Backing Systems

As one of the largest producers of carpet backing, we know that anything we do to increase sustainability has the potential to make a big difference for the environment. That's why we have worked hard to develop an innovative, holistic approach to sustainability that stretches from design to production to reclamation. And we're seeing amazing results.

We're producing the world's first non-PVC carpet tile that is completely recyclable back into itself. We're taking automobile windshield glass and using it to make carpet backings. We're making backings out of something as simple and sustainable as soy oil. Across the board, we are setting new standards and inventing completely new processes as we strive to make our backing systems the most sustainable ever.

• Dematerialization – It's all about doing more with less. We are constantly exploring ways to use less material in the production of our backing systems while at the same time increasing their performance.
• Post-consumer content – We recycle and use everything from old carpets to shrink-wrap to bottle caps. This diverts mountains of waste from landfills and significantly reduces our use of non-renewable natural resources.
• Pre-consumer content – We also recycle other companies' waste streams such as Celceram, a byproduct of coal combustion in electric utility plants, to use in our backing systems. This means less discarded waste, and less use of natural resources.
• Bio-based content – We have reduced our dependence on petroleum by 10 million pounds annually by converting to bio-based renewable materials. To further reduce our use of non-renewable natural resources, we have begun exploring ways to use rapidly renewable resources such as soy and pine resin in our backing systems. The results so far have been remarkable.
• Recyclable products – Rather than just using recycled materials in production, we specially design our backings so that they can actually be recycled, too. This reduces even more waste and puts old backing to good use.
• Low embodied energy – We design our backing systems so that they require less energy for production than other similar products, further reducing our strain on the earth's environment.
• Longer lifecycles – Our superior quality performance backing systems actually extend the life of our carpet. And the longer a carpet lives, the longer it stays out of the landfill.