Page 30 - CFA_SG25

CONTRACTORS’ VIEW

journey saw us trial and roll out two new over three million plastic bottles from landfill. We have also updated our feature
LVT takeback schemes nationally where the Other recent new product introductions use and benefit sheets to help customers
manufacturers provide a solution for recycling 100% recycled polypropylene yarn or 100% understand how products we supply impact
any LVT waste. The waste is returned and recycled polyester. the environment. Any sustainable elements
then either recycled back into the production Exploring new ways of saving waste are highlighted with a fern icon, including
process or sent on for repurposing into items and energy extends to our own people too, whether the product has a certified EPD
such as traffic cones and bollards. a good example being the success of our and any other green feature. Where EPDs
As a company we strive to have a Sustainability Champions scheme. Introduced have not been created, we have asked
sustainable supply chain and partner with a year ago, it has cut our energy usage by suppliers for further information to support
suppliers and manufacturers committed to more than 10% what other environmental benefits there are.
reducing waste and supporting a circular The in-house campaign to promote These include: the percentage of recycled
economy. We are committed to working with sustainability in the workplace, has saved content; if the product is made in the UK;
the industry to develop sustainability within the company some 63,737-kilowatt hours, if it is manufactured using low VOCs; if it is
flooring and look forward to the changes that with total energy usage slashed by 11.35%.
we can make together. Representatives from each region, warehouse manufactured in a factory powered by wind
One example of a sustainable product and head office were given accountability for turbines; if it has a Eurofins Indoor air quality
in our industry and included within our own monitoring and recording energy usage and certification or similar; or membership of the
portfolio is an underlay made from 85 percent waste invoices to maximise the company’s UK Sustainable Flooring Alliance (UKSFA),
recycled fibres (plastic bottles) which is an sustainability savings throughout the year. formerly Carpet Recycling UK (CRUK).
eco-friendly alternative to PU foam, felt and This was an important new initiative for us The quest for circularity is an ongoing and
rubber underlay. Introduced back in 2019, the in 2024 and supports our drive towards Net far-reaching process. But only by integrating
launch was the result of another close and Zero. Thanks to the success of the first year, sustainability into every step of their
long running partnership with Think Group. As this is a scheme we plan to repeat in 2025 operations can companies drive industry-wide
a result, Designer Contracts has now diverted and beyond. change and build a more sustainable future.

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According to Tony Mathé, Director of Hillside
Contracts and a former President of the CFA: “The
cultural landscape has moved massively in the
last ten years, turning sustainability into an active
conversation across sites and a key area where
collaboration is required.”
“It is a leading concern for architects and
surveyors, and is increasingly acknowledged by main
contractors and manufacturers alike. Of course, we
play our own part as a flooring contractor,” he says.
“Most projects have skips and we encourage
our floorlayers to fill recycling bags as provided by
manufacturers, especially on small projects. Recofloor
bags are a common sight, and there are a number of
other takeback schemes too. Once full, these bags
are easy enough to send off, making it just a step in
our routine.
“As a result of these changes, there is less use areas such as corridors require a stronger fix.
material going to landfill and more being recycled, The same styles of floorcovering products continue
which is a clearly positive trend. These numbers will to be as popular as ever. It is therefore important
only continue to improve as sustainable products and that sustainability isn’t just contained to a few niche
practices are normalised. Main contractors are also products, but continues to be developed across
working to facilitate more recycling, no question products for any scenario.
about it. “In general, stick-down flooring is easy enough
“On the product side, looselay floorcoverings are to recycle. Contaminated waste is much harder, so
an emerging trend, as more and more manufacturers it would be good to see new developments and
and specifiers are looking at products that can be innovations that could address this problem.
easily lifted and recycled at end-of-life. Though as “It is sometimes my concern that sustainability
a finishing trade cost remains a key challenge for on site is just a tick box exercise, but since everyone
specifications, since adhesive-free options reduce wants to play their part for the environment, I feel
subfloor preparation, making flooring easy to install, that we are getting better at taking a considered
they are often a cost and time saving material. We approach to sustainability across the supply chain.
see this trend growing especially as looselay LVT is When you consider how much change there has
regularly specified over access floors, omitting the been in just a decade, there is cause for optimism.
need for plywood. Overall, I would say that sustainability progress is
“Looselay is not ideal for installations where heavy moving at about the right speed.”

CFA Guide to Sustainability 2025/26