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FLOORCOVERING MANUFACTURERS’ VIEW

How should the flooring industry collaborate on sustainability?
By Dale Diamond, UK and Europe Sustainability criteria. Different manufacturers use varying is necessary to set clear standards for
Lead at Karndean Designflooring methodologies to assess carbon footprints, responsible marketing.
recyclability, and lifecycle impacts, making An independent industry watchdog could
Sustainability has become a defining it difficult for contractors, architects, and help regulate sustainability claims, ensuring
challenge for the flooring industry (like designers to make informed choices. that all manufacturers are held accountable
many others), demanding more than just An industry-wide adoption of recognised to the same rigorous standards. This would
individual company efforts. It requires a reporting frameworks – such as the protect customers from misleading information
52 collective approach. While many businesses Greenhouse Gas Protocol and Environmental while fostering greater trust and collaboration
are making strides in reducing their Product Declarations (EPDs) – would allow for within the industry.
environmental impact, fragmented initiatives fair comparisons and more informed decision-
can only go so far. A coordinated, industry- making. Karndean Designflooring, for example, Knowledge sharing and education
wide effort is essential to driving real, has adopted EPDs that assess entire product Sustainability is a complex and evolving
measurable change. ranges, providing reliable, independently topic, and ensuring that the entire supply
Open collaboration on key sustainability verified data that customers can trust. If more chain understands best practices is crucial. A
issues is vital to ensuring the future of the manufacturers followed suit, the industry collaborative approach to education – through
industry. As sustainability is increasingly could create a clearer and more accountable industry associations, CPD courses, and cross-
seen not as a commercial advantage but sustainability landscape. company partnerships – could accelerate
as a shared responsibility, I am hopeful progress and drive innovation.
that collaboration will lead to meaningful Creating a circular economy Karndean, for example, is launching courses
progress. One of the flooring industry’s biggest to educate the industry on whole-life carbon
sustainability challenges is end-of-life product emissions and climate change. Expanding
The need for an industry-wide approach disposal. Unlike materials such as wood or initiatives like these across the sector would
The flooring sector plays a significant role carpet, luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) are difficult ensure that architects, designers, and installers
in the built environment, which accounts to recycle due to their composite structure. are better equipped to choose and recommend
for around a quarter of the UK’s total While some businesses, including Karndean, genuinely sustainable flooring solutions.
greenhouse gas emissions. With are exploring ways to repurpose clean off-
government mandates such as the Net cuts into new products, there is currently no A united path forward
Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener setting mainstream infrastructure to support large- While individual manufacturers can take
ambitious targets, collaboration will be scale, industry-wide recycling. significant steps towards sustainability,
key to ensuring that the industry meets its The industry needs to work together to real progress will come from industry-wide
responsibilities. develop a unified recycling scheme, similar collaboration. By working together to establish
While some manufacturers promote to initiatives seen in other sectors such as shared metrics, develop circular economy
their sustainability credentials, concerns packaging and electronics. An independent third initiatives, combat greenwashing, and provide
about greenwashing have led to hesitancy party that oversees material take-back schemes, education, the flooring sector can drive
in marketing legitimate progress. Greater coordinates collection points, and ensures meaningful change.
transparency and shared standards could responsible processing would be a significant The industry has an opportunity to lead
prevent misleading claims and build trust step toward a circular economy in flooring. by example and prove that sustainability isn’t
across the industry. By aligning on reporting just a competitive advantage – it’s a shared
frameworks, setting verifiable science-based Combating greenwashing through responsibility. Now is the time to move beyond
targets, and working towards industry-wide accountability isolated efforts and take collective action to
recycling solutions, the sector can ensure Greenwashing remains a major issue in build a greener future for flooring.
its environmental efforts are both credible the construction and flooring industries, For further information on the Karndean
and impactful. where vague or exaggerated claims can Evolve® Strategy and Sustainability Report
undermine genuine progress. While individual 2023, please visit the below website.
Standardising sustainability metrics manufacturers can commit to transparency –
A major challenge in flooring sustainability such as Karndean signing the Anti-Greenwash www.karndean.com/en-gb/floors/about-us/
is the lack of consistent measurement Charter – accountability across the sector karndean-evolve/

CFA Guide to Sustainability 2025/26