Carpet recycling

The recycling of carpets and carpet tiles in Europe is set to increase significantly as companies take steps to comply with targets for 2020 contained in the EU's Waste Framework Directive. In the UK it has been estimated that around 2,000 new enterprises will spring up to operate composting plants which are capable of dealing with 100,000 tons per annum and incineration units capable of handling 400,000 tons per annum, as well as pursuing new recycling and re-use initiatives. In order to address the challenge which the recycling of floorcoverings represents, a not-for-profit association called Carpet Recycling UK (CRUK) was set up in 2008 with the aim of diverting 25% of carpet waste from landfill by 2015. Its objectives include the development of solutions to the problem of carpet waste and speeding up the development of recovery options by initiating research and influencing policy. According to a report from the UK-based Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), published in 2010, the best solutions in terms of maximising resource efficiency gains and minimising the impact on climate change are likely to be achieved by introducing landfill bans coupled with a requirement to sort materials. Thereafter, mechanical recycling is seen as the best waste management option in terms of minimising climate change, minimising the depletion of natural resources and minimising the demand for energy. A number of carpet companies, yarn manufacturers and engineering specialists in Europe have made significant inroads in recycling with new technologies, new products, new machines and new processes which are more environmentally-friendly and have reduced the amount of waste going to landfill. Sellers has developed a pile removal process for carpet called Fibrebak which allows the fibres recovered to be re-manufactured into new products. Desso has committed to cradle to cradle manufacturing and has developed several recycling and recovering technologies. Forbo Flooring Systems has developed a process to reuse PVC (polyvinyl chloride) waste from third party companies and recycle it into Forbo products. Greenback has invested in technology which reduces the fine dust particles in its carpet shred. Penthouse Carpets has significantly reduced the amount of waste which goes to landfill by making its own brand of eco-friendly by-products from the carpet manufacturing process. Meanwhile, Aquafil is taking waste materials from its customers and converting them into polymers for further use using a process called Econyl, which has been designed to recycle, reprocess and reuse waste materials without degrading them. Filature Miroglio is producing a range of yarns, called Newlife, which includes polyester yarns made from post-consumer recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle waste. Protomax has developed a new technology called P2 which can make extremely high value composites from waste products. © Textiles Intelligence Limited 2013.