In one year alone, Minnesotans discard about 180,000 tons of carpet and its by-products. Purchasers can help reduce this amount through their buying choices. Carpet is purchased in either broadloom rolls or tiles. By replacing carpet tiles as they wear, facilities avoid costly replacements of large areas of broadloom or entire new carpeting for worn sections.
The carpet industry has developed products and adhesives that reduce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCsCompounds that evaporate easily (volatile) at room temperature and often have recognizable odor; primarily used in solvents; many are chlorinated hydrocarbons and some are carcinogenic (e.g. benzene, chloroform, and methyl ethyl ketone).) and have eliminated the need for PVC (vinyl) backing. PVC and VOCs can cause health problems and contribute to air pollution. Fusion-bonded tile carpets reduce VOCs by using heat instead of adhesives to bond fiber to backing. Adhesive-free carpet tiles and water-based adhesives limit VOCs as well.
Look for carpet brands that contain recycled contentThe portion of a product that is made from materials diverted from the waste stream, usually stated as a percentage by weight. in cushions, underlay, backing, and fibers, of which nylon and polyester are the most common. Use retailers who will take back the carpet and provide documentation that it was recycled.
Federal procurement guidelines recommend carpet with polyester fiber to contain 25% to 100% recycled content in the fiber face. For nylon carpets, these laws require a minimum of 10% recycled content. State and local governments are encouraged to follow these standards.
Carpet cushion and underlay should also contain recycled content. Below are some product options for carpet cushion and the federal guidelines for their recycled content:
|
Underlay Product |
Post consumer |
Total Recovered |
|
Bonded polyurethane (Made from oldcarpet cushion) |
15 - 50 | 15 - 50 |
| Synthetic Fibers (Made from carpet fabrication scrap) |
N/A | 100 |
| Jute (Made from burlap) | 40 | 40 |
| Rubber | 60 - 90 | 60 - 90 |
Source: Environmental Protection Agency's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for carpet cushions
Minnesota administrative rule Part 4626.1350 also dictates specific places where carpet cannot be installed. They include:
- Food preparation areas.
- Walk-in refrigerators or freezers.
- Toilet room areas where hand washing lavatories, toilets, and urinals are located.
- Refuse storage areas, wait stations, and within three feet of permanently-installed salad bars or other food service equipment.
- Dressing rooms, locker rooms, janitorial areas.
- Food storage rooms.
State administrative rules indicate carpet must be securely attached to the floor and installed tightly against the wall under plastic moldings. If carpet is installed away from the wall, there must be a space between the carpet and the wall, with the edges of the carpet secured by metal stripping or some other means.
According to the Carpet and Rug Institute, the durability of carpet with recycled content meets the same industry performance standards as carpet made from virgin materials. Recycled-content carpet meets the same industry performance standards and carries the same manufacturer warranties for:
- High-traffic wear
- Fire rating
- Stain resistance
- Color fade
The table describes the performance and composition of polyester and nylon carpets.
| Carpet Type | Polyester | Nylon |
| Source of Recycled Materials |
PET resin from recycled plastic bottles |
Recycled nylon from old nylon carpets |
|
Recycled Content |
25% to 100% recycled PET resin. Made from recycled plastic bottles. |
Should contain a minimum of 10% recycled content. Higher percentages available at a reasonable cost. |
| Best Uses | Recommended for light to moderate use areas. Some polyester carpets with recycled content do well in high-traffic areas. |
Heavier use areas like hallways and entrances. |
| Attributes | Known for ability to resist stains, fading and abrasions. |
Easy to recycle, durable. |
Install carpet tiles in high-traffic areas since individual worn tiles are easy to replace. The carpet tile system eliminates the need to replace an entire carpet. Also consider:
- The density, durability, color and pattern of carpet.
- Expected traffic level and use.
- Options that make spot replacement easier, including carpet tiles.
- Limiting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
- Carpet tiles usually require few or no adhesives.
Carpet with recycled-content face fibers and backing is available in many colors and patterns through distributors, vendors on state contracts, or directly from the manufacturer.
Some certified carpet products meet the rigorous environmental standards established by the state of California. The table below shows these products, their benefits, and manufacturer, and was assembled using information from the California Department of General Services.
| Product | Benefit | Manufacturer |
| ER3 Modular Carpet Tile |
31% to 50% overall recycled content. 100% recycled backing. Pioneered the industry's first carpet-to-carpet recycling program. |
Collins & Aikman 1-800-248-2878 |
| InterfaceFLOR Commercial Carpet Tile on GlasBac® RE |
35% to 57 % recycled content in Glasbac backing. Other product offerings from this manufacturer contain a 76% total recycled content. |
Interface 1-800-336-0225 |
| Infinity RE Modular Carpet Tile; or UltraBac® RE Broadloom Carpet |
A recycled product that contains both post-consumer drywall and post-consumer carpet. |
Mannington |
| Durkan Commercial Ultron UPSRe; Lees Unibond RE; Commercial Colorstrand UPSRe; Mohawk Commercial Antron UPSRe |
These broadloom carpets contain recycled content from plastic bottles and auto glass. The manufacturing process uses less face fiber, meaning a lot less virgin raw materials are required to produce the carpet. The manufacturer also uses fibers made from the starch in corn kernels and soy oil to make backing systems. |
Mohawk Group 1-800-266-4295 |
| EcoWorkTM PX Carpet Tile; EcoLogixTM PX Carpet Tile; 195 SBR LatexTM PX Broadloom |
The tile's backings are 100% recyclable, and this broadloom contains recycled content. |
Shaw Industries |
| Patterned Carpet Tile with ESP and ES Cushion |
Products offer maximum credits towards LEED green building certification; The new ESP backing has 20% post-industrial and 10% post-consumer content. Can be installed without adhesives, which reduces VOCs. |
Milliken |
|
Prestige PlusRC Tile |
Component of the cushion backing is made with 100% post-consumer recycled content. New tile backings allow for easy removal, and manufacturing process uses 100% renewable energy. |
Bentley Prince Street 1-800-423-4709 |
Environmentally-sound carpeting costs about the same as virgin-content carpeting, but the carpet choice, carpet cushions, and the size of the job ultimately dictate cost. Carpet tiles are more expensive initially, but save facilities money over time because individual sections of the carpet are easily replaced. Increased worker health and productivity result from healthier work environments that are free of Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs. Purchase broadloom carpet or tiles with manufacturer specifications offering long life spans to get the most for your money.
Recycling carpet saves energy. It is estimated that recycling carpet saves as much as 106 million BTUs per ton of carpet manufactured. The use of recycled carpet also helps avoid disposal fees. Recycling carpet is free, and that translates into long-term cost savings.
Consider purchasing either fusion-bonded or peel-and-stick carpet. Fusion-bonded carpeting, which uses a new technology to bond carpet fibers to backing, reduces VOCs. Peel-and-stick carpeting requires no glue for installation. Look for carpets with the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label. These carpets meet a standard for low VOC emissions under the CRI's Indoor Air Quality Testing Program.
Also take into consideration these specifications when putting together solicitations and proposals:
- Manufacturer, vendor or contractor shall implement a take back, reclamation, or loop recycling program for new carpet and provide documentation of this.
- Vendor must use a carpet recycling agency for all used carpet waste. Carpet scraps from the carpet installation must also be recycled. Traditional practices, such as land-filling or burning at a waste-to-energy plant are not an option for disposal or recycling.
- Vendor must notify in writing which carpet recycling agency will be used, and contractor must certify in writing that used carpet was recycled through a certified carpet recycling agency.
- Vendor or manufacturer shall provide carpet with a minimum 25 % post-consumer and/or post-industrial recycled content in either the carpet face and/or 50% post-consumer/post-industrial content in the carpet backing.
- Manufacturer and vendor shall offer carpet tiles for appropriate applications.
- Manufacturer or vendor shall offer products that meet the Carpet and Rug Institute's (CRI) Green Label Plus standards for low VOC carpet and off-gassing. More information is available at the CRI's website link for its "Indoor Air Quality Carpet Testing Program".
- Contractor must meet the Carpet and Rug Institute's (CRI) recommended Green Label Plus Indoor Air Quality Standards for adhesives, as well as CRI's recommended methods for installation, application and removal of adhesives, and carpet removal.
- If applicable, such as with rolled goods, contractor must use a carpet pad with at least 15% minimum post consumer content.
- Contractor must provide a listing of all the carpet pads, when used, which will be used in the project area, and a written statement that they meet the current VOC limits of CRI's Green Label PlusTM Indoor Air Quality Test Program.
|
Why We Recycle: Recycling carpet offers a huge benefit to the environment. For example, recycling 2,000 square yards of carpet saves 880 gallons of oil, 20 million BTUs and prevents 9,000 pounds of carpet materials from going to the landfill. |
| Recycling Options |
Attributes |
| Bro-Tex Inc. | A St. Paul-based facility that recycles post-consumer carpet. |
| Interface Carpet Recycling Program |
Accepts carpet tile and rolled carpet (nylon 6, nylon 6,6). |
| DuPont Carpet Reclaimation Program |
Accepts carpet tile and rolled carpet (nylon 6). |
| Tandus | Accepts all vinyl backed tile and rolled goods. |
A state contract exists with multiple vendors of flooring products including recycled content carpet:
C-432 (5) Carpet and Resilient Flooring.
Vendors listed in the state contract are:
Master Floors Inc.
Brooklyn Park, MN
763/425-9941
763/425-9941
Rebound Flooring Group
New Brighton, MN
651/762-7436
www.reboundsg.com
St. Paul Linoleum and Carpet
St. Paul, MN
651/686-7770
www.stpaullinocpt.com
All vendors must recycle existing carpet whenever possible. Certification proving that they recycled the carpet is required. See the Cooperative Purchasing Venture for information on accessing the contracts.
Other national vendors include:
BASF Corporation
Dalton, GA
MN Contact: Kaye Gavic
612/672-9861
www.nylon6ix.com
Manufactures Nylon 6ix® carpet fibers, including SAVANTTM available with 50% recycled content, and Zeftron® and Zeftron 2000® with up to 10% recycled content. Carpets with SAVANTTM fiber are available through Blue Ridge and Patcraft commercial carpet mills. Provides carpet "take-back" services (6ix Again® program).
Blue Ridge Carpet
Ellijay, GA
MN Contact: Tom Flaig
800/354-8951, ext 401
www.blueridgecarpet.com
Products: Carpet mill and distributor of carpet made from BASF's SAVANTTM and Zeftron® recycled-content Nylon 6ix® fibers; and carpet made from Dupont's recycled-content fibers.
Dupont Flooring Systems
Eagan, MN
877/438-6824
651/681-8100
Distributor of carpets with recycled content fiber (made by DuPont) and backing. Provides carpet ""take-back"" and recycling services.
Patcraft Commercial Carpet
Dalton, GA
800/241-4014
MN Contact: 651-776-3605
www.thenewpatcraftdesignweave.com
Carpet mill and distributor of carpet made from BASF's SAVANTTM and Zeftron® recycled-content Nylon 6ix® fibers. Provides "take-back" services for all Patcraft's carpets made with SavantTM fibers, and Ecoworks® backing. Carpet collected through Patcraft's "take-back" program is recycled back into carpet.
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI)
www.carpet-rug.org/carpet-and-rug-Industry
CRI is a trade association of carpet manufacturers that provides resources and information on recycled-content carpet and carpet recycling. They offer a Green Label Plus standard for carpet products that contain low Volatile Organic Compounds. Download the "CRI Sustainability Report."
Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE)www.carpetrecovery.org
CARE is a voluntary initiative of industry and government working to keep carpet out of landfills. The web site contains information on carpet recycling, model procurement guidelines and the January 2002 national agreement, "A Memorandum of Understanding for Carpet Stewardship."
Environmental Building News (EBN)
www.buildinggreen.com
EBN is a publication that features articles on energy and resource-efficiency, healthy building practices, and environmental building materials. The web site sells individual articles and/or subscriptions for its information on treated wood and alternatives.
U.S. Green Building Council
www.usgbc.org
The Council is a nonprofit that works to make green buildings accessible to everyone. It offers templates for helping builders meet LEED requirements, and it also offers numerous online resources for builders and those planning a building.
"Interface to Recycle Nylon Carpet Fiber to Fiber"
Green Source
2007
http://greensource.construction.com/news/
070820RecycledCarpet.asp
"Carpet Industry Embraces Recycled Materials"
Do It Yourself
2006
www.doityourself.com/stry/carpetrecycled
"Certified Carpets Acceptable for State Purchases"
2008
California Department of General Services
www.green.ca.gov/EPP/carpets.htm
California GOLD Sustainable Carpet Standard
www.green.ca.gov/EPP/standards.htm
Tandus Carpet Lifecycle Video
www.tandus.com/sustains/environmentalvid.aspx
Some carpet manufacturers reprocess used carpet materials and then produce recycled carpets, carpet backing, and other related supplies. Purchase recycled carpeting to help decrease the amount that ends up in garbage incinerators and landfills.
By installing carpet tiles, a facility is able to replace worn sections and avoid purchasingThe act and the function of responsibility for the acquisition of equipment, materials, supplies, and services. In a narrow sense, the term describes the process of buying. In a broader sense, the term describes determining the need, selecting the supplier, arriving at a fair and reasonable price and terms, preparing the contract or purchase order, and following up to ensure timely delivery. an entirely new carpet.
Both fusion-bonded and peel-and-stick carpeting, which requires no glue for installation, reduce the release of VOCsCompounds that evaporate easily (volatile) at room temperature and often have recognizable odor; primarily used in solvents; many are chlorinated hydrocarbons and some are carcinogenic (e.g. benzene, chloroform, and methyl ethyl ketone)., one chief degrader of air quality.
Sell or donate old carpeting to a manufacturer or distributor who will recycle it.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide published by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, 4/00. The SWMCB includes members from the Minnesota metropolitan counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington, with ex-officio members from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Last Revised July 17, 2008 - 9:20am