Rethinking Materials in Flooring

挑战

Moving Beyond Incremental Progress

For years, sustainability efforts have focused on efficiency gains, recycled content, and waste reduction. While very important, these approaches alone cannot meet rising expectations from regulators, customers, and specifiers.

Interface, Inc., a global leader in modular carpet, recognized this shift early through its Mission Zero initiative. The goal was clear: eliminate negative environmental impact through renewable energy, waste and water reduction, and more responsible material choices.

However, a critical challenge remained: traditional carpet tile backing materials still relied heavily on virgin petrochemical inputs, limiting the potential for deeper carbon reductions.

To move forward, Interface needed to:

• Replace virgin petrochemical materials
• Reduce overall product carbon footprint
• Maintain performance and manufacturability
• Support verifiable environmental reporting

Solution

Collaboration Backed by Data

Solving this challenge required more than a new material substitution. It required a data-driven, collaborative approach across the value chain.

By partnering with Kraton, Interface gained access to:

• Advanced bio-based materials derived from renewable resources
• Global research and development expertise
• Technical support across Europe and the United States
• Life cycle assessment capabilities to quantify environmental impact

Life cycle assessments became a critical role. It allowed Interface to measure impact across the full product life cycle and support Environmental Product Declarations with consistent, high-quality data.

This level of transparency is increasingly essential. Decision-makers need clear, comparable information to evaluate sustainability claims with confidence.

Impact

From Lower Carbon to Carbon Negative

The collaboration led to the development of CircuitBac Green, a carpet tile backing designed to deliver both performance and measurable environmental benefit.

Key outcomes include:

• Up to 87% recycled and bio-based content
• Carbon-negative profile that stores more carbon than is emitted during production
• Reduced dependence on fossil-based raw materials
• Strong market interest following its European launch

This innovation expands how materials are evaluated. Instead of focusing solely on reduction, it introduces the concept of contributing positive environmental value.

For architects, designers, and procurement teams, this translates to:

• Greater ability to meet sustainability goals
• Stronger alignment with ESG commitments
• Increased confidence in material data and reporting

What This Means for Industry Leaders

Innovations like CircuitBac Green reflect a broader shift in how products are designed and assessed.

Three priorities are emerging for industry leaders:

• Measurability: Sustainability efforts must be supported by credible, verifiable data.
• Collaboration: Cross-industry partnerships accelerate development and adoption of new solutions.
• Material innovation: Raw material selection plays a critical role in both performance and environmental outcomes.

Organizations that focus on these priorities are better positioned to respond to evolving market expectations and regulatory demands.