Chagrin Falls, Ohio—To help architects, designers, building owners, installers and flooring dealers understand the ease with which flooring scraps and used flooring can be reclaimed and recycled, Tarkett has introduced its ReStart video. The video invites viewers to join Tarkett on a “road trip” as the company demonstrate the benefits of its ReStart Recycling and Reclamation program and its overall commitment to sustainability. The video can be viewed at bit.ly/tarkettrestartvideo.
Tarkett began recycling 50 years ago and since 2003 the ReStart recycling and reclamation program has recycled more than 91 million pounds of material in North America alone. With the only recycling plants in the industry that convert used floors into new floors, the company is able to not only recycle its own floors, but also the flooring being replaced, as long as the chemistry is right. The video explains the steps of this process and how others can participate in the program.
For Tarkett, sustainability is more than just an environmentally responsible product or recycling. It’s about building a long-term balance between people, the planet and the bottom line. Tarkett’s ReStart program is a part of its Balanced Choice approach and one of the company’s four pillars: Good materials; resource stewardship; people friendly spaces, and reuse and recycle. The company is committed to circular or “closed loop” design, integrating all of the four pillars into the development of its products and systems.
Some additional information highlighted in the video includes: Good materials – Tarkett incorporates many good materials in the design of its products. Amongst many of the company’s accomplishments, it has achieved several high-level third party certifications. Many of the company’s homogenous and luxury vinyl tile products are NSF-332 certified at Gold and Platinum levels, while Tarkett’s linoleum received platinum NSF-332. Additionally, the company’s Harmonium xf linoleum has achieved USDA BioPreferred certification as well as C2C silver certification. And, Tarkett’s commercial rubber products have obtained C2C basic certification.
Resource Stewardship – Tarkett is committed to using resources effectively in its operations—from production to end of use. Fifty percent of Tarkett plants are equipped with closed water circuits, avoiding the use of fresh water. In 2012, water consumption was reduced by 13.5%, energy consumption was reduced by 9% and waste was reduced by 9.5%. Because of these efforts, the volume of waste sent to landfill was reduced by almost 20 percent between 2010 and 2012.
People-Friendly Spaces – Most of Tarkett’s products are FloorScore certified and their emitting levels are less than half the emissions requirement for GreenGuard Gold certification (formerly known as Children & Schools). Tarkett’s homogeneous sheet and tile, VCT, VET, SVT and FiberFloor products have even lower emission levels—below the limit of quantification, or 20 times lower than the lowest level published by American IAQ standards. And FiberFloor, all iQ products and I.D. Inspiration luxury vinyl plank flooring are now asthma & allergy friendly certified. By the end of 2015, all Tarkett flooring made in North America will be phthalate-free, except for post-consumer recycled content.
Reuse and Recycle – Tarkett has three plants in North America equipped with recycling capabilities and since 2010 has recycled over 91 million pounds of post-consumer VCT in its Houston plant alone. Tarkett’s products are 100 percent recyclable through its Restart program.