Old Equipment
A new look at equipment replacement
A big sustainability project with big implications
One of our most significant recent breakthroughs in sustainability was developing an alternative pvc-free backing system. The result – an innovative approach to producing carpet tile. However, this massive initiative called for the replacement of a large amount of old manufacturing equipment. Simply discarding all of the old machinery and equipment would have meant sending a huge amount of waste to landfills. So, we came up with a unique plan to address this concern.
Keeping old equipment out of landfills
We diverted 95% of the old equipment away from landfills by taking three important steps: 1) Modifying and reusing the equipment in the new Encycle product line. 2) Shipping the equipment for reuse in other Mohawk manufacturing facilities. 3) Recycling the equipment through a company called Cycle System that recycled more than two million pounds of our steel, stainless steel, and wiring. In addition, we donated all the removed dirt and concrete to a local company to be used for fill. As a result, we virtually eliminated the environmental impact of this important transition.