Five Ways to Select a More Sustainable Carpet

A few weeks ago, I was sitting in my local pub in Totnes, Devon, as part of a local business group. Holed up in the corner on a large communal table, a local developer asked me, 'what is the most sustainable carpet they can use?' Surprisingly this is not the first time I've heard this question. It probably comes a close second to 'you're an interior designer. I bet your house looks amazing?' It doesn't, by the way. Like most designers, it is an ever-evolving DIY project. 

I am not sure why there is such an obsession with carpets. Perhaps it is because they are accessible to everyone – albeit at very different price points. Carpet is one of the most popular floor coverings in the UK because it is comfortable, provides good acoustics, and offers value for money compared to alternatives. Historically, the assumption has been that sustainable choices cost more money, but that has not been the case for some time, and society has noticed the shift. Various environmental choices are available at all price points, from the most basic to the high-end, and this article will help inform your future decisions.

For us, sustainability is about environmental and social impact – understanding where materials come from and where they are made. But it is also about quality, longevity and circularity. In terms of a carpet, that means a durable product that is easy to clean, long-lasting, and fully recyclable at the end of its product life cycle. This is important because durable, circular products save money, energy and carbon and ensure waste material remains an asset above ground, not destined for landfill or incineration.

When we think about design and sustainability, it is often best to consider it a wider societal problem rather than an individual issue. Carpet waste is a big problem. In the UK alone, nearly 450,000 tonnes are discarded annually, most of which ends up in landfills. The main reason for this is that the carpets are not designed to be recycled and so naturally follow a linear model of consumption (make, use, dispose). 

Recycling is a tricky area when it comes to carpets and is not necessarily a positive thing. While it is preferable to landfill, recycling is primarily about maximising the potential of waste material until it is eventually buried or burnt. It's about extending an ever-depreciating value curve. Current figures suggest that approximately 170,000 tonnes of carpet are diverted from landfill in the UK each year. Around 45,000 tonnes are reused or recycled, which often means shredded for road building or used in paths at equestrian centres – essentially buried with purpose because there is nowhere else to put it. The remaining 125,000 tonnes are incinerated to generate energy.

We support a circular approach where carpets are designed and manufactured so they can be reused or regenerated into new synthetic fibres and, ultimately, new carpets. By investing in circular products, you extend the lifecycle and value of material and avoid landfill or incineration. A great example of progress in this area is the development of the material Econyl, a regenerate nylon product made from infinitely recyclable waste. Econyl is used widely in manufacturing carpets and garments by leading brands.

So, how do we select a carpet with a better environmental and social footprint? Here are five things to consider:

1. 100% Natural fibre carpets are good but have their limitations. 

Despite what I have said in support of synthetic fibres, natural fibre carpets can be a good choice in certain situations. There are a range of options available, such as wool, sisal, jute and seagrass, and in principle, all can be good options, assuming the material is traceable and from well-managed sources.

The biggest challenge is durability and longevity, and in the case of plant-based fibres, comfort. They are far more susceptible to staining and damage and tough to clean, resulting in a shortened product life cycle. I would recommend natural fibre carpets for residential use, but they do not stand up to the rigours of a commercial environment. They quickly lose their appearance and need to be replaced frequently, which is not good environmentally or commercially.

2. Avoid hybrid fibre carpets (generally)

Hybrid carpets are a mixture of natural fibres and synthetic fibres designed to overcome the technical frailties of the natural fibre carpet. 80/20 (a wool nylon mix) is still one of the most popular carpets on the market because it combines comfort and durability. However, while the mixture of materials is great in terms of performance, it presents an environmental problem as they are costly to separate. This results in them being burnt or buried after use. 

3. Consider the carpet backing

All carpets have a backing to stabilise the fibres and enhance durability, and in some cases, they can also improve acoustics and comfort and provide resistance to moisture and stains. There are many different types of carpet backing, for example, woven polypropylene, textile backing (often made from recycled PET bottles), and synthetic latex backing. 

The problem in many cases is that when combined with natural fibres, these backings create a blend – essentially another hybrid carpet. They are a mixture of materials that can't be separated easily and are therefore burnt or buried. Although a small number of waste management firms can separate and process these carpets, they represent a tiny fraction of the industry.

4. Synthetic carpets are often better environmentally

Carpets are one of the most advanced products in terms of circular (closed loop) design. They are generally made from recycled polyester and/or nylon, which can be reprocessed to make new carpets or new carpet backing. 

The Cradle-to-Cradle certification is a good marker for selecting a circular carpet. Cradle-to-Cradle (or c2c) aims to assess products on material health, material reutilisation, renewable energy & carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness. If the product can meet the standards of the institute, then it will be certified as one of five levels – basic, bronze, silver, gold or platinum. Suppliers of c2c carpets include Interface, Tarkett, Shaw, Milliken and Ege.

5. Don’t forget about Installation

An often overlooked part of the process is installation because how you install the carpet affects whether the material waste is recyclable or can be regenerated. From an environmental point of view, a traditional installation using carpet grippers is best as it avoids the need for adhesives that can contaminate the material and complicate future processing. That said, a traditional installation is not suitable for all carpets, e.g. felt-backed, which need to be glued – in these cases, use a good quality solvent-free carpet adhesive. There are c2c options available.

The most sustainable installation available is c2c carpet tile. Although they are not suitable for every application due to design and comfort, they can be fully recyclable, loose laid and localised repairs can be made, preserving the integrity and lifecycle of the whole floor. They can also be lifted and moved to a completely different room if necessary.

Summary 

In summary, we feel good quality synthetic carpets are the best solution on the market and that natural fibre carpets have their place domestically. One point I often hear it that circular design is all good and well, but if the waste management systems can't process the material, then what is the point? It is a fair observation. However, our view is that society needs to transition towards a circular economy and that designers should consider how every product goes together and comes apart. 

Part of the reason we discard billions of tons of waste each year is that it is too labour-intensive and costly to separate. By designing products for disassembly, the waste industry becomes more lucrative, and the businesses and systems will follow. This has certainly been the case over the last ten years, and it will continue to grow if we purchase the right products and support the right businesses.