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When William Sprague launched the first woven carpet mill in Philadelphia in 1791, it’s unlikely he knew how far and wide his foot-cradling fibers would reach.
Today, homes and businesses alike feature wall-to-wall carpeting, with sustainability now reaching 20 years or more.
But with the luxury of carpet also comes an enormous amount of waste. Energy and fuels needed to produce the product, along with landfill space used as a final resting place, have proven eco-unfriendly in recent years prompting scientists and developers to craft a “greener” approach in both its production and disposal.
Until recently, rating carpet’s eco-friendly nature has been a bit hap-hazard, said Jeff Burrow, vice president of strategic accounts for Beaulieu Commercial, who addressed more than two dozen members and guests of the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter Sept. 24 at Confluence Park Restaurant in Downtown Columbus.
“There are a lot of green products on the market, obviously,” said Burrow. “But the new NSF 140 is the first industry-wide assessment program for sustainable carpet.”
The program was launched in response to unfounded claims that crept into the carpet industry 10 to 15 years ago, creating a distrust of carpet manufacturers, explained Burrow.
“So third-party certification crept up.”
But no single standard existed, making it difficult for end-users to wrap their arms around a good, accurate green assessment.
When it became apparent that something else was needed, the Carpet and Rug Institute, along with NSF and ANSI, stepped up to the plate, said Burrow, and developed a single industry-wide standard.
“It’s going to remove all the third party certification out there so all the carpet manufacturers come under one standard,” said Burrow, “so you’ll be able to judge much more easily with a lot less time and research. It will allow you to read between what’s fact and what’s fiction.”
Similar to the LEED certification process, NSF 140 certifies carpet for all end-users based on an elaborate point system. In development for about five yeas now, Burrow explained that NSF 140 continues to evolve, driven by the end-users themselves, and the demands they put on the industry.
“This is a living document. It will continue to increase and encourage competition so we get to an area where everyone is developing products that are good for our environment.
“You are driving this process,” Burrow continued. “The more you demand, the more they will respond to your requests.”
Under the NSF 140 process, points are awarded in five major areas: working to produce carpet with the public health environment in mind; being energy efficient; using bio-based materials; providing safe and fair working standards; and striving to extend the life of the product, including efforts to recycle materials, thus reducing the industry’s overall footprint.
“The credit distribution is very similar to LEED,” Burrow explained.
In the end, under NSF 140, carpet is awarded either a silver, gold, or platinum label, depending on the amount of points earned in each of the five basic areas mentioned above. Additional points are also awarded for innovation in design, using fewer materials, construction improvements, new technology, and for reclaiming components for use in new products.
For example, a company in Massachusetts is currently melting down entire carpet (without using additional energy in the separation process) and using the product to make synthetic railroad ties which have a lifespan of some 20 years.
“By giving strong consideration to NSF, it encourages the entire industry to participate in a big way,” said Burrow.
By choosing NSF-certified carpet, Burrow argues that it makes the selection of an environmentally preferred product easier; reduces the total environmental impact of carpet manufacturing; can assist in earning LEED credits; leads to improved air quality for end-users; and demonstrates an overall social responsibility by reducing the environmental impact of carpet, all while producing a better product that will last longer and look better than it ever did before.