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

Made from reclaimed polyester plastic from soft drinks and sauce bottles used with yarn
1 square metre of carpet takes approximately 50 large soft drinks bottles (2 litres)
PET is generally higher quality than other lower grade synthetic fibres as the soft drinks bottles contain higher quality resins

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

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

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

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

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