possible, saving costs and helping to save resources. Ultimately, it is so rewarding to see these quality materials being repurposed across all sectors, including the commercial and third sectors, where they do so much good in the community.”

Visitors to the show in Harrogate from September 19-21 will find the CRUK team at stand A45 in Hall A.

www.carpetrecyclinguk.com