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CONTACT US:

Chief Executive Officer:
Richard Catt
Key PRIORITIES Tel: 0115 941 1126

Email: info@cfa.org.uk
Web: www.cfa.org.uk
Richard Catt, CEO of the Contract Flooring Association, Unit 22 Eldon Business Park, Eldon Road,
introduces this year’s Guide to Sustainability, highlighting key Chilwell, Nottingham, NG9 6DZ
themes and priorities for the industry’s future.

major milestone this year has been the conclusion of CiSuFlo (Circular
Sustainable Flooring project) in March 2025, a four-year European-funded Follow us @CFA_Association
initiative in which CFA and FITA played a role. Linkedin: contract-flooring-association-limited
A The project aimed to minimise the environmental impact of the EU flooring Instagram: cfa_association
sector, focusing on Circular Floor Coverings, product traceability, circular business X: CFA_Association
4 models, and pilot projects. More details are available here: www.cisuflo.eu/project/
objectives
A key takeaway was the industry’s need for collaboration and coordination to
implement circular solutions – echoing CFA’s Zero Avoidable Waste report from 2021 ICK-START
(www.cfa.org.uk/Contract-Flooring-Association-Information-and-Downloads). PUBLISHING L TD
Conversations with CFA members and across the sector, including with the United Published by Kick-Start Publishing Ltd, publishers
Kingdom Sustainability Flooring Alliance (UKSFA), formerly Carpet Recycling UK, of Contract Flooring Journal. ©Copyright Kick-Start
reinforce this need. Publishing Ltd. Editorial featured is not reflective of
CFA has also engaged in Government consultations, including Defra’s Packaging EPR their viewpoint. All rights reserved. All information
PUBLISHING L TD
is correct at time of going to press.
scheme and the 2025 Future Homes and Buildings Standard. However, beyond policy,
the focus must be on actionable solutions such as:
• Best practices for product design to enable recyclability.
• Product identification post-installation. PUBLISHING L TD
• A digital product passport for tracking material lifecycle.
• Developing industry-wide logistics for collection and recycling.
• Expanding recycling capabilities.Some existing initiatives contribute to sustainability,
but the key question remains: do they align with the wider net-zero agenda and help
prevent Government-imposed regulation? The packaging EPR scheme shows that
Government intervention is a real risk.
While achieving a truly circular flooring industry may seem ambitious, collaboration
doesn’t have to stifle innovation or competition. CFA’s success in technical standards PUBLISHING L TD
proves that industry-wide coordination is possible without stifling innovation or
commercial opportunity – why not apply the same approach to sustainability?

CFA’s success in technical

standards proves that industry-
wide coordination is possible

without stifling innovation or

commercial opportunity

Richard Catt, CEO
CFA Guide to Sustainability 2024/25