Click here to download the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certificates
This recognises our commitment to openness and to presenting the environmental performance data that our customers need to make truly informed decisions.
Demonstrating product transparency by studying its full life cycle
EPDs follow a rigorous process in accordance with agreed industry standards. In addition to sharing what is typically confidential product information, we carried out a thorough Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for our products, in line with ISO 14040 standards. This looks at everything from raw material extraction through to disposal or recycling at the end of the product's useful life.
GUT, who represent the carpet industry on environmental matters in Europe, developed a standard LCA methodology to be used on EPDs across the carpet industry in Europe.
The Institute for the Built Environment (IBU), together with industry associations for the flooring sector, has developed Product Category Rules (PCR) outlining the information needed for a ‘Floor Coverings’ EPD. IBU act as the third-party verifier for both the LCA and the process, and ensure the EPD follows their standardised scheme.
A first for our Microtuft modular carpet tiles
Our range of Microtuft modular carpet tiles – which includes Scandinavian Collection, Straightforward and Elevation II, and contain 30-50% less oil-based yarn than other products – is the first product category to receive EPD validation.
The EPD results show that the majority of environmental impact happens during the extraction and transformation of raw materials, before they even reach the factory. Yarn creates the largest impact, with virgin yarn accounting for around 50% of the full life cycle Global Warming Potential of the carpet.
The EPD results for our Microtuft products also show that by reducing the amount of yarn we use and increasing the use of materials containing recycled content – such as polyamide (nylon) yarn – we’ve significantly reduced environmental impacts.
Committed to making full product transparency an industry standard
We’re striving for industry-wide full product transparency. Much like the ingredients lists and nutrition labels on food allow for direct comparisons, EPDs will help our customers compare products’ ingredients, energy and material resource consumption, and environmental impacts.
Championing EPDs as a common metric for the future
We believe EPDs will become the standard for environmental product information in the years to come, and play an increasingly important role for architects to see comparable verified information about building products. We support this development and aim to have an EPD for all our products.
Click here to download the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certificates
For more information on Interface commercial flooring, please call 08705 30 40 30 or email us