Collaborating on carpet waste

Collaboration was the theme for this year’s Carpet Recycling UK annual conference. A packed agenda saw a wide range of initiatives and topics covered, highlighting that partnership working across the comparable flooring sectors such as resilient flooring and other industries to include construction, waste management and recycling sectors is vital to finding better environmental and economic solutions for carpet and textile flooring waste.

Speaking at the two-day event in July, Adnan Zeb-Khan - CRUK Scheme Manager, highlighted that although an important outlet, ‘energy from waste’ (which accounted for over 200k tonnes of carpet and textile flooring to be diverted from landfill in 2022), is not a sustainable long-term route and more reuse, recycling circular solutions need to be developed.

Delegates then heard about potential research project to divert carpet and textile flooring waste and how these could be used in construction products and the cement industry. Carpet Recycling UK will be exploring these further with universities and industry to research alternative solutions.

Exciting collaborative work is already underway and Headlam presented findings on their pilot take-back scheme which is providing valuable insight into behaviours around recycling flooring materials. Innovate Recycling unveiled results on their achieving partial circular sustainability from recycling polypropylene from carpet into new polypropylene beads that can be spun into new yarn for carpet manufacture. Matoha also presented their evolving infrared material identification gun which is using AI to enable it to identify thousands of different carpet chemistries and IOBAC presented their unique magnetic carpet floor tiles fixing solutions which are saving thousands of pounds on damage to subfloors during building interior renovations.

Perhaps the most important subject covered by the conference was the urgent need for all stakeholders to come together to collaborate and develop an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme that is suitable for the sector. Conference heard from several speakers on existing or similar schemes operating in Europe and the USA. Jane Gardner of ERFMI (European Resilient Floorcovering Manufacturers’ Institute) reinforced the need to develop a circular economy for flooring products.

“On the circular economy, now is the time to act – politically, legislatively and technologically. Sustainability is becoming mandatory in the European Union. Our strategy recognises the need for waste management companies, recyclers and raw material suppliers to collaborate to ensure a workable solution for all stakeholders.”

During the conference some key questions were asked of the delegates which were intended to generate debates, conversations and opinions on the key challenges they each face when it comes to sustainable practices within their organisations and if now is the right time for CRUK to rebrand itself and provide support to other flooring types experiencing similar challenges and issues.

The evening event saw the popular Carpet Recycling UK annual awards presented by Jonathan Middelkoop from Betap. CRUK thanked all those who entered this year and is proud to announce the 2024 winners as:

•   Circular Economy Initiative of the Year - Robbert Wapstra, Edel Carpets; Highly Commended: Betap
•   Reuse and Recycling Project of the Year - Richard Shea, Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd; Highly Commended: John Cotton Group & Designer Contracts
•   Most Sustainable Product of the Year - Kate Burnett, Milliken; Highly Commended: Condor Group

The conference presented an opportunity for Cathie Clarke, CRUK’s new Managing Director to meet and network with some of their 134-strong membership. She said: “Having just joined CRUK Ltd at the beginning of the month, the annual conference was a perfect opportunity for me to meet a large number of members at once.”

She added: “The conference was packed with interesting and inspiring presentations on innovation within the carpet recycling industry, circular economy and sustainability with high energy debates on important issues. I look forward to working closely with all our members and the board to raise awareness of the important work that is already being done and to develop an ambitious strategy of influence and change within our industry for the benefit of our environment.”

For Darlene Sammut of Matoha attending the conference for the first time was a ‘great experience’, adding: “It allowed us to engage in meaningful discussions about the flooring industry’s advancements towards a circular economy. By presenting and exhibiting at the conference, we have been able to network and showcase our products, encouraging more collaboration within the industry.”

Adnan concluded: “After a stimulating event packed with discussion, debate and insightful presentations, it’s clear there is a strong need for engagement and collaboration in helping the sector on its sustainability journey to reduce and recycle textile flooring waste while developing opportunities to create circularity within the sector through a more ‘design for recycling’ led approach.”

T 0161 440 8325 • www.carpetrecyclinguk.com