Carpet Recycling

The concept of circular economy provides the blueprint on how we can bring our consumption back within planetary boundaries, where we eliminate waste and keep all resources in a closed loop. Each industry needs to step up their efforts to transition towards a resource-efficient circular economy, starting with better design of their products, better collection and dramatic increase in recycling rates. Our campaign has focused on the carpet industry, where circular alternatives exist, but are not taken up by the market. The Campaign started in the United States (U.S.), which is the biggest producer and consumer of carpets with some of the biggest companies in the world and continued in the biggest two markets in Europe: France and Germany

Spotlight

Detoxing Carpets: pathways towards safe and recyclable carpet in a truly circular economy

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Reports

Smoke and Mirrors - graphic of businessman sweeping dirt into the environment

Smoke and Mirrors: exposing the reality of carpet ‘recycling’ in the UK

This briefing examines what has been happening to carpet waste in the UK under the auspices of Carpet Recycling UK

Nov 2019 Report
Testing Carpet for Toxics: report cover

Testing Carpet for Toxics: Chemicals affecting human health and hindering the circular economy

This report reveals the presence of toxic substances in carpets produced and sold by the six largest carpet manufacturers in the Unites States

Dec 2018 Report
Testing for Toxics: report cover

Testing for Toxics: How chemicals in European carpets are harming health and hindering circular economy

This report reveals the presence of toxics – including suspected carcinogens and endocrine disruptors – in carpets produced and sold by some of the largest carpet manufacturers in Europe.

Oct 2018 Report
Detoxing Carpets: picture of baby crawling on carpet

Detoxing Carpets: pathways towards safe and recyclable carpet in a truly circular economy

This briefing explores how hazardous substances found in European carpets are both negatively impacting on consumers’ and workers’ health, and preventing the carpet sector from transitioning to a circular ec...

Mar 2018 Report
The CAREless carpet industry - graphic of businessman holding roll of carpet

The CAREless carpet industry: A critique of the California Carpet Stewardship Program’s Reliance on Incineration

California’s carpet stewardship program in its first five years failed to meet its own goal of 16 per cent recycling, while the amount of carpet going into incineration doubled over the same period.

Apr 2017 Report
Swept under the carpet: graphic of businessman kneeling on world carpet

Swept under the carpet: new report reveals the greenwash of the carpet industry in France

This report reveals that reuse and recycling are virtually non-existent in the carpet sector, despite environmental claims of two of its big players, Desso and Interface.

Feb 2017 Report
Carpet Recycling

Swept under the carpet: new report reveals the greenwash of the carpet industry in Germany

This report outlines how the carpet sector in Germany is lagging behind on its environmental commitments

Feb 2017 Report
Carpet Recycling

Swept under the Carpet: Exposing the Greenwash of the U.S. Carpet Industry

This report reveals how the U.S. carpet industry tried to undermine the law and prevent legislation in other U.S. states on carpet waste from emerging.

Dec 2016 Report

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