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This is the seventh chapter of The Ultimate Guide to Carpets.
Download the full guide here.
There's no doubt there's a growing realisation of the negative effect consumption patterns are having on the environment and climate. More and more governments, corporations, business owners and individuals are requesting that architects and corporate designers incorporate sustainability into their projects.
Read more about Ege Carpets' sustainable promise.
When choosing materials for an interior fit-out, including flooring, the answers as to which product is the most environmentally friendly can be complicated. For example, there are sustainable carpets available that use eco-friendly yarn, which is produced from recycled fishing nets and other waste materials transformed into strong and hard wearing textile flooring.
For a truly sustainable carpet, however, it's not just the materials that need to be sustainable but the entire manufacturing process.
For a truly sustainable carpet, however, it's not just the materials that need to be sustainable but the entire manufacturing process. This means it's necessary to select a carpet supplier with a high level of corporate and environmental responsibility that focuses on environmental policies and practices at every level of the manufacturing process. Here are 11 factors to check and questions to ask your carpet supplier to ensure you are specifying a truly sustainable product:
1. Sustainable development
The first thing to look for when choosing a sustainable carpet is the entire process in which the carpet is manufactured and how closely the carpet manufacturer follows the principles of sustainable development.
These principles are, as defined in the Brundtland Report published by the United Nations in 1987: “… development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Sustainable development can be broken into three parts:
- Profit – economic development
- Planet – environmental protection
- People – social responsibility
If sustainability is truly important to you and the project, look for companies that view sustainable development as a constant process in which utilisation of resources, management of investments and technological development are in agreement with future as well as current needs.
2. Cradle to Cradle practices
Does the carpet company follow Cradle to Cradle Certified® practices for all stages of the product lifecycle, right up to the return of worn or outdated carpeting and backing and responsible disposal via high-powered incineration?
Any truly sustainable carpet, once it has lived a long life, should be returned appropriately and excess materials should be re-used in order to minimise the carbon foot print.
3. Sustainable raw materials
Does the company provide carpets made from sustainable or recycled raw materials?
A sustainable carpet will, ideally, be manufactured by use of recycled and natural raw materials. By choosing these kinds of truly sustainable carpets, you can make sure used materials that would otherwise be destroyed ends up having a new life.
4. Energy use of the carpet company
Does the carpet company source its energy from a sustainable source, such as wind power or solar power, throughout all its manufacturing facilities?
This come back to the fact that a sustainable carpet isn't just one thing. Rather, sustainability needs to be at the core of the carpet company shining through everything they do – including the energy source.
5. Documenting environmental claims
Does the carpet supplier have documentation for all environmental claims for its manufacturing processes and products?
Truly sustainable carpets are rare to find so take your time investigating the claims of the carpet company. Ask yourself; do they have documentation for any sustainable carpet certifications? And can they back up their claims of being a sustainable carpet manufacturer?
6. Waste disposal
Does the company have a policy of responsible disposal of all the waste associated with the production of carpets?
If they don't have a written policy of responsible disposal of waste materials, chances are they aren't focussing on it. The carpet manufacturing process will undeniably lead to excess waste materials, so it's vital that these materials are re-used or disposed in a sustainable manner.
7. Greenhouse gas account
Does the carpet company publish a greenhouse gas account that can be accessed? A greenhouse gas account details the company’s total emissions of CO2, calculated in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and World Resources Institute.
This report will give you an insight into just how sustainable the carpet is. And if the company doesn't have a greenhouse gas account, chances are that sustainable carpets aren't at the very core of their business model.
8. Environmental management certifications
There are some very specific sustainable carpet certifications to look for when evaluating whether or not a carpet is truly sustainable.
Look into the sustainable carpet certifications below to determine just how green the carpet (and the manufacturer) is.
A truly sustainable carpet company should be certified in accordance with ISO 14001 standards. ISO 14001 specifies requirements for an environmental management system that enables the company to constantly develop and implement policies and objectives that take into account legal requirements and environmental aspects. To receive ISO 14001 certification, a company needs to comply with various demands related to its environmental management system:
- Environmental policy
- Planning
- Implementation and operation
- Control and corrective actions
- Management review
9. CE (Conformite Europeenne)
The CE certification ensures that the product meets all demands of the European standards in key areas such as fire safety, health and environment, safety in use, energy savings and thermal insulation.
10. BRE – Environmental carpet profiles
Environmental profiles from BRE Certification Ltd provide a measuring system for the environmental performance of building products, including carpets, and provide life cycle assessment information on the environmental impact associated with the extraction, processing, manufacture, installation, maintenance and disposal of products.
11. LEED
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary building certification program established by the US Green Building Council with the purpose of encouraging and accelerating global adaptation towards sustainable green buildings.
The system provides architects, designers and specifiers with a concrete and practical set of design and performance goals, and provides independent thirdparty certification that validates their achievements.
For this blogpost, we have some design inspiration to you, including some unusual and unexpected ways to use carpet!
Every now and then, you get to the end of a construction or remodeling project and realize that the customer’s carpet is damaged due to paint spills, dust, or other debris. At that point, you spend additional funds from your budget to replace or professionally clean the carpeting. This is why carpet protective film is so important.
Using a quality carpet protector from the beginning is the easiest way to prevent issues like this from happening. Instead of paying a premium to repair or replace the flooring, carpet guards are an inexpensive alternative you can use at the start of a project to help prevent costly accidents. Below are six benefits of using carpet guards during commercial projects.
1. Keep Accidental Spills and Stains from Causing Bigger Messes
Carpet stains are a problem that must be handled accordingly to keep your property owner happy. Accidental spills and stains are going to happen but having a layer of protection can make cleanup easier and more cost-effective. Protective carpet films provide a plastic barrier between messes and carpet fibers or flooring. This means that anything that spills can be easily wiped up or disposed of without having to use special chemicals and cleaning methods.
If the mess is more extensive, carpet protection is economical enough to simply replace. Better yet, carpet protectors have a special adhesive backing that keeps them firmly in place for up to forty-five days, meaning no sliding around or movement even with high foot traffic.
2. Carpet Guards Help Reduce Dust and Debris
Some construction projects create more dust and debris than others. For example, projects that require heavy demolition days where you’re moving walls and replacing sheetrock typically generate a lot of unwanted particulates that spread across the working area. As a contractor, these can be some of the more rewarding remodeling and renovation jobs to take on. However, placing a carpet guard in adjoining areas where you don’t want dust or debris to settle can help with cleanup and overall protection of the workspace.
While you may cover other areas or furniture with thick plastic sheeting, you’ll want to use a specially designed carpet film especially in high traffic areas. This allows your team to move freely throughout the space without worrying about it sliding around or coming loose throughout the project.
3. Using a Carpet Protector Preserves New Flooring
Timing is a critical factor when it comes to construction and commercial projects. The weather and subcontractor availability often dictates when new flooring or carpeting is installed, and it isn’t always the last thing you do to wrap up the job. In fact, you may have multiple subcontractors working on other areas long after new carpet installation(s).
Placing a carpet guard in high traffic areas like front entries and stairwells is extremely important to keep brand new carpet looking pristine until all the finishing touches are complete. Again, stains and spills can happen at any time. Spending a few extra dollars for a roll of carpet protector is still better than having to pay someone to fix or completely replace the carpet later.
4. Carpet Guards Can Be Used for Short-Term Projects
What if your company doesn’t do big renovations, but rather comes in for short-term projects that only last a few hours? Having each technician or team member carry a carpet protection roll in their work truck is a great idea. This also helps improve the customer’s opinion of your company.
For example, an HVAC technician may go back and forth from his work van while trying to fix a customer’s furnace. Instead of tracking mud or other debris from outside onto the property owner’s carpet, placing a plastic barrier along his or her path can help protect carpeting while they’re working. When the project is complete, the technician can quickly remove the carpet film and throw it away. Not only does this help keep mess to a minimum, it shows clients that you care about keeping their home is as clean as it was when you first arrived.
5. Carpet Protectors Work as an Excellent Moisture Barrier
Another important time to use carpet protection is when working with water or other nonhazardous liquids. This can be a commercial building where a team is working on fire sprinklers or a plumbing job. Moisture is an enemy when it comes to carpet padding. Using a plastic guard helps prevent accidental damage to carpeting and surrounding areas.
Carpet guards are waterproof and puncture resistant. Even if a pipe bursts during repairs, or water rains from the ceiling unexpectedly, carpeting stays dry. Less cleanup time for your team and added peace of mind against the unknown are well worth keeping a roll or two handy.
6. Carpet Guards Look More Professional
When it comes to commercial projects, the opinion of the property owner(s) matters. If they feel that your company isn’t professional or that your workers don’t care about treating their project appropriately, there’s a good chance that they won’t hire you again. Even worse, they may leave a bad review online to warn other home and business owners from working with you.
When employees and technicians take the extra time to put down a carpet guard at the start of services, it’s more professional and shows they care about the job they’re doing. In the end, this translates to better customer satisfaction for the work done.
International Enviroguard and Carpet Protection
Finding a quality carpet guard isn’t always easy. Many home improvement warehouses offer similar products, but they don’t always stack up in terms of durability and longevity. That’s where International Enviroguard is different. Our full line of carpet protector film is designed specifically for heavy duty use, such as construction and renovation projects.
Our carpet guards come with adhesive that doesn’t leave a film behind. What’s more, these durable guards are puncture resistant and water resistant, so they’re suitable for a variety of work environments. With a wide range of sizes, your business can eliminate issues in walkways, foyers, hallways, and entire rooms without having to make cuts.
Whether you’re working a construction project that has new carpet or just helping a property owner with something small, having a layer of carpet protection is important.