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THE UNITED KINGDOM SUSTAINABLE FLOORING ALLIANCE

Pioneering Change: UKSFA’s

vision for a sustainable tomorrow

The United Kingdom Sustainable Flooring Alliance (UKSFA),

formerly Carpet Recycling UK, has embarked on a new journey
in the last 12 months under the leadership of its most recently
appointed CEO, Cathie Clarke.

With experience and a passion for driving the knowledge gaps in the industry, she UKSFA through a critical period of change.
collaboration and innovation within the established the Heritage Skills Hub, a social Her expertise in fostering collaboration among
sector, Cathie is steering the organisation enterprise aimed at connecting construction competitors and engaging with policymakers
towards a future defined by transformation, professionals and educators to preserve will be instrumental in ensuring the industry’s
collaboration, and change. Against the historic skills and craftsmanship. voice is heard as new regulations take shape.
backdrop of evolving legislation, heightened Her ability to unite stakeholders and build
environmental concerns, and an urgent networks led her to the National Heritage Navigating change in flooring recycling
need for sustainable solutions in the Training Group as General Manager, where One of the biggest challenges facing the
flooring industry, she sees both challenges she worked to bridge the gap between carpet and flooring industry is the introduction
and exciting new opportunities. training providers and industry needs. She of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
20 then transitioned into trade associations, This legislation, which is set to reshape waste
Connecting people and breaking first with the Single Ply Roofing Association management across multiple sectors, places
down barriers (SPRA) in 2015, where she tackled industry financial and logistical responsibility on
Cathie Clarke’s career has been shaped by a fragmentation, promoted collaboration, and manufacturers and distributors for the end-of-
passion for bringing people together to create expanded the association’s influence in key life disposal of their products. The impact on
meaningful change. Her journey began in national organisations such as Build UK and flooring is particularly significant, with potential
construction in 2003, where she played a key the Construction Products Association (CPA). cost implications for producers and consumers
role in the Leader+ European-funded project, Cathie’s experience in membership alike. Cathie sees this as a crucial moment for
a £2 million initiative with a strong educational organisations, technical best practices, and the industry to take control of its future.
focus on traditional building skills. Recognising advocacy, uniquely positions her to lead “The EPR is coming, and it’s going to
change everything,” Cathie explains. “Landfill
tax is increasing, and we need to find viable
alternatives for all flooring waste. Right now,
a significant portion of textile flooring waste is
burned for energy, but as the majority of textile
flooring is made from synthetic fibres which
are produced from oil, this is not a long-term
solution. The industry must innovate to reduce
waste, improve recycling rates, and create a

The EPR is coming,

and it’s going to

change everything.
Landfill tax is

increasing, and we

need to find viable
alternatives for all

flooring waste

CFA Guide to Sustainability 2025/26