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
Reports
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
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
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.
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...
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.
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.
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
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.