Recycled carpet

Description
Recycled carpet is made from post consumer and/or post industrial waste
Aim for a high percentage of recycled and recyclable content
Check for the ISO eco label
Similar in appearance to traditional floor coverings made from synthetic virgin fibres
Available in a large range of colours, styles and patterns

Nylon
Reclaimed from the carpet manufacturing process
Makes up to 25% of recycled content
Recycling carpet textile fibres to make new carpet is more difficult to process

Backing and underlay
Backing available; natural mineral, natural jute, 100% recycled carpet fibre, recycled rubber

Uses
Suitable for residential and commercial installations
Rolls of carpet and carpet tiles
Recycled carpet can be remanufactured into carpet fibres and carpet backing

Advantages
Lower emission of VOCs due to recycled content containing less chemical additives
Better colour fast properties than synthetic virgin fibres Good stain resistant properties – higher level than non recycled carpet fibres
Good bleach resistant properties
Good moth, insect and mildew repellent properties
Other properties are alike with synthetic virgin fibres; anti static, matting, indentation from static loads, anti fading
PET is inherently resistant to stains – removing the need for treating chemically during manufacture as with nylon carpet fibres
Better resistance to stains than nylon carpets
PET is easy to maintain as more resilient, which reduces the need for chemical cleaning agents
High levels of abrasion and wear and tear resistance
Low moisture absorption levels
Purchasing recycled-content carpeting is one way to help close the loop in manufacturing

Disadvantages
PET & nylon need frequent cleaning which uses water and energy resources
Less colours, styles and patterns than traditional virgin fibre carpet
Knowledge and familiarity of product is not widespread among retailers

Cost
Similar price to traditionally synthetic carpet made from virgin fibres

Embodied Energy
Production does not create as many emissions and VOCs reducing air pollution
Production by product waste is reduced – through recycling
Resources are used more efficiently with the reduction in the amount of virgin fibres and materials during manufacture

Recycling increases embodied energy levels with the added need for transport and distribution

Source/Origin
Readily available where a recycling initiative is implemented by manufacturers

Renewable
Post consumer carpet for recycling is widely abundant

Environment & Health
Adhesives can contain VOCs
Recycled carpet has lower levels of VOCs emissions
Direct stick installation must use a low or zero VOCs to maintain the low level VOCs characteristics of recycle carpet Recycling reduces waste in landfill sites

Performance
Durable and strong
PET recycled fibres do not lose fibre quality during the recycling process

Recycled content
Varying percentages of recycled content

Recyclable
Direct stick installation lessens the possibility of recycling carpet
Only recyclable in specialist facilities with recycling initiatives set up, not yet readily available
Post consumer carpeting may be eligible for a ‘take back scheme’ where the manufacturer recovers the carpet for remanufacture, recycling and downcycling
Be careful – the recycling logo may only mean that the product is recyclable and NOT that it consists of recycled content
Recycled PET fibres and materials cannot be recycled into new carpet
Post consumer recycled PET fibres can only be downcycled into lesser quality items

Disposal / Biodegradable
PET and nylon are non-biodegradable
PET and nylon when incinerated release toxic vapours and VOC emissions

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