Page 54 - CFA_SG25

FLOORCOVERING MANUFACTURERS’ VIEW

Going below the surface of sustainable flooring

Andrew Jackson, Business Development Going Below the Surface
Director EMEA, Shaw Contract EMEA explores Sustainability must extend beyond the
how a more holistic, collaborative approach to flooring itself to include the methods used for
flooring sustainability can drive progress. installation. Traditional wet adhesive-based
Over the years, flooring manufacturers have installation processes can contaminate both
made considerable advances in improving the flooring and sub-floor, making reuse and
the sustainability of their products and recycling more difficult.
manufacturing operations. Adhesive-free installation methods, such as
However, it is well recognised that true IOBAC MagTabs® and Tab-It®, provide clean and
sustainability in flooring goes beyond just easy removal, enabling flooring to be reused
improving product design – it must consider or recycled while protecting the sub-floor asset
the total lifecycle of the product. underneath from needing to be cleaned before
Driving circular economy thinking is the next installation. They are used and/or
paramount. We must move past a “cradle-to- approved by 13 major flooring manufacturers of
gate” mindset - focused solely on production carpet tile, Luxury Vinyl Tile and woven vinyl tile,
– to a “cradle-to-grave” or, ideally, “cradle-to- including Shaw Contract EMEA.
cradle” approach, placing equal importance on Promoting these modern methods of
a product’s end-of-life as its beginning. installation requires collaboration between
Achieving this shift demands a change in (The Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd), manufacturers, contractors and designers to
mindset to think outside of the manufacturing which redistributes used flooring to Housing ensure they are understood, adopted and
company alone. It requires a broader, collective Associations, Local Authorities and vulnerable specified alongside the floor covering.
effort across the supply chain, with the entire communities.
industry embracing its responsibility as product • Commercial Reuse: Reuse of materials The Road Ahead
custodians of flooring materials throughout from one commercial project to another is Achieving meaningful sustainability in flooring
their lifecycle. being increasingly explored, highlighting the requires a holistic approach that integrates
importance of seamless collaboration across product design, installation methods and end-
Thinking Beyond the Gate the supply chain. There are now several of-life strategies, all underpinned by robust
Shaw Contract has been actively engaged online platforms designed to help trade collaboration across the supply chain.
in Cradle to Cradle design for more than 20 used materials, linking material donors with We all have a part to play. Manufacturers
years, introducing the first Cradle to Cradle potential receivers. must lead by designing with end-of-life and
Certified® flooring product in 1999. This Digital Product Passports (DPP) support circularity in mind. Designers and specifiers
approach encompasses five ambitions, from this exchange, detailing the content, should prioritise materials and installation
54 material health to product circularity, carbon environmental impact and recyclability of all systems that facilitate reuse and recycling.
management, water stewardship and social materials within a building, enabling effective Trade associations and industry groups must
fairness. At its core, it requires us to commit reuse or recycling. provide platforms for sharing knowledge,
to designing all our products with end-of-life in To further facilitate reuse, Shaw Contract setting standards and connecting stakeholders
mind. has introduced an industry-leading second across the value chain.
In addition to certifications like Cradle to location warranty, ensuring that performance As the flooring industry continues to unite
Cradle, upcoming regulations such as Extended and quality are maintained even after initial around sustainability, I am hopeful that we
Producer Responsibility (EPR) are set to hold installation. can create lasting environmental and social
manufacturers increasingly responsible for • Closed Loop Recycling: Manufacturers benefits, paving the way for a more responsible
the long-term environmental impact of their offering closed loop recycling schemes future.
products. EPR shifts the cost and responsibility enable flooring material at the end of its useful
of collecting, managing, and recycling products life to be recycled back into raw materials for www.shawcontract.com/en-GB/
to the producer. new flooring products. Sustainability/People-Planet
Driving change such as this demands
strong industry collaboration – it is not the
responsibility of one set of organisations alone.
Whilst we play a key part as manufacturers,
we also need building owners and specifiers
to drive change “from the top”, specifying
materials and processes that support
sustainability.
Trade associations have a key role to play
here too, connecting stakeholders across the
supply chain, acting as a forum for best practice
sharing and, most importantly, driving action.

Giving Flooring a Second Life
Central to the sustainability discussion is the
circular economy, focusing on reducing waste
and maximising material reuse.
Manufacturer take-back schemes like
Shaw Contract’s free-of-charge re[TURN]®
reclamation programme enable used flooring
to be returned to source, with manufacturers,
installers and clients working together to
extend its life in multiple ways:
• Residential Reuse: Partnerships with charities
and social housing projects can give used but
serviceable flooring a valuable second life.
Shaw Contract is an official partner of SATCoL

CFA Guide to Sustainability 2025/26