Q&A

Florian Bougault

The European design director of Tarkett explains how circular design and cradle-to-cradle principles help the flooring company tread lightly on the planet

Let’s start with the basics. When Tarkett says it makes circular flooring, what does that actually mean? We believe that there is an urgent need to move away from a take-make-dispose model, towards a circular economy in which products can be recycled to create new products at the end of their use. Circular flooring means that we have a process in place for taking back old and used floors, and that we have the technology to recycle them into new flooring.

Tarkett’s long-term vision is for all of our flooring to be recyclable and recycled. By being able to recycle a product at the end of its use, we see tremendous benefits for the planet, such as a reduced carbon footprint, reduced need for landfill and reduced need for virgin materials.

What principles are at the heart of your manifesto? What motivates you as a brand? As an organisation, we are committed to building a future that is suitable for both people and planet. We believe that we can do so by reducing our own carbon footprint and creating a circular economy supported by Cradle to Cradle principles; exceeding indoor air quality standards; and instituting healthy material norms with floors that are 100% phthalate-free.

What have been some of the flagship projects using your circular products? To support architects and designers to specify truly sustainable products, we have recently

launched our Circular Selection, a portfolio of products that are 100% recyclable post-use and completely phthalate-free. Recent projects completed with products from the Circular Selection include the new Tarkett Atelje, our showroom in Stockholm designed by Note Design Studio; Architectural Digest’s offices in Madrid; and Douglas House, one of The Office Group’s buildings in London.

Tarkett has established itself as playful and modern because of collaborations with studios like Note. Where has that vision come from? We have a strong focus on combining original design and sustainability, and we aim to demonstrate the maximum potential of all our products, in response to the demands of the market. When collaborating with brands such as Note Design Studio or Studio 5.5, we look for a fresh outlook to create a new perception of our collections, and we always strive to be in the forefront of sustainable design.

How difficult is it to implement your circular production practices? Does it come at a cost? Moving towards circular production is technologically challenging and also requires investment, which is why Tarkett is in many ways unique in the flooring industry – but we do what we do because we know that it is the best choice for both people and the planet.

We launched a groundbreaking technology in 2019 that gave us the ability to wash away adhesive and subfloor residue from uplifted vinyl floors. It allowed us to recapture 10,000 sqm of used vinyl flooring from one of IKEA’s stores in Sweden, process it at our recycling facility and use the resulting recycled material for flooring at a new IKEA store. It led to a saving of 96 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

Tarkett is also the only manufacturer in Europe that has the ability to fully recycle post-use carpet tiles in closed-loop. Our breakthrough recycling technology separates the yarn from the backing, and through collaboration with [Italian company] Aquafil, we can turn the old yarn into new Econyl yarn to be used in the production of new carpet tiles. The backing will be turned into new EcoBase carpet tile backing. In October 2021, Tarkett announced a new partnership with the Swedish environmental company Ragn-Sells, aiming to develop carbon negative mineral fillers for vinyl flooring by 2025. The calcium is extracted from ash piles in Estonia and the calcium carbonate is produced using carbon capture technology. The calcium carbonate currently used by Tarkett is already carbon neutral, and with the calcium carbonate produced by Ragn-Sells, it is expected to generate a carbon negative footprint.

How do you balance sharing knowledge on circular design and production with the fact that it’s one of your unique selling points? We want to help the whole industry move towards a healthier and more responsible future. In addition to our own products, Tarkett takes back products such as carpet tiles from competitors to recycle them as well, so we try not to limit our potential beneficial effect to our own products. In addition, Tarkett offers continuing professional development [CPD] training courses free of charge to architects and designers, including one that covers specifying sustainable floorcoverings.

Do you have advice for consumers looking to buy from circular brands? Look under the surface of a brand to see its credentials: Tarkett has been passionate about becoming more circular for years, implementing recycling programmes, innovating sustainable technology and setting goals. We would advise consumers to look for information such as an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), a Material Health Statement (MHS) or Cradle to Cradle assessments that look at specific sustainability criteria such as renewable energy and climate requirements, water stewardship and social fairness. Finally, ask questions: if a product says it is recyclable, does this refer to installation waste or old floors as well? Where it is recycled and how is the recycled content used? This is important because the term ‘recycling’ is sometimes used when referring to waste-to-energy incineration. For anyone who is looking to specify Tarkett’s most sustainable products, we recommend choosing from our Circular Selection, which features our most sustainable products. As told to Elizabeth Choppin

Facing page Tarkett is the only manufacturer to master circular design for multiple types of flooring, from carpet tiles to vinyl and linoleum

Space smarts

Roca’s next-generation WC offers innovation and performance to improve bathroom design

How to improve a sleek bathroom design? Invest in an In-Wash® In-Tank® WC from Spanish sanitaryware producers, Roca.

Its latest smart WC combines space-saving abilities with state-of-the-art technology. InWash® In Tank® features the water tank integrated in to the bowl, eliminating the need for a separate cistern; this saves between ten and 20cm of space and makes installation and maintenance easier than ever. The new WC offers the same innovation and performance as its predecessor, with a hygienic rimless design combined with Vortex technology that reduces water consumption. Roca has also exclusively developed an additional layer of glazing that creates an ultra-smooth, easy to clean surface. The true novelty, however, is that In-Wash® In-Tank® offers a fully personalised WC experience. Both the remote control and side panel adjust water and air temperature, and a sensor and LED light can be adjusted to different modes for comfort and control.

Roca’s sustainability commitment is inherent in its production processes, from reusing excess glazes to waste-management certification for its electrical components; plastic packaging has also been replaced with recyclable cardboard.

All in all, this is a next-generation product that creatively answers modern needs around design, space, functionality and environmental awareness in the WC.

Facing page The space-saving design of In Wash® In Tank® means there is no need for a separate cistern

Below A side panel adjusts water and air temperature

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JOURNEY

Distinctive destinations

Piaule Catskill. Read the full story on p44 Image by Sean Davidson