Carpet Recycling UK

About Us

Thousands of tonnes of carpet, carpet tile and textile flooring waste arise in the UK every year. Back in 2008 most of this kind of waste was going into landfill – a huge environmental concern.

 

Carpet Recycling UK is an independent non-profit membership association working with manufacturers, distributors, contractors, retailers, fitters and the waste sector to divert carpet waste from landfill.  Set up in 2007 by industry leaders, Carpet Recycling UK works to foster strategic collaborations and networks to develop viable solutions for carpet and other textile flooring waste.

With our network spanning the carpet supply chain and waste recovery sector, this allows our members to take advantage of emerging opportunities in carpet recycling including sustainable raw materials for manufacture, reuse of products, take-back schemes and identifying recycling outlets nationwide, or innovations in material processing.

Our Core Members are carpet and textile flooring companies who are ahead of the game and taking voluntary producer responsibility, these are:

The core members are strategic supporters of Carpet Recycling UK, working together to help us to disseminate latest information to and represent the carpet industry in the UK and international marketplace.   They are taking a lead because they recognise that producer responsibility for the product at the end of first life is essential for building a sustainable business model.

Carpet Recycling UK works to:

  • Develop strategic collaborations and networks to use carpet waste as a resource.
  • Proactively engage with the sector to find new and developing end uses for recycled carpet.
  • Identify appropriate reuse and recycling options for carpet waste including take-back schemes.
  • Engage with members to understand and respond to changing market conditions.
  • Influence environmental legislation and promote the sector to policy makers.
  • Disseminate industry developments at conferences, trade events and exhibitions.
  • Initiate research into processing carpet waste materials and publishing results.
  • Support and promote members’ environmental and sustainable achievements.

How Carpet Recycling UK is making a difference

  • Since 2008, Carpet Recycling UK has helped industry divert over 1.7m tonnes of carpet waste from landfill.
  • Helping carpet and textile flooring manufacturers to reduce production waste and save on cost.
  • Supporting and promoting circular design and products using more recycled content.
  • Regularly publishing and promoting articles in known industry publications to raise awareness of members’ sustainable products and achievements.
  • Updating our international network through quarterly e-newsletters and social media presence.
  • Advising on segregation and compaction of carpet waste to make recycling collections feasible.
  • Helping flooring suppliers to segregate fitting offcuts for the manufacture of felt based products such as underlay and growing felt.
  • Through best practice guidance, helping companies to divert carpet tiles into reuse projects. •
  • Supporting manufacturers to help their customers use commercial carpet waste as a resource.
  • Supporting Carpet Recycling UK core funders to facilitate take back, reuse and recycling.
  • Promoting carpet waste as a growing feed for energy from waste to replace virgin fossil fuel.
  • Helping members to achieve cost savings and sustainability impacts for their businesses.
  • Carpet Recycling UK has supported UK industry in increasing landfill diversion of carpet and textile flooring waste from 2% in 2007 to 81% in 2021. 

Our Current Targets

  • Continue to increase the diversion of carpet, carpet tile and textile flooring waste from landfill.
  • Support the carpet industry through the entire supply chain, particularly our members, in diverting carpet waste from landfill and developing reuse opportunities and recycling outlets.
  • Continue to recognise and promote those members who are making a difference in their field through the annual awards scheme.