CFA Guide to sustainability 2012

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CFA OFFICERS & COUNCIL MEMBERS

CONTENTS

John Butler President

Dedication: Pete Thomas, plus flooring and sustainability news

4

Alan Gayle Vice-President

How the FSP is improving the sustainability of flooring through practical actions and boosting awareness across the sector

8

John Alcock Immediate Past President

ISA Benchmarking Report: A sustainability matrix for real estate 12

John Alcock Treasurer

Ska Ratings: RICS’ tool will evaluate the impact of fit outs

16

Carpet: Recycling initiatives bear fruit nationwide

22

Richard Catt Chief Executive Officer

Vinyl: How recycling volumes more than doubled in 2011

32

Brian Packer

SWMP: Nine steps to effective site waste management planning 42

Mel Belshaw

Linoleum: Understanding the material’s enduring popularity

44

Stone: Setting sustainability on a solid foundation

46

Rubber: Can old car tyres add new life to a flooring favourite?

48

Beverley McFarlane

Laminate: Why Extreme Surfaces are the latest design trend

52

Tony Mathe

Wood: Understanding the politics of sustainable sourcing

58

Hamish MacGregor

Information: Further reading, technical advice and inspiration

66

Karl Brannigan Paul Clifford David Hibbert

James Martin Kenton Penny Bill Saunders George Rose (Honorary Member)

Print Management DPI Print and Production, Tonbridge, Kent 01732 371271 www.dpi-print.co.uk Cover: 170 gsm paper with 80% recycled content.

Text: 100 gsm paper with 80% recycled content.

GENERAL ENQUIRIES Contract Flooring Association 4c St Mary’s Place, The Lace Market Nottingham NG1 1PH Telephone: 0115 941 1126 Fax: 0115 941 2238 Email: info@cfa.org.uk Website: www.cfa.org.uk Published by Kick-Start Publishing Ltd The Oast, Great Danegate Eridge, East Sussex TN3 9HU Telephone: 01892 752400 Fax: 01892 752404-752405 Email: stuart.bourne@kick-startpublishing.co.uk Website: www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk Website: www.tileandstonejournal.co.uk Front Cover photographs supplied by: Junckers Altro Carpet Recycling UK Recofloor / Axion Consulting Anglo Recycling Technology

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In memory of Pete Thomas: 1950 to 2011

Industry News

The second edition of The CFA Guide to Specification and Sustainability within the Flooring Trade is dedicated to Pete Thomas.

Pete, who founded Pete Thomas Environmental, the independent environmental and sustainability consultancy, specialised in ensuring that public opinion on sustainability was based on fact not on rumour. A lifelong advocate of recycling, he chaired the UK resilient flooring recycling group as well as the European resilient flooring industry life cycle group.

For the last three years, before his life was tragically cut short by illness in October 2011, Pete was the prime consultee for the flooring industry on the development of the BRE Green Guide; as well as sitting on the UK and ISO flooring standards committee and the BSI Sustainable Construction committee.

Recent work in co-operation with the Contract Flooring Association, BRE and WRAP looked at the resource efficiency of all indoor flooring products. His work was the launch pad for this Guide and many other sustainability initiatives within the UK flooring sector. More than this, Pete’s work has led to a greater understanding of the changes required in both official policy and legislation.

Pete was a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. After graduating at The University of Kent Canterbury with an honours degree in Chemistry in the early 1970s, Pete started his career working for Nairn Coated Products in Lancaster. In 1975 he became a member of the technical team of Wallington Weston in Frome, where he first became involved in Marley Floors. Here, Peter was to establish an important link with Brazil. Peter specified the manufacturing equipment that was commissioned in the Fademac plant in Sao Paulo and, with his wife Margery and son Chris, followed this equipment to Sao Paulo where they spent the next four years.

On returning to the UK, Pete spent the ensuing years in the Marley Floors business in a variety of roles covering production, technical and environmental activities. Pete and Margery were active members of Friends of the Earth in the early 70s.

Peter happily gave his professional time to many external institutes and associations, including the Flooring Sustainability Partnership and the Life Cycle Assessment committee for the European Resilient Flooring Institute.

Peter joined the IOM3 Brighton PVC Conference organising committee in 2006 and was instrumental in helping to arrange speakers, and chair sessions, at two subsequent PVC conferences. His knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment in defending and promoting PVC based on sound scientific grounds were legendary.

We were all privileged to know such a talented and dedicated professional. The whole of the UK flooring industry owes him a huge debt of gratitude. Those of us who worked with him at the Contract Floor Association respect and miss him in equal measure.

Richard Catt, Chief Executive Officer, CFA 4 CFA GUIdE TO SUSTAINABILITy 2012

RICS publishes a detailed sustainability action plan In November 2010, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) launched a sustainability action plan that spelled out how it is engaging with the environmental agenda and working towards a fairer, more sustainable world.

PPC: committed to sustainable business development The Preparation Group is committed to maintaining and developing its business in a sustainable manner and this was an element recognised as part of its recent accreditation as a SAFEContractor: the only surface preparation company to have achieved this standard.

The company has developed a sustainable procurement policy to ensure social, ethical and environmental scrutiny of products and services whilst achieving best value and has initially focused on two key areas: the management of waste and the carbon footprint of its vehicle fleet.

Minimizing waste generation through the recycling of packaging materials, metal and office refuse has been in operation over the last 5 years. The company also has an on-going policy, where possible, of repairing and refurbishing surface preparation equipment and accessories.

The Preparation Group has recently purchased a brand new fleet of trucks that has been specified with both efficiency and environmental impact in mind. The new vehicles are more economical to run with improved MPG and CO2 emissions.

A Vision for Sustainability comprehensively details RICS' approach to corporate responsibility and sustainable development. Initiatives range from green business strategy to responsible engagement with employees, and from promoting fair access to the profession to action on the ground in international development.

The report forms part of RICS' commitment as a signatory of the UN Global Compact and coincides with the UN Climate Change conference in Durban, South Africa, and RICS' international Governing Council meeting.

Initiatives over the past year include benchmarking RICS' carbon footprint, including displaying CO2 emissions in real time; growing the pro bono property advice service for UK charities; disaster risk reduction and international development projects in Africa; plus an EU-funded project to produce training materials for energy efficiency measures in homes across Europe, as well as research in the USA underpinning the business case for sustainability in commercial buildings

“The Preparation Group recognises the importance of the role it has to play in its environmental responsibility and employee training, which has always been a key priority, and will aim to ensure that our team develops the values, skills and knowledge to contribute to sustainable development,” says Managing Director, Tracey Glew.

Commenting, RICS Chief Executive, Sean Tompkins said: “As a global professional body governed by a royal charter, we act in the public interest in all that we do. RICS is, by definition, wholly devoted to corporate responsibility. This is clearly visible in our core functions of setting and enforcing the highest standards of competence and ethical behaviour in the profession. We also provide impartial and informed advice to policymakers and - in our standards, research and advocacy work - address some of the biggest issues such as sustainability and international development."

01522 561460 www.ppcgroup.co.uk

0870 333 1600 www.rics.org

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New natural stone raised access flooring by Szerelmey

Mapei UK continues to emphasise sustainability

Stone specialist Szerelmey has recently created a new stone floor for the main entrance of the new BBC building in Portland Place, London. Although it gives the impression of a being a traditional hand-laid monolithic stone floor, it is actually the first application of the firm’s Marmofloor stone raised floor system.

Mapei’s short and long term business plan has placed much emphasis on sustainable development. Mapei has set a high standard of objectives through an Integrated Management System (IMS) that encompasses ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, OHSAS 18001:2007, ISO 9004:2008, LEED, SA 8000 and EMICODE. The IMS strategy has proved to be a methodical and proficient approach towards sustainability, reflected in Mapei’s performance in meeting environmental care objectives while also being a commercial success. Mapei has ensured that vast improvements have been made not only to the products themselves but the whole of the company’s operation over the last three years. From product design to disposal, every element is taken into consideration across the entire product life cycle.

It has been developed to offer the advantages of a raised access floor while at the same time eliminating the need for wet trades on site so speeding up installation and eliminating dirt. The prefabricated system comprises traditional access floor pedestals which are fixed to the subfloor and adjusted to create a level base. Onto these are laid the floor panels – a calcium sulphate board made from 95% recycled paper and gypsum – to which the stone or hard floor finish is bonded. The boards are routed so they interlock on installation, giving a monolithic structure.

The design incorporates a joint between the stone tiles for in-situ grouting, giving it the appearance of a hand-laid traditional floor. The set-up is similar to the Technik system developed by Arup and stone specialist Grants. However, Szerelmey is looking to exploit the composite action resulting from bonding the stone or hard floor finish to the calcium sulphate board.

According to Martyn SwashWallbank, Contracts Manager, Szerelmey Systems, tests are being undertaken at BRE. “The idea is that this will allow us to reduce the thickness of the stone and, ultimately, we want to optimise the system depending on the type and stone thickness, enabling us to use less material and create a lighter product.”

According to the company, the system is 10 to 15% cheaper than a traditional stone floor and faster to install, as there is no need to wait for a screed to dry. Another advantage is that by incorporating access points, the gap underneath the finished floor can be used for services. In fact, the calcium sulphate boards can also be routed to allow pipework to be recessed for an underfloor heating system.

020 7793 9800 www.szerelmey.com

Gradus publishes extensive edgings and trims catalogue

Reclaimed timber offers a deep patina and true character

Contract interiors specialist Gradus has introduced a new Stair Edgings and Floor Trims catalogue designed to help specifiers select stair edgings, floor trims and skirtings.

Reclaimed wood is rapidly becoming the most desirable wood on the market. Reclaimed timber is in fact so sought-after that it is becoming increasingly difficult to source, and it's not hard to see why. For a start, reclaimed wood ticks the eco requirements: it is rescued from old buildings, then treated and fitted into new homes, making it the epitome of recycling and reusing.

The new catalogue sees the launch of Gradus’ new premium brand image. Over the coming months the new brand image will be implemented across the floorcovering, barrier matting and wall protection ranges. The new catalogue contains full details of Gradus’ extensive accessories portfolio, including the new range of metal skirtings, which create a modern, hi-tech finish. Information is also included on the new Luxury Trim System, which was specially developed to complement highend metal finishes seen in exclusive hotels and residential developments.

Secondly, reclaimed wood is often stronger and more resilient than newly cut wood, as it has been exposed to humidity and changing seasons for many cycles, expanding and contracting and developing durability.

Some 5% of annual turnover is invested into research and development every year resulting in many products being solventfree and certified EMICODE EC1 for extremely low VOC emission.

Mapei’s R&D has also resulted in the manufacture of Low Dust adhesives, ensuring cleaner working conditions on-site and improving indoor air quality.

Thirdly, reclaimed timber offers a unique finish. Seasoned by the footprints of those that have gone before, reclaimed wood brings with it a history and vintage finish unachievable with new wood.

Reclaimed wood develops a personality all of its own, a deep patina and character and can transform an interior with its quality. Reclaimed timber floors are the perfect choice for those looking to create a shabby chic look or an urban rustic interior.

More than 150 products carry Mapei’s ‘Green Innovation’ logo. The self-regulatory programme assists Project Designers and Contractors achieve LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - certified projects.

The new 144-page catalogue includes comprehensive guides on selecting the right skirtings and stair edgings, along with detailed guidance on BS 8300:2009 + A1:2010 accessible standard.

Mapei continually endeavours to reduce the amount of waste from the manufacturing processes.

Mapei actively recycles and limits the use of paper, plastics, cardboard and hessian bags in addition to waste powder accumulated from production.

Daniel Bloom of Ecora Natural Surfaces provides reclaimed wood This has consequently seen a to the London market, and believes significant reduction in total waste and landfill. it is a great way to ground contemporary homes. "Reclaimed wood is perfect for those genuinely In April 2011 Mapei became members of the Green Building looking to install a unique floor in Council. In September 2010 Mapei their homes. It has an age and a UK achieved ISO 9001 Quality heritage that new wood simply Management System and in June can't mimic, and features such as 2011 ISO 14001 Environmental century-old markings and colour variations simply add to its beauty." Management System.

01625 428922. www.gradusworld.com

020 7148 5322 www.ecora.co.uk

0121 508 6970 www.mapei.co.uk

Gradus’ has added two new XT stair edgings specifically designed for vinyl flooring. The AKVXT1R and ASVXT1R profiles offer superior protection against the risk of slips, trips and falls, as well as protecting the edges of vinyl flooring from lifting and becoming worn or damaged. A selection of skirtings, capping strips and accessories are now available in Salmon to suit recent colour trends in safety and vinyl flooring and Dune and Azure to complement vinyl floor coverings.

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In Brief To assist members to understand their role within the supply chain and to identify their obligations under the new EU Timber Regulation which comes into force in 2013, TRADA has issued a new Construction Briefing EU Timber Regulations: A summary of the requirements and implications. www.trada.co.uk The EU’s new Eco Innovation Action Plan (EcoAP) aims to boost innovation that reduces pressure on the environment, and bridge the gap between innovation and the market. EcoAP is one of the commitments of the Innovation Union Flagship Initiative, building on the 2004 Environmental Technologies Action Plan. It expands the focus from green technologies to the broader concept of ecoinnovation, targeting specific bottlenecks, challenges and opportunities for achieving environmental objectives through innovation. The EcoAP includes actions both on the demand and supply side. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/index_en.html

WRAP reports a significant fall in the UK’s wood waste arisings

FoE Europe sets indicators to steer EU resource reductions

Wood waste arisings in the UK have fallen by 10% since 2007, WRAP’s Wood Market Situation Report has revealed. The decrease is primarily down to reduced activity, particularly from the construction (13% decrease in wood waste arising) and furniture and joinery sectors (23%), since 2007. Between 2007 and 2010, wood waste arising fell from 4.5 million tonnes to 4.1 million tonnes.

Friends of the Earth has worked with Sustainable Europe Research Institute in Vienna to derive new indicators for the EU to measure and reduce its resource use. FoE has selected four indicators that all include both the resources used within the EU and in the production of goods that we import: • Land: the total area used in hectares • Materials: the total tonnage used, divided into biological and mineral materials • Water: water footprint, measured in litres • Climate: carbon footprint, including the carbon emissions associated with imported products FoE believes that these indicators can help us improve Europe’s resource efficiency.

The slowdown in construction has had a knock-on effect on the wood panel sector, traditionally the largest consumer of wood waste, with demand for wood waste down from 1.2 million tonnes in 2007 to 1.1 million tonnes in 2010.

However, an increase in the amount of wood waste used in the biomass sector, where use has more than doubled to 500,000 tonnes in 2010, has seen the total amount of wood waste recycled or used in energy recovery in the UK increase from 1.9 million tonnes to 2.3 million tonnes in 2010 – more than half of all wood waste arising.

Exported wood waste has also increased, rising to almost 200,000 tonnes in 2010.

According to FoE, Europe is using more and more of the world’s resources, including land, materials and water. Global competition for resources is growing fast, leading to a long term trend of rising prices, and Europe’s dependence on imported resources makes it economically vulnerable.

Marcus Gover, Director of the Closed Loop Economy at WRAP, said: “It is important to note that the construction industry has taken proactive steps to reduce the amount of wood they send to landfill. The introduction of site waste management plans in April 2008, require construction companies to plan, monitor and measure the waste they generate on site, and industry commitments such as Halving Waste to Landfill, launched by WRAP in 2008, have also had an impact.”

“Friends of the Earth Europe is therefore calling on the European Union to measure its global resource use,” explains the pressure group, “so that we know what we are currently dependent on, and so we can create policies that will make us more resource efficient.”

www.wrap.org.uk/msr

www.foeeurope.org

“Measuring these indicators, and using them in the impact assessment of new policies, will allow us to evaluate our current global resource use and identify how to reduce this resource use.”

6 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY 2012

The UK-Green Building Council has published the initial recommendations from the Green Building Guidance Task Group. This was established in September 2011 to find ways to help industry navigate the complex landscape of existing sustainability information. The Task Group has been carrying out a comprehensive audit of the tools, guidance, targets, case studies and training courses available to the sector. It recommended that this information should be held on an online platform that will direct practitioners to information currently available and enable user feedback and ratings. The Task Group also recommended the implementation of mechanisms to drive industry action and improve performance within the UK-GBC membership and wider industry. www.ukgbc.org At The Guardian’s Sustainable Business Awards, InterfaceFLOR was presented with the Waste and Recycling award for the company’s QUEST (Quality Utilizing Employee Suggestions and Teamwork) initiative. The judges felt that InterfaceFLOR were championing a circular economy; going the extra mile to collect waste back from their customers.

Following the success of Jewson's award-winning Sustainable Building Guide, the UK materials supplier has released a second edition. The new edition includes new products, updates on Government incentives and initiatives, and a new section on the Greenworks Training Academy.

Since November 2010, 60 000 copies of the guide have been picked up by trade professionals.

The second edition of the guide continues to advise all construction professionals on how to adapt day-to-day working practices to ensure a more sustainable build. As well as flooring it covers foundations, walls, insulation, timber, windows, roofs and water management. More information at www.jewson.co.uk/sustainability.

The first ever Natural Stone Sustainability Awards were given during the Natural Stone Show held from 15th to17th March 2011 at ExCel. Stone Federation Great Britain presented the awards. Forest Pennant received the award in Innovation category, for being the first specialist masonry company in UK to generate its own green electricity using hydrogeneration powering the processing of the local Royal Forest Pennant sandstone and its forest of dean sister plant distribution network.

The other award in sustainability Awareness category went to Stancliffe Stone Quarry, Derbyshire for gaining accreditation to The Wildlife Trust’s biodiversity benchmark The Award in Landscape category was given to Historic Royal Palaces for the recreation of a hard landscaping scheme, originally designed

by Christopher Wren, using a loose bedding of recycled concrete and crushed limestone. More at www.stone-federationgb.org.uk.

TRADA will be working closely with members who are exhibiting at Ecobuild 2012 to devise a ‘Timber tours' programme to highlight the latest innovations in timber and timber-related products. TRADA Technology specialists will provide an informed commentary on some of the technical and regulatory drivers behind them. The timetable will be finalised early next month.

More than 160 visitors booked onto TRADA's Timber Tours last year. TRADA Membership & Marketing Manager Rupert Scott said, ‘The tours will focus on a range of new products, processes and innovations, and, if 2011 is anything to go by, on some of the most exciting structures at the show.' explains Scott.

“Each delegate will have a headset, to be able to concentrate on the guide and there will be the opportunity to follow up with key contacts afterwards.” E-mail ncannings@trada.co.uk for details.

The UK’s DIY sector has made significant progress towards meeting targets to reduce packaging and the amount of waste sent to landfill, says WRAP’s Chief Executive, Liz Goodwin. She says that signatories to the Home Improvement Sector Commitment – a UK-wide voluntary agreement between DIY retailers and manufacturers and WRAP – had reduced packaging by 12% (14,000 tonnes) and waste sent to landfill by 64% (61,000 tonnes) between 2007 and 2010. The targets, which are based on a 2007 baseline and have a 2012 deadline, are to reduce packaging by 15% and landfill waste by 50%.

The British Standards Institution (BSI) has been selected by UKAS as one of the few pilot organisations trialling the certification scheme against which Green Deal Installers and Advisors will be audited. As part of the Government’s Green Deal initiative, all installers and advisors must be certified against their relevant Standard. The purpose of the pilot is to ensure the robust development of a new certification scheme. Gary Fenton of BSI commented: “Having been at the forefront of the Construction sector for many years, BSI can bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Green Deal certification scheme.”

To learn more, visit www.bsigroup.com.

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enable it to contribute fully to meeting the Government’s target of reducing waste to landfill by 50% by 2012.

At the top level, the aims and objectives of the FSP are to assist the industry in improving the wider picture of resource efficiency. This distills to many areas of activity, providing better awareness and understanding amongst all parts of the flooring supply chain and thus, for example, contributing towards the goal of reducing the total amount of waste produced by the flooring sector, as well as waste sent to landfill.

With an appointed Chair, Deputy Chair and Secretariat, the FSP will meet at least three times a year to discuss relevant sustainability issues relating to the flooring industry, and to monitor progress made in the implementation of the FREP and beyond.

There are plans to establish an industry wide data collection scheme to improve reporting and targeting of flooring waste.

This data will enable the FSP to define the targets for reducing waste in the flooring sector. The FSP will then develop a standard style of specification for each type of flooring waste that can be sent for reuse, recycling or recovery.

Future initiatives may include a Flooring Recycling Note (FRN) scheme which could operate in a similar way to that of the Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs), providing much needed financial incentives to support the development of collection, sorting and end markets for the flooring industry.

Above: Flooring - A Resource Efficiency Action Plan was the FSP launchpad.

Addressing sustainability with one unified voice The intent of the Flooring Sustainability Partnership (FSP) is to improve the sustainability of flooring through the development and delivery of practical actions, better awareness and understanding amongst all parts of the flooring supply chain. It thus intends to make a significant contribution towards the goal of reducing the total amount of waste produced by the flooring sector, as well as waste sent to landfill. Membership of the FSP is open to any company or trade association involved in the production, distribution, installation, recycling, reprocessing and disposal of flooring as well as the relevant government departments and regulatory agencies. Owner of the Flooring Resource Efficiency Action Plan, the FSP is an independent lobbying and networking organisation focused on the issues of flooring sustainability, waste and recycling.

Commissioned by the CFA, the Flooring Resource Efficiency Action Plan (FREP) provided a positive and valuable response to the growing number of requests for information from clients relating to sustainability and waste management. It also provided the flooring sector with a positive plan to

8 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABIlITy 2012

The FSP is in dialogue with Government and other relevant bodies regarding the potential restriction of material and product types to landfill, including flooring waste. The impacts on the flooring industry of any such restriction will be assessed to see if this is a proposal worthy of cross industry support.

It is also charged with establishing dialogue with European flooring trade bodies. This will include evaluating UK, European and International product standards and their impact on sustainability, and the way in which the flooring industry should respond.

Over the next twelve months the FSP will continue to establish itself as the voice of the industry on matters of sustainability both as a resource for the industry and to Government. The main vehicle for this will be the annual report, which will be compiled by BRE’s Stuart Blofeld who acts as Secretariat for FSP. Future editions of the CFA Guide to Sustainability and Specification within the Flooring Industry will feature extracts from this important publication.

The FSP acts as a networking opportunity a forum for the UK flooring industry on matters of sustainability. It allows professionals and companies to share best practice and benchmark their own activities.

The FSP provides valuable, cross-industry support and promotion of vital initiatives such as Carpet Recycling UK and Recofloor; as well as having the ability to commission its own projects if work in any individual sector of the flooring industry has not yet been started.

After two years, the FSP Chair has passed from the CFA’s Chief Executive Officer, Richard Catt, to Simon Macaulay of Anglo Recycling who will be the Chair for the next two years. Simon also sits on the board of CRUK.“

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As the CFA’s CEO I am very pleased with the progress of the FSP and proud to have Chaired it in its formative years and to get it established,” states Richard Catt.

“I am equally proud that the CFA was the catalyst for creating the FREP and, from it, the FSP as it shows the commitment of our members to the important issue of sustainability and resource efficiency,” continues Catt. “I intend to remain active and have also recruited support from Lisa McQuillan of CFA members Carpenter Ltd, who is going to work with me to contribute to the FSP and bring benefits and feedback to our members. The annual CFA Sustainability and Specification Guide will obviously play a major part in doing that.’

“I hand the reins over to Simon in the knowledge that the FSP can claim to have established itself as an independent voice and body for the industry. Something that is unique is its ability to represent all aspects and sectors of flooring (manufacturers, clients contractors, trade associations, recycling businesses, etc) to assist in co-ordinating and promoting our sector’s efforts in this area of increasing Government policy, legislation, client and supply chain interest / awareness.”

As Richard Catt has observed, one of the FSP’s great strengths is that it is a very broad church, representing every manufacturing sector of the flooring industry, as well as those with a specific interest in the sustainability agenda.

The current membership includes 4Recycling, Altro, Amtico, Armstrong, Axiom Group, BRE, British Plastics Federation, British Wood Flooring Association, Burmatex, Carillion, Carpenter Ltd, Carpet and Flooring, Carpet Recycling UK, Carpetright, Chartered Institute of Waste Management, Contract Flooring Association, Costdown, Countrystyle Group, Construction Products Association, DEFRA, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Desso, Environment Agency, ES KTN, FERFA, Forbo, Gerflor, Gradus, Heckmondwyke, Independent Floorcovering Distributors Association, InterfaceFLOR, Interfloor, John Lewis Partnership, Johnson’s Tiles, JSP, Karndean, Larac, Loughton Contracts, Medway Council, Melba Swintex, Mercado, Milliken, National Federation of Terrazzo Marble & Mosaic Specialists, Nora, Paragon Carpets, Polyflor, Recoflor, Shaw, Shell, Stone Federation, Tarkett, The Tile Association, Tyndale Flooring, Wood Panel Industries Federation and WRAP. FSP is currently undertaking a range of complementary activities intended to improve sustainability practice across the UK flooring industry.

Current initiatives include the action by FSP members to populate the Flooringwaste.co.uk website with relevant recycling facilities and schemes from across the UK. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for flooring contractors and their customers to find a suitable outlet for any flooring waste, thereby helping reduce still further the volume of flooring waste being sent to landfill.

FSP is also exploring the potential funding available via the Construction Skills Management and Leadership Development Programme to develop material for delivery 10 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY 2012

Above: Annually, more than 90% of flooring waste is sent to landfill.

as seminars to architects and other specifiers on sustainability within the flooring sector.

The FSP is also in the process of producing a Briefing Note on the new Waste Carrier Regulations: something that will have considerable impact on the UK flooring sector.

Introduced on 1st April 2011, they effectively provide a new two-tier registration process for waste carriers.

The implication of these regulations for the flooring sector is that for fitters/installers who are removing installation waste (offcuts and packaging) and uplifted flooring from a job and taking this back to their base (and are not making a profit from waste removal activities) then they could fall within the new lower tier of waste carrier, and, while they would still be required to register, the fee is £0 and registration process straight forward. Waste carriers in this lower tier need to register with the Environment Agency by December 2013.

There are two short PDF summary documents on the regulations available on the EA website: http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/PDF/GEHO0911BUDG-E-E.pdf http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/changes_ carriers_brokers_dealers.pdf The FSP will be in the vanguard of the new Product Category Rules being prepared by the Building Research Establishment. This vital area is due to be taken forward in the first half of 2012.

Currently almost 600,000 tonnes of flooring is disposed of each year, of which less than 2% is recycled. In round figures, carpet produces 410,000 tonnes of waste, laminate 75,000 tonnes, vinyl 37,000 tonnes, ceramic tiles 35,000 tonnes, wood 13,000 tonnes, linoleum 6,000 tonnes and rubber 3,500 tonnes, while figures for resin waste are unavailable.

With more than 90% of the total flooring waste generated per annum sent to landfill, the need for everyone in the UK flooring industry to support the work of the FSP could not be clearer. Visit the websites below to learn how you can get involved and help reduce the UK flooring waste burden. www.flooringwaste.co.uk

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Left: The ISA’s important new Benchmarking Report was published in October 2011.

“Measurement is the essence of ISA: whether members require data for corporate reporting, environmental benchmarking or carbon trading, the ISA database provides robust reporting. ISA is working with BRe Global and the BRe Trust, the uK-based charity and internationally renowned research partner, to build one of the most comprehensive sustainability performance databases,” explained John Pike, Secretary General.

“This year’s report is a milestone for our organisation.

Building on lessons learned over the last year, this report is the first of what we hope will be an annual event in the sustainability arena,” continued Pike. “A significant strength of ISA is that we analyse data from a broad range of property market stakeholders including investors in property, owners, developers and occupiers. The retail and office sectors are the best represented this year. As our membership increases we hope to add the logistics and industrial sectors, as well as leisure properties, to our outputs.”

The first meaningful green matrix for real estate In October 2011, The International Sustainability Alliance, the global network of real estate organisations, launched its 2011 Benchmarking Report; which is being billed as ‘the first meaningful attempt to publish sustainability metrics for real estate.”

Jaap Gillis, Co-Chair of ISA and Chief Operating Officer of Redevco said: “This report is an important step in the direction of addressing the fundamental issue of meaningful metrics. The report shows the power of using data from multiple sources to compile accurate CSR reporting of a company’s environmental performance as well as supporting benchmark reports across asset classes and national boundaries.”

The report focuses on a selection of ISA member’s property assets in the office and retail sectors across five countries: Portugal, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. It features three critical ISA key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure the intensity of energy, water and CO2 emissions by floor area. ISA members will be able to use this data to obtain individual reports on the performance of their portfolios.

“Compiling this report has not been without its challenges,” said Gillis. “Approaches to data collection vary across companies and countries. It takes years for organisations to learn how to collect data and inevitably the range of data collected varies widely. However ISA members are fully engaged in tackling these issues through sharing experiences and working collaboratively. Our technical subcommittees, for example, are addressing the key challenges in data collection across the real estate sector, dealing with issues including quality, verification and definitions.”

12 CFA GuIde TO SuSTAINABIlITy 2012

Jane Woodlock, ISA Business development Manager, takes up the story. “The appetite for ‘sustainable’ or ‘green’ buildings has been rising over the past 5 years. even before the impacts of the global economic crisis were felt in european commercial property markets, sustainability in buildings was emerging as a decision factor for those involved. Statistics from BRe on the number of buildings registered and certificated to BReeAM standards appear to support this assertion. Of the c. 6,000 buildings registered to date under the BReeAM Offices Scheme, almost 1,900 buildings have been certificated.”

“It is also significant that the demand for BReeAM In-use, a uK-focused product which grades environmental performance of existing buildings has attracted increasing demand from non-uK clients. This has led to the development of BReeAM In-use International, a version of the scheme applicable to non- domestic buildings anywhere in the world. This version will allow cross-jurisdictional performance management and will be available in multiple languages,” says Woodlock.

“Take-up of BReeAM In-use International suggests that the property market anticipates increased demand for a common standard of certification; both as an aid to sales and lettings of commercial property as well as an expected requirement for corporate reporting. It also suggests that property market participants are already looking to consolidate their existing portfolios in anticipation of an impact on value.”

Recent research by Cushman & Wakefield showed that sustainability is now recognised as a crucial part of a company’s overall business strategy. Almost 70% of all respondents to the C&W survey regarded sustainability as at least an ‘important’ consideration, with over 40% regarding it as very important or fundamental to their business.

Furthermore, in a survey of 500 Senior executives for C & W, ‘reduction of CO2 emissions’ and ‘savings in running costs of buildings’ were the two factors with highest increases in importance in the reporting period between 2008 and the date of the survey.

The european property market remains a competitive space for investors and owners while cost reduction is foremost in

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better still its superior credentials could have a marked commercial advantage, if recent predictions and research results by ING (2011) and Chegut, Eicholtz & Kok, (2011) hold true.

Even for those participants whose motivation comes from carbon reduction or whose location requires them to limit their use of finite resources, the cost savings and commercial advantages that can result from managing and running buildings as sustainability as possible are myriad. To date, however there has not been a suitable vehicle to allow stakeholders to measure and monitor their resource consumption whilst also gaining an insight as to how their estate performs in comparison to that of their peers.

ING Real Estate, one of the contributors to the ISA report, has acquired the Triangle Part-Dieu office building in Lyon, France, for 41 million.

occupiers’ minds. In recent years, property market participants have had to factor in rising energy prices alongside rent and occupational costs when conducting property cost analysis. Add to this the expectation that other European countries will follow France’s ‘Grenelle 2’ lead and the calculation of return on (real estate) investment will have to include the cost of achieving acceptable environmental results alongside familiar incentives such as rent-free periods or premiums.

With changing decision-making factors comes the need for knowledge to inform such decisions.

Research carried out by ING Real Estate in 2011 suggests that there is a link between under-performance of buildings in sustainability metrics for office space across Europe and the double negative of extended marketing periods and decreasing rents. ING believes that the reversionary potential (for rent) in unsustainable (office) buildings will become negative over the coming years and that a divergence in yields will result between those properties that can prove their green credentials and those that can’t.

Taking this point- of-view to its logical conclusion, sustainability-related shifts in occupational demand requirements, whether driven by legislation or corporate strategy, will have to be embraced by property owners, investors and managers in the short-term if the long-term value of their property investments is to be maintained. The question in most stakeholders’ minds however is: how to quantify the relative costs and predict the returns on investing in sustainable real estate? At what point does increased capital expenditure on sustainability begin to produce diminishing returns?

The increasing number of benchmarking clubs and certification offers such as LEED, BREEAM In-Use and even country-level schemes such as DGNB and HQE suggest that the property market is responding to the emerging trend for ‘green’ property endorsement. And yet the overlap amongst property market participants across several of the products offered suggests an industry in a state of flux. Commercial property needs to be as liquid as possible to be able to react quickly to emerging market trends. In the prevailing market, property that can advertise its sustainability credentials or

14 CFA GUIDE To sUsTAINABILITy 2012

Increasing environmental legislation across Europe, coupled with a difficult property market, has led to the emergence of sustainability in real estate becoming a material decisionmaking factor for property market stakeholders. While neither a benchmarking club membership nor certification can provide value certainty in the property market, such tools are viewed as an ever more common hedge against obsolescence. Through its data- gathering and analysis, IsA wishes to become the largest provider of sustainability intelligence by geographic location and asset class to help members remain ahead of the market. Through membership collaboration, funding research and lobbying, IsA members can become the leaders of change in sustainable real estate.

The IsA Benchmarking Report will be published on an annual basis by IsA. As membership increases, the IsA database is growing rapidly and the volume of quality data on individual building classes grows. This, in turn, generates opportunities for research, analysis and sharing of corporate knowledge in sustainability reporting. To date, information on more than 7,000 real estate assets is recorded and IsA members currently manage or own more than €850 billion of real estate value and so the potential for this to grow in the future is enormous.

ISA

www.internationalsustainabilityalliance.org

About: The International Sustainability Alliance (ISA) is a global network of leading corporate occupiers, property investors, developers and owners. The ISA is dedicated to achieving a more sustainable built environment through better measurement and understanding of the sustainable performance of buildings. Real estate owners, occupiers, developers and funders around the world are facing ever increasing demands to address the need for greater sustainability of existing buildings. Over 40% of carbon emissions come from the built environment but only 1 to 2% of buildings are renewed each year, so by far the major challenge in reducing our carbon emissions – and the biggest opportunity – is to manage and refurbish existing stock. ISA is an independent, not for profit membership organisation. BRE Global, through the BRE Trust, (one of the leading independent champions of research, innovation and communications across the built environment) is an impartial and secure custodian of ISA members' data. The database includes KPIs and consistent metrics that cross national boundaries.

International Sustainability Alliance Bucknalls Lane Watford WD25 9XX 01923 369080 info@internationalsustainabilityalliance.org

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Ska Rating sets targets for sustainable fit-outs Ska Rating is a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors-led and owned environmental assessment method, benchmark and standard for non-domestic fit-outs.

Ska Rating helps landlords and tenants assess fit-out projects against a set of sustainability good practice criteria. It is estimated that 11% of UK construction spending is on fitouts and buildings may have 30 to 40 fit-outs during their lifecycle.

Why a fit-out only system?

Previously, although there were established tools for assessing the environmental impact of whole buildings, such as BREEAM in the UK and LEED in the US, industry feedback that the certification of fit-out especially on existing buildings indicated that attempts to use whole building systems were unsatisfactory both in terms of high costs and low relevance.

To meet this need, Ska Rating has been developed by RICS with designers, contractors, corporate occupiers, managing agents and consultants. It differs from other labelling systems in that it is project driven.

The system offers a free online tool to help organisations achieve more sustainable fit-outs. Businesses only pay if they want formal certification.

Ska Rating also provides flexible scoping. This means that the tool measures only what is within the specific project’s scope.

How does it work?

The offices scheme consists of 104 individual good practice measures covering Energy and CO2 Emissions, Waste, Water, Materials, Pollution, Wellbeing and Transport.

This guidance is freely available along with an online assessment tool, which can be used informally or for formal certification using a RICS Ska Rating Accredited Assessor.

Assessments can be carried out at three stages: Design, Handover and Occupancy.

RICS operates an accreditation scheme to enable qualified professionals to undertake quality-assured Ska Rating certification on behalf of organisations. Accreditation involves attending a two-day training course, completing and passing an exam and then joining the accreditation scheme and register. Projects can achieve ratings of Bronze, Silver or Gold based on meeting a percentage of measures relevant to the project’s scope of works.

No matter what your starting point, a Ska Rating will enable you to measure 100% of the environmental performance of an office fit-out. Since Ska Rating does not consider the base build, it measures only what you do to add value to your property.

Ska comprises 104 good practice measures across Energy

16 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITy 2012

Above: Caring about the environment is one of Lush’s top priorities. The company has a dedicated team committed to reducing waste, carbon, energy and water consumption. The Ska Rating created a framework for Lush so that it can achieve sustainable fit-outs that work for everyone involved in projects including contractors, designers and project managers.

and CO2, Waste, Water, Pollution, Transport, Materials and Wellbeing. An example of a good practice measure is that when wooden flooring is stripped out, it should be sent for re-use to a salvage yard instead of to landfill.

Each good practice measure is explained in a datasheet explaining the criteria that need to be achieved, the rationale behind the measure and guidance on how to achieve it.

Because each fit-out project is unique in terms of employers' requirements, the building or site, and scope of works, Ska Rating scores the project only on the basis of those measures that are relevant to the project. These are called 'Measures in Scope'. Typically, between 30 and 60 measures are likely to apply to most projects. The score is ranked in three thresholds: Bronze, Silver and Gold. These thresholds are reached by achieving 25%, 50% or 75%, respectively, of the measures in scope.

What are 'Gateway Measures'?

Some measures are more important from a sustainability perspective, so the measures are ranked from one to 99, (one is the highest and 99 the lowest). To ensure that teams do not just target the easiest measures, the project has to achieve a number of the highest ranked measures in scope in order to score; these are known as Gateway Measures.

As with any fit-out project, the Ska assessment process is broken into three stages: • Design/Planning. At this stage we identify the measures and issues in scope. Once the Measures in Scope are identified, the client has the opportunity to prioritise which measures they want to achieve and make a decision against design, cost, programme and benefit, and add them into the scope of works for the project. This will also set the environmental performance standards for how the project is delivered, in terms of waste and energy in use, etc. Then, if the specification demonstrates that these measures are likely to be achieved, they will be reflected in an indicative rating.

• Delivery/Construction. This involves the gathering of evidence from O&M manuals and other sources to prove that

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Left: AECOM and Westpac Banking Corporation won the first Gold Ska rating for a building in the City of London for the UK HQ of the Westpac Banking Corporation.

The fit-out for the Westpac HQ pushed the boundaries of the design team. The architect, HLW International conducted research to find furniture that met Ska requirements and also fitted in aesthetically with the office design.

Ska assessor Richard Hollis who assessed and accredited the fit-out of Westpac’s new offices explains the process. “The great thing about Ska is that the process asks questions of the industry that have not been asked before, for example raising questions about measuring the lifecycle impact of furniture and whether products are listed on the Energy Technology List.”

“Using this method has resulted in a highquality office space – the furniture has been selected based upon the manufacturers’ analysis of lifecycle impact, products with high recycled content (kitchen worktops, pin boards, notice boards, etc.) have been used, existing materials have been re-used, and 100% of the timber originates from FSC and PEFC sources. This was all completed to a tight construction timeframe, with 99% of the waste diverted from landfill.”

what has been specified has actually been delivered, and that the performance and waste benchmarks have been achieved.

• Occupancy Stage Assessment. Finally, there is the option to review how well a fit-out has performed in use against its original brief from a year after completion.

Ska Rating for Offices Ska Offices was launched in November 2009 and fully revised in March 2011. Ska Offices is used on fit-out projects large and small, both refurbishment and new build, and it scores environmental good practice irrespective of the base building.

RICS has launched a fit-out assessment for retailers to reduce their environmental impact, set standards, benchmark and improve their sustainability best practices.

Ska Rating for Retail Ska Rating for Retail was annunced in early 2012 following extensive development through 2011. Ska Retail scores environmental good practice irrespective of the base building. It can be used for one-off projects or for volume certification of roll-outs.

Building on the success of the original office fit-out version launched in 2009, Ska iRating for Retail will allow retailers and restaurant operators to measure the environmental impact of their fit-outs and refurbishments, and set benchmarks for improvements.

The launch follows the successful completion of pilot projects for Lush in Birmingham and Bristol, Wahaca at Bluewater shopping centre, and Nationwide Building Society in Oxford.

Ruth Andrade from the Lush Wellbeing Team said: “As a 18 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITy 2012

business we actively promote ethical products so it was important for us to transfer these values to our property portfolio. The Ska Rating is perfect for companies which share these values.”

“The Ska Rating set a framework for achieving a sustainable fit-out that everyone involved in the project - the contractor, designer and project manager - could work with.”

“The framework offered structured guidance on how to implement a green fit-out and since some of the measures are not site specific it can be used for future fit-outs at our other stores.”

The Ska Rating for Retail methodology was developed by RICS with a team of development partners including Whitbread, Royal Bank of Scotland, Green Room Retail, contractor ISG, AECOM, Dalen Strategies, the Association of Interiors Specialists and the National Association of Shopfitters.

Freely available online with voluntary certification via a network of accredited assessors, the tool rates the environmental impact of the fit-out regardless of the base building, assessing areas such as energy consumption, CO2 emissions, waste, water and material use to award a gold, silver or bronze rating.

The tool can be applied to projects of any size, in both existing and new buildings, for one-off projects or volume roll-outs.

Tim Robinson, Director of Information Products at RICS and chair of the Ska Rating for Retail development committee said: “Despite the fact that an estimated 11% of UK construction spending is on fit-out, until recently, assessing and improving fit-outs was a sustainability blind spot. This means that the vast majority of fit-outs to buildings go unmeasured and, as a result, unimproved.”

“As the results of the pilot projects prove, the Ska Rating for Retail enables retailers, retail banks and restaurant owners to

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balance business realities with the need to improve environmental performance.”

Clients using the rating on office projects have found that the rating has helped engage employees in the process and strengthen their brand image, and that there have been hard financial benefits – reductions in energy costs of up to 31% and reductions of waste sent to landfill of up to 99%.

Benefits of Ska Ska Rating will help organisations make informed decisions about fit-out projects in the context of the growing importance of sustainability on the corporate agenda, and a burgeoning statute book.

Ska Rating is designed to be of particular use for occupiers but has benefits for other property stakeholders, including landlords, developers, consultants, fit-out contractors and members of the supply chain.

For occupiers and tenants, Ska allow accurate measurement of sustainability impact. Whether you are a tenant of a single office doing a one-off fit-out or a major corporate occupier, Ska Rating claims to be the first system designed to measure 100% of the sustainability of your fit-out and decide what is most important. The rating is influenced entirely by what users choose to do, not by what has been done in the past By following good practice, occupiers may be able to reduce costs such as utilities bills, facilities' staff time, paper and travel. Using energy efficient methods and appropriate recycling should lead to a reduction in resource consumption and improved efficiency. Ska is a decision-making tool which ranks the different aspects of a fit-out based on what will have the biggest impact on sustainability. I t can therefore be used to help the design team achieve maximum sustainability for a given budget Environmental sustainability is already a point of compliance for the majority of SMEs and all corporates and government entities. However there is no method available to them for fit-outs to help achieve any measure of sustainability Corporate responsibility is a key emerging area for companies, led by legislation. Under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006, company directors are required to promote the success of the company and must have 'regard to the impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment'. Occupiers face boardlevel demand for sustainability Ska is based on robust guidance which dispels a lot of myths: sustainability is not just a luxury for big companies that can afford it. Ska rates what is actually important and makes the biggest impact in terms of sustainability. It adds another dimension beyond cost and quality to assess fit-out projects A Ska certificate helps you ensure that a fit-out project is rated accurately and can be used to support an organisation’s environmental management system A Ska Rating certificate can help an organisation demonstrate that it takes sustainability seriously and has achieved a standard with its property. This can feature in annual reports, environmental policy or tender documentation, or be displayed in a building

20 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAInABILITy 2012

Above: Bank of China’s London HQ used the Ska Rating system.

Many employees (whether existing staff members or potential recruits) increasingly place a value on a company's green credentials, and wish to work in high-quality spaces. A Ska Rating can be used to reinforce staff morale and complements other CSR activity Developers and landlords can use Ska Rating to set targets.

They can use the formal assessment process to assess if that target performance standards are met, and then use the certificate to report performance to stakeholders Developers and landlords can also use Ska to benchmark the sustainability of fit-outs across a portfolio of buildings; include the use of the RICS Ska Rating in 'Green Lease' provisions to help drive up the sustainability of properties or protect a building already certified under a whole building assessment method Consultants are able to embed Ska Rating in their standard processes to demonstrate that they follow a sustainable specification and procurement process for fit-outs They can also use the Ska Rating tool and datasheets to support the delivery of professional advice to clients on good practice in sustainable fit-outs, and to assess their designs and projects Consultants cam also offer Ska Rating certificated assessments to clients who wish to demonstrate they have achieved a more sustainable fit-out through the Ska Rating Accredited Assessors scheme Contractors can use the assessment process and related guidance to make their design, specification, procurement and construction practices more environmentally sustainable Ska also allows contractors to demonstrate their sustainability credentials to clients and consultants by making the targeting of standards under Ska Rating part of their standard tender process Ska Rating

www.rics.org/ska

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Carpet: Waste diversion grows 6.5% year-on-year One of the greatest challenges faced by the carpet industry is disposing of waste carpet. During research conducted prior to the publication of the Flooring Resource Efficiency Action Plan (FREP) it was found that the sector produced almost 414,000 tonnes of waste annually or 71% of the flooring sector’s total waste output. At the time, this comprised 386,000 tonnes from uplifting of old carpet and 28,000 tonnes from the installation of new carpet.

When these concerted sustainability initiatives kicked in, more than 90% of the total flooring waste generated per annum was sent to landfill, representing an enormous environmental problem. However, the carpet sector recognised that this was also a significant opportunity and one that the flooring industry in the UK as a whole needed to address positively.

Broadloom carpet is the most common form of indoor flooring with approximately 65% of the UK market. The majority of broadloom carpet sold in the UK is for domestic use, with just 20 to 25% sold into commercial applications.

About 70% of the UK market is supplied by imports, much of it coming from Belgium and the Netherlands.

The UK carpet industry is unusual in that 40% of the market is wool based. This causes extra problems when it comes to waste segregation but, at the same time, provides some additional routes for disposal of the carpet waste.

Carpet Recycling UK (CRUK) was set up in 2008. One of its aims has been to address the barriers that exist to carpet recycling.

By carrying out trials and producing examples of best practice CRUK has increased the available options for carpet recycling. As a result the overall level of carpet recycled has increased more than five-fold since 2009.

Through FREP, the Flooring Sustainability Partnership (FSP) and other initiatives, the UK carpet industry is setting itself some stiff, yet achievable, targets. CRUK, as the lead organisation, is spearheading the drive to reuse and recycle.

And the results are most impressive. Waste carpet is emerging as a serious raw material resource according to the latest figures from CRUK. These that show 66,000 tonnes were diverted from landfill last year: representing an increase in the diversion rate from 10% in 2010 to 16.5% in 2011.

This figure is fairly evenly split between recycle and reuse (32,000 tonnes) and energy recovery, mainly in cement kilns (34,000 tonnes). The proportion of carpet sent for recycling has risen from 33% in 2010 to 48% in 2011 as new outlets have developed and established outlets have grown.

“It’s a fantastic achievement and testament to the on-going commitment and consistent efforts of all throughout the supply chain to make carpet recycling and diversion of this bulky waste from landfill a positive reality,” commented Laurance Bird, Director of CRUK. Managed by Axion Consulting, CRUK is an association of companies with 12 core funders. It actively support the

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development of carpet recycling and helps to develop viable solutions to the nearly half a million tonnes of carpet waste landfilled in the UK each year. CRUK targets include 25% landfill diversion by 2015.

As Bird explains, recycling capacity has increased in response to the growth in specialist facilities able to handle carpets in reuse, recycling and energy recovery processes.

“It is encouraging to see the growth in the use of carpet fibres for equestrian surfaces and felts. There are now 32 specialist outlets contributing to these total diversion routes.”

Carpet Recycling UK continued to support the Flooring Sustainability Partnership in 2011, ensuring that members’ interests and needs were understood and supported with a higher profile.

Awareness of carpet recycling opportunities had increased due to greater press coverage, including new online media, adds Bird. “CRUK’s marketing activities at Ecobuild, Spring Flooring Show and Harrogate Floor Show has also gained attention for this new waste stream. As a result, enquiries from waste management companies and local authorities rose by 50% during 2011.”

In the commercial sector, contractors are normally supplied by the manufacturer with material delivered direct to site.

The large distributors recognise that, with up to a hundred vehicles leaving a depot daily and usually returning empty, they have an ideal logistics system for recovering post use flooring.

When CRUK was founded, the majority of UK carpet weavers

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Top left: Stripes by Brintons. Top right: Swaledale by Axminster.

Bottom left: Simply Twist by Ryalux. Bottom right: Mondrian by Axminster.

Plain carpet continues to dominate floors as it complements and enhances any interior scheme. However, while neutral colours are still prevalent, there are indications that colour in the form of rich vibrant plums, aubergines and blue greens is beginning to creep in to complement the more vibrant soft furnishing colours and designs that we are now seeing in interiors. To coincide with the return of colour, we are also seeing a return to pattern on the floor. Popular designs include striped carpet and delicate flower heads which bring charm and romance to a room.

still disposed of their waste to landfill. This was estimated to cost the industry in excess of £1,000,000 per annum. In the UK, the mixed nature of the waste which includes a large percentage of wool in the mix is a problem, especially the shearing waste stream which produces a short (1 to 2mm) fibre. When this waste was pure wool it could be used as a soil improver, but today with the almost universal blending of polypropylene or nylon with the wool this is no longer permitted and the waste thus frequently goes to landfill.

Above: Biosfera I from InterfaceFLOR offers a choice of three tufted carpets: Bouclé, Velour and Micro. To minimise their effect on the environment, InterfaceFLOR uses 100% recycled yarn, as well as recycled materials in the backing. The impact is cut further by using a very low amount of yarn because the processing of the yarn in a standard carpet tile can cause up to 50% of its total environmental impact.

With Biosfera, Bouclé, a loop pile, contains only 530 grams; Velour, a cut pile, uses only 610 grams; and Micro has less than half the standard content, at 350 grams.

The yarn used has been independently verified through 3rd party auditors as 100% recycled of which 30% is post- consumer recycled raw material from a variety of sources including old fishing nets. Biosfera I also offers glue-free installation with TacTiles, eliminating emissions from the adhesive while making the actual installation easieldeorras a better floor, in so many ways. Biosfera I is part of InterfaceFLOR’s Cool Carpet programme that measures the greenhouse gases emitted throughout the life of a carpet, then work with partner organisations to purchase verified carbon offsets that neutralise these emissions.

Several larger companies recycle their manufacturing waste back into their own production, resulting in no waste going to landfill. This material usually results in the downgrading of the surface yarn by incorporating it into the backing.

Technology is available to shear the fibre from carpet tiles.

The resultant fibre can be re-pelletized and re-extruded as new fibre while the backing is recycled as normal.

Polyurethane underlays are produced from offcuts of polyurethane foam shredded and reconsolidated with a binder. Manufacturers reuse all their own production waste.

Felt based underlay is produced from waste fibres, including, on a trial basis, carpet waste. Because the original fibre source is waste fibre it may be hard to find a consistent recycling route other than back into new underlay.

In contract installations, some broadloom material is collected and shredded for use in equestrian surfaces and small scale felting operations.

For best recycling, different fibre types need to be segregated but it is difficult to identify the different materials used in carpet. However, the problem is not insurmountable.

Near Infra Red equipment can be programmed to identify the different types of carpet and allow proper segregation of the carpet waste streams into saleable streams.

Some polypropylene needle felt designed for exhibition use is being collected and reprocessed back into new carpet.

There are socially responsible enterprise run schemes, usually in urban areas, where used but serviceable carpet is collected, sorted and distributed at low cost. However, the volume processed through this route is currently very small.

Underlay comes in a range of thicknesses and weights: all based around recycled or recovered materials. The three main materials are rubber, polyurethane foam and felt.

Rubber is produced from recovered rubber and is available in a range of thicknesses and hardnesses. While manufacturing offcuts can be recycled, there is no scheme available to recycle offcuts and post use rubber underlay.

24 CFA GUIde To SUSTAINABILITy 2012

There is currently little evidence to suggest that any of the recycling routes for carpet are the best environmental option. To address this the Flooring Sustainability Partnership is working towards a set of Product Category Rules (PCR) that will allow comparative Life Cycle Assessments to be carried out between different end of life processes. The aim is to produce Life Cycle Assessments for each potential end of life option being considered, allowing informed choices to be made regarding future funding of specific carpet recycling schemes.

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Above: Hawthorn Sixth Form Common Room features a floor decorated with recycled carpet tiles from Cleanstream.

Above: This charity shop features a chequerboard-pattern floor that was created using recycled carpet tiles from Cleanstream.

2011: A year of considerable achievement 2011, as has already been noted, was a year of considerable achievement for CRUK and its partner companies. As stated earlier, 66,000 tonnes of carpet were diverted from landfill in 2011, representing an increase in the diversion rate from 10% in 2010 to 16.5% in 2011. The proportion diverted for recycling has thus grown by 15% in one year: from 33% in 2010 to 48% in 2011.

CRUK also supported seven UK based manufacturer members to divert 6,000 tonnes of carpet waste, equivalent to an 85% diversion rate and an increase of 50% on 2010. Of this 6,000 tonnes, the proportion recycled was 5,000 tonnes, with just 1,000 tonnes used for energy recovery. This is preferable as it is a form of recycling that preserves more of the material’s embodied value going forward.

In 2011, CRUK also supported the growth of outlets for end of life carpet. There are now 32 specialist facilities which between them cover a diverse range of options including reuse, recycling and energy recovery.

CRUK sets ambitious targets for 2012 CRUK is continuing to drive the carpet industry in the UK to greater sustainability achievements. It aims, in 2012, to increase landfill diversion by a further 14,000 tonnes to reach 80,000 tonnes via reuse, recycling and energy recovery.

If achieved, this figure will mean that landfill diversion will have reached 20% or twice the level when CRUK was founded. CRUK also aims to increase the number of outlets for reuse, recycling and energy recovery from 32 in 2011 to 40 in 2012.

At the same time it will continue to assist carpet manufacturing members to reach 100% landfill diversion this year, while recruiting additional manufacturing members to build voluntary producer responsibility.

CRUK Re-Use Members Anglo Social is a social enterprise, intended to employ and support autistic adults as volunteers who will clean carpet tiles for reuse. Anglo Social has linked up with Imran Choudhry and Luci Sanderson at Steps in Rochdale. Anglo has recently taken their first trainee from Steps, Jodie Younas, who is settling into the unit at Anglo.

01706 853 513 www.anglosocial.org.uk.

Carpet Tile Recycling cleans and grades used tiles and then re-sells them. The company holds huge stocks of new and recycled carpet tiles in its warehouse: recycled tiles that are both cost-effective and have the benefit of keeping waste costs down. A sister company, Carpet Tile Wholesale, sells new tiles to the trade and public and augments the recycled carpet tiles by acquiring large quantities of redundant stock.

0115 940 4454 www.carpettilerecycling.co.uk Cleanstream’s vision is to provide the best service and price for the recovery and sales of carpet tiles in the UK in order to maximize benefit to the community. Cleanstream Carpets is a one stop shop for the fitting, cleaning and supplying of new, reclaimed and recycled carpet tiles, all for community benefit. All Cleanstream’s recycled carpet tiles are graded.

The stock is constantly changing and available in both small and large amounts. Cleanstream is a social enterprise that is not driven purely by profit and this is reflected in its prices.

Cleanstream also offers a nationwide 'zero waste to landfill' recovery service for unwanted carpet tiles.

'We are delighted that we are providing those who quite often start out with nothing when they move into a new property with at least some carpet. Even if they've spent their community grant all on furniture, we'll help by providing carpets for free in cases of real need' explains MD, Ellen Petts.

01443 683123 www.cleanstreamcarpets.co.uk

Another key stand of CRUK’s activities is to recruit retailers and flooring contractors as members to advocate recycling and support the growth of a collection infrastructure.

Conwy Furniture Reclaim was set up in 2002 to assist local unemployed people back into work and disadvantaged families in the Conwy area by collecting donated furniture and re-distributing it to help local families furnish their homes.

01492 534612 www.conwyreclaim.org

CRUK will also be developing and conducting trials to demonstrate new uses for recycled carpet fibres, while increasing awareness of carpet recycling opportunities across the value chain via PR, case studies and exhibition seminars.

Enterprise Recycling specialises in re-use by sorting, repairing and refurbishing products in order to maximise their life and use. In 2010 Enterprise stopped over 500 tonnes of carpet, furniture and domestic appliances from

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CRUK Recycling Members Blackwater North East Ltd Jim Douglas, Director Thrunton, Whittingham, Northumberland NE66 4SD Collection and recycling of post-manufacture and postconsumer carpets, underlay and tiles.

07590 928653 www.blackwaterltd.co.uk Carpet Recycling Group Ruth Cullen, Sales Manager Barkston Heath Warehousing Complex, Ermine Street, Barkston Heath, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG32 3QG Collection of all types of carpet and carpet tiles nationwide.

Deliveries also accepted seven days a week.

0800 148 8299 www.carpet-recycling.com

Above: The De Vere Village Hotel Manchester Ashton features Flotex Sottsass Woolwas in its state-of-the-art gymnasium area.

entering landfill. Enterprise Recycling is operated by Scout Enterprises Ltd , a charity founded in Bristol in 1984 as a not for profit organisation specialising in helping people who are unemployed and those with health problems or disabilities.

Bristol 0117 963 1006 Reading 0118 988 3844 North Wales 01492 534612 www.enterpriserecycling.co.uk Greenfurb is a young company that recycles typical office waste in an environmentally responsible way. By separating and sorting these waste streams at a warehouse in West London, Greenfurb gives them a new lease of life and prevents energy consumption otherwise needed to break down these materials. Greenfurb operates a nationwide recovery services for carpet tiles, office furniture and pallet racking which are then cleaned and refurbished ready to be used again.

0208 567 6784 www.greenfurb.com Spruce Carpets supplies refurbished carpets that have been industrially dry cleaned, alongside new carpet on the roll and high quality wool carpets in a range of colours and patterns.

Refurbished carpets are also available, which have been industrially dry cleaned.

Working with flooring contractors and property managers, our reclaimed tile stock is acquired via our uplift and reuse service. Spruce Carpets also provides a complete fitting service for any size of carpet, including the provision of underlay.

0141 4251555 www.sprucecarpets.org.uk The Clean Close Company is a social enterprise formed by the Stobswell Forum, Dundee City Council and Local Housing Associations. Since starting trading on in May 2005 with two staff, it now has staff and five vans on the road.

As well as uplifting and disposal of items, and carpet cleaning, Clean Close’s activities now include janitorial services, disaster cleaning, hazard cleaning and house cleans for private landlords and housing associations.

01382 456464 www.cleanclosecompany.co.uk

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Countrystyle Group Kevin Sibley, Commercial Manager Ashford Road, Lenham, Maidstone, Kent ME17 2DL Collection, recycling and recovery of all types of mixed carpet wastes.

0844 880 7700 www.countrystylegroup.co.uk Desso Ltd Keith Hall, Technical Services Manager Hitching Court, Abingdon Business Park, Oxon OX14 1RB Collection and recycling of bitumen-backed tiles for fibre reprocessing and bitumen for roadstone/roofing.

01235 554 848 www.desso.com Econpro WDS Ltd Vittoria Caruso, Administration Manager Unit 7, Arrowe Commercial Park, Arrowe Brook Road, Upton, Wirral CH49 1SX Recycling of bitumen and PVC backed carpet tiles.

0870 961 9102 www.econpro.co.uk ECO2 Enterprises LLP Rob Harper, Senior Partner Phoenix Works, Phoenix Way, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 5SX. Collection and recycling of sorted synthetic broadloom, unsorted synthetic post consumer wool mix, and mattresses.

01282 834981 www.equestriansurfaces.co.uk 4Recycling Limited Paul Gilbert, Director Unit 1a, Caradon Works, Haigh Park Road Stourton, Leeds LS10 1RT Nationwide recycling of mixed carpet waste, cropper dust, shoddy and wool rich process waste.

0113 2322 405 www.4recycling.co.uk Greenback Recycling Ltd Jerry Green, Managing Director The Willows, Allington, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN4 6LZ Nationwide broadloom pre- and post-consumer carpet recycling.

01249 652511 www.greenback-recycling.co.uk Griffiths Waste Management Andrew Wright, Operations Director Former JR Steelworks, Bryntywid, Llangyfelach Swansea SA5 7LE

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Made by Axminster Carpets, Swaledale was billed as possibly the first carbon neutral carpet range on its launch in 2009. The carpet uses wool solely from Swaledale sheep, a hardy breed, with wool that has an inherent amount of grey fibre. This characteristic, which is more pronounced in the lighter shades, gives the carpet a unique look not seen in other ranges.

In order to achieve a carbon neutral status for the 80/20 wool-rich Swaledale, Axminster Carpets underwent an independent assessment of its carbon footprint for all operations. Aspects examined included not only the energy consumed in the manufacturing process at Axminster Carpets, Curragh Carpets and the Buckfast Spinning Mill, but also the carbon emissions associated with sales and distribution. The results are among the lowest in the industry and are set to reduce even more in the near future due to advances in manufacturing technology.

From these figures, Axminster Carpets calculated the amount of carbon dioxide relating to the manufacturing, sales and distribution of the Swaledale range and invested in a number of projects in the UK and around the world including wind and wave power and reforestation to offset all carbon emissions.

Axminster Carpets is committed to its Carbon Neutral Programme which aims to neutralise (or offset) the effects which lead to climate change. It claims to be the first UK carpet manufacturer to offset the carbon emissions associated with a specific range of carpets. Carbon emissions from the manufacturing and distribution process are independently assessed and will be offset by investing in renewable energy projects such as wind power and hydropower plants, verified to comply with the Voluntary Carbon Standard.

Recycling of all types of carpet waste, except tiles, across the whole of Wales and Western England.

01792 795829 www.griffithsrecycle.co.uk H W Martin Waste Ltd Adam Smith, Operations Manager Fordbridge Lane, Blackwell, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 5JY Collection and processing of all types of carpet waste across the Midlands, Northern England and the North East, with deliveries accepted seven days a week.

01773 860600 www.hwmartin.com/recycling MID-UK Chris Mountain, Managing Director The MRF, Caythorpe, Lincolnshire NG32 3EW UK-wide collection of all types of carpet and mattresses, with deliveries accepted seven days a week.

01400 275718 www.midukrecycling.co.uk Recycleworks Dublin Gerry Smith, Managing Director Unit 1, Glenroyal Centre, Straffan Road, Maynooth, Co.Kildare Mixed carpets for recycling across the whole of Ireland.

00353 87 992 0647 www.recycleworks.

Spencer Synthetics Ltd John Spencer, Managing Director Unit L-M, Hud Hey Industrial Estate, Hud Hey Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancs BB4 5JH Nationwide collection and reprocessing of post-industrial carpet waste.

01706 229895 www.spencersynthetics.com Stop Waste 30 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY 2012

Axminster Carpets has also invested in excess of £2 million in a new facility to convert its waste water back to a level where it can be completely reused. The Buckfast Spinning Mill has traditionally used water from the local River Dart to wash wool prior to the spinning process, as well as dyeing yarn. Previously the waste water from the manufacturing processes would be discharged and treated by the local water authority. Now 95% of the waste water will be re-used back into the plant processes, with the residual waste being converted to biofuel. There is a long term plan to use this to power the company’s lorry fleet and manufacturing plant. The company is also investing in a UK tree planting scheme.

Fully commissioned in late 2009, the water recycling plant will handle three million litres of waste water per week. It is specifically designed to allow the mill to use the same water on a continuous basis, with all contaminants removed from the washing and dyeing processes.

The commissioning of this new water treatment plant is part of Axminster Carpets’ ongoing strategy to minimise the impact of its yarn spinning and carpet manufacturing on the environment. The company’s vision is to become the industry leader in sustainable low carbon manufacturing.

Since 2007, Axminster’s manufacturing facility near The Curragh, Ireland has been using exclusively renewable energy. This includes energy from carbon neutral power stations and hydro-electric facilities.

The company also manufactures underlay, called Axfelt,out of the waste material from its carpet manufacturing processes, thereby reducing its waste output by hundreds of tons a year.

Jonathan Quinn, Director 6, Princess Court, 2 Queens Road, Southport Merseyside PR9 9HN Collection and recycling of synthetic and wool rich carpets, Broadloom post-industrial and post-consumer carpets; plus the recycling and re-use of carpet tiles across the North West of England.

07885 775804 www.spencersynthetics.com Waste to Energy b.v.

Peter van Verseveld, Managing Director Tolboomweg 1a, NL 3784 XC Terschuur, Netherlands Europe-wide collection and processing of carpet waste. +31 342 462824 peter@waste-to-energy.nl Wastecycle Ltd Kevan Wilcockson, Recycling Director Enviro Building, Private Road No 4, Colwick Ind Est, Nottingham NG4 2JT Midlands-based energy recovery experts.

0115 9404707 www.wastecycle.co.uk

Information Sources Axminster Carpets Biosfera Flotex The Carpet Foundation National Institute of Carpet & Floorlaying Flooring Industry Training Association Carpet Recycling UK Needlefelt Underlay Manufacturers Assoc

www.axminster-carpets.co.uk www.interfaceflor.co.uk www.forbo-flooring.co.uk www.carpetfoundation.com www.nicfltd.org.uk www.fita.co.uk www.carpetrecyclinguk.com www.felt-underlay.com

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Vinyl recycling volumes more than double in 2011 Poly Vinyl Chloride, better known as PVC, is used in a wide range of building materials from floor coverings to pipes and windows. There is little debate about the material’s durability, flexibility and affordability. However, when it comes to sustainability, few materials have proved more controversial.

Opponents cite occupational health concerns during the manufacturing phase, and the potential release of toxins when PVC is burnt at the end of life. The principle toxins of concern are dioxins - carcinogenic persistent bio accumulative toxins - that can be created during the manufacture and burning of chlorinated materials.

The Healthy Building Network, for instance, has concluded that PVC falls into their list of materials that release PBTs into the environment. The HBN concludes that: "When its entire life cycle is considered, PVC appears to be associated with more dioxin formation than any other single product."

In contrast, The Vinyl Institute (a USA-based trade association) contends that PVC is an extremely small source of dioxin; so small, in fact, that levels in the environment would be essentially unchanged even if vinyl were not being manufactured and used every day in important products.

According to The Vinyl Institute, dioxin emissions have actually halved in the last 30 years even though PVC production has increased by 300%.

The industry also points out that incineration of PVC waste in a properly-operated incinerator has a negligible effect on overall dioxin emissions.

Making the case for vinyl According to studies cited by The Vinyl Institute, PVC’s impacts on the environment are comparable to or lower than most alternatives. A study of environmental life-cycle analyses of PVC and competing building materials by the European Commission found that PVC offers environmental benefits equal to or better than those of other materials in many applications. The USGBC PVC Task Group reached similar conclusions in a report issued in 2004.

In the USA, resilient vinyl flooring that qualifies under the Resilient Floor Covering Institute’s FloorScore programme can be certified to help obtain the Green Building Council's indoor air credit under the LEED rating system. PVC-backed carpet can meet the comparable Green Label programme of the USA’s Carpet & Rug Institute.

As a design aid in this area, The Vinyl Institute offers a tool that enables architects and specifiers to evaluate, compare, and discover the benefits of vinyl products in the sustainable marketplace. This can be found at www.vinylindesign.com.

More generally, the Institute claims many environmental benefits of PVC including low contribution to greenhouse gasses, durability and recyclability. Other positive points are that vinyl doesn't contribute directly to VOCs, with vinyl flooring meeting the most stringent indoor air quality standards.

32 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITy 2012

Waste vinyl flooring being collected at Polyflor as part of the Recofloor recycling scheme co-ordinated by Axion. Pic: www.buildingtalk.com

The Institute also asserts that PVC uses less production energy than many competing products, and 20% less than other plastics. PVC also saves fossil fuels. Its principal raw material, comprising nearly 60%, is chlorine derived from common salt.

PVC building products are also highly durable, which conserves resources. They do not rot or corrode and do not need harsh cleaning regimes.

Vinyl recycling is on the rise However, perhaps the most obvious environmental benefit of PVC is that it is inherently recyclable. Both vinyl flooring manufacturers, and carpet manufacturers using PVC backing, have highly successful recycling programmes in the UK. At the leading edge of this significant sustainability initiative is Recofloor. Founded by leading flooring manufacturers Altro and Polyflor as the UK’s first joint industry-led take-back initiative, Recofloor has now grown to 437 members across the supply chain, from waste transfer stations to flooring contractors and distributors. Nine drop-off sites and 192 new flooring contractors came on board during 2011.

The benefits of this growing network are increasingly clear.

Figures just released show that Recofloor continues to break waste vinyl flooring recycling records with 447 tonnes collected in 2011. This figure is evenly split between smooth offcuts (34%), safety offcuts (33%) and smooth uplifted vinyl (33%). Most significantly of all, the 2011 figure is well over double the 189 tonnes recovered in 2010. In the face of a deep and sustained economic downturn, this is impressive indeed.

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Ease of use and increased awareness, along with regulatory and legislative drivers, are all factors that have contributed to Recofloor’s tremendous success, according to Jane Gardner, of resource recovery specialists Axion Consulting, which manages the scheme.

“Recofloor’s straightforward, cost-effective and efficient collection system has diverted a total of 700 tonnes of waste vinyl flooring from landfill since it was launched in 2009,” says Gardner. “This benefits the environment, reduces members’ waste disposal costs and recycles material back into products, such as new flooring.”

Calculations by Axion show that by capturing and recycling 700 tonnes of smooth and safety vinyl flooring – in preference to using virgin material in new products Recofloor has produced a net reduction of 0.56 million kilos of CO2 emissions. This equates to driving an average family petrol car 1.6 million miles (nearly 67 times round the equator) or taking 138 cars off the road for a year.

“Because Recofloor is flexibly tailored to engage each supply chain sector – from small ‘one-man bands’ to large flooring contractors – this enables recycling of smaller volumes of material that would otherwise be landfilled,” explains Gardner.

“We have increased the number of drop-off sites and collection points around the UK and some members tell us they have reduced their skip sizes as a result of the scheme’s regular waste vinyl flooring collections.”

Recofloor’s website ‘cost calculator’ is a popular feature with members who can calculate their cost-savings by recycling vinyl flooring waste, as opposed to landfilling it. Collectors also gain green credentials which helps them win more business.

Recycling champions will also be recognised in the scheme’s second Annual Awards event to be held at The Building Research Establishment Innovation Park, Watford on 18th April 2012. New categories have been added to reward those collectors who have made significant contributions in 2011 and include Contractor, Distributor and Construction Company of the Year, Greatest Improver, Best Newcomer and Recofloor Champion.

These significant advances in recycling volume and quality should be a subject of considerable pride to manufacturers, contractors and recyclers alike. They are the result of intense, focused and effective action across a broad swathe of countries as well of unusually strong co-operation between otherwise keen commercial rivals.

For instance, it was once considered impossible to recycle safety flooring due to the abrasive nature of the aggregates that provide its slip resistance and durability. As these aggregates are so hard, it was believed that any recycling equipment would wear too quickly and make the recycling process too expensive.

Following significant investment, however, Altro created what is believed to be the world's first in-house safety flooring recycling system. This enables the company to recycle 100% of factory waste PVC, diverting it from landfill.

In 2009, Altro launched what it billed as the world's first products to contain safety flooring recyclate. Altro Walkway/VM20 and Altro Impressionist II/ IP20 contain 10% 34 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY 2012

Post-installation vinyl flooring is recycled at Tarkett's Clervaux plant.

Pic www.architecturetoday.co.uk.

post-industrial waste recycled content in the form of PVC chip. This brings the total recycled content of these products up to 20%.

European recycling framework moves ahead It is not just in the UK that vinyl recycling has made significant progress. It is a similar story across the other large European economies.

Over the past few years, the focal point of these European vinyl recycling efforts has been Vinyl 2010. This body was set up with, what seemed at the time to be, a very ambitious target of recycling 200,000 tonnes of post-consumer PVC by 2010; the engine for which was a voluntary initiative named Recovinyl.

Recovinyl has progressively integrated the collection and recycling initiatives previously directly managed by the EuPC sectoral projects, including EPFLOOR: European PVC Floor Manufacturers. Recovinyl facilitates the collection, sorting, dispatching and recycling of mixed PVC post-consumer waste, mainly from the building and construction sectors.

Recovinyl does not collect or recycle itself, but utilises and motivates existing waste management organisations in the market.

Recovinyl also provides financial incentives to support the collection of PVC waste from the building and construction sector. The aim is to make PVC recycling a mainstream and market-driven activity.

Since its creation, Recovinyl has made a major contribution to realising the exponential growth of the registered volumes of post-consumer PVC being recycled in Europe, starting from 14,000 tonnes in 2005 to 186,238 tonnes (of which 105,705 of rigid PVC and 80,533 of flexible PVC) in 2009.

Today, Recovinyl activity covers Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain, as well as the UK, with 107 active recyclers listed. A website www.recovinyl.com - documents Recovinyl's activities.

After several years, and many ups and downs, Recovinyl reached the end of the road in 2011. Initially Recovinyl was

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supposed to conclude at the end of 2010, but this was extended a further year as to maintain the scheme’sobvious momentum.

As with the UK, Recovinyl has proved a significant success.

The scheme registered 186,000 tonnes of recycled PVC waste in 2009; a figure that rose to 255,000 tonnes in 2010. When the final figures for 2011’s tonnage are available, they are expected to be roughly in line with those for 2010.

The first quarter of 2011 was really good against the comparable quarter of 2010 (65,00 tonnes versus 57,00 tonnes). In the second quarter there was a slight slowdown in volume input, but the total, at 71,000 tonnes, was slightly ahead of the corresponding period in 2010 which recorded 68,00 tonnes.

“For most of our recyclers 2011 will be probably the same or even better than 2010,” reports Recovinyl. “As far as the applications of recycled PVC are concerned, we have not noticed significant difference in balance between rigid and flexible materials.’

Further information on the accomplishments of this voluntary initiative, plus feedback from the PVC industry and European Commission regarding sustainability in waste management are available at www.vinylplus.eu.

Recofloor collection bag for smooth vinyl offcuts

2012 and beyond: new initiatives “Taking into consideration the positive impact of our programme in the past, we are proud to announce that from 2012 on, a new project, under the same name - Recovinyl will be introduced,” states the latest report from European trade body. “It is a completely new concept, based on the idea of creating a pull market.”

So far, Recovinyl’s role was stimulation of collection and recycling activities of PVC waste in return for financial incentives.

The new idea is to stimulate the reuse of the PVC recycled material in production of new PVC applications. The focus will thus be shifted from collection and recycling towards converting activities.

The new Recovinyl concept consists of three main steps: Light, Basic and Advanced The Light module presents a similar approach as before; entering once a month data in the system regarding recycled material. The financial incentives offered per registered tonnage will disappear, however, being replaced by a service contract.

The Basic module is intended for those recyclers who are interested in further co-operation and would like to join the Advanced scheme in the future.

Interested parties should be ready to invest in clear traceability of treated materials. In the coming years the Basic module will disappear, being replaced by the new Advanced contract.

This transitional period between Basic and Advanced modules is designed to give the necessary time for recyclers interested in signing the Advanced contract to implement the required changes and to adjust to the demand of the new system.

38 CFA GUIdE To SUSTAInABILITy 2012

The Advanced formula will, over time, replace the Basic one.

Its target is to create a certified network of recyclers and converters with an extended administration system, focusing mainly on full traceability of the material streams, composition and the material’s final destination. In all three modules the audit will be performed once a year by certified external auditors.

“We hope that the new concept will be accepted by our cooperating recyclers and by new recycles/converters who would like to join the programme in the future,” states Recovinyl.

The industrial benefits of recycling Recycling is of prime importance to the vinyl flooring sector.

Manufacturers report being constantly quizzed about the recycled content of their flooring, and many contractors regularly field similar questions.

Irrespective of any view on a responsibility to recycle, in pure commercial terms, manufacturers and contractors who can deal with these question directly and honestly, and demonstrate exactly their on-going commitment in this area, will be the businesses who impress their clients and, ultimately, win more business. This is particularly important in the public sector where the competition is fierce and the statutory requirements particularly challenging.

To meet this market demand, manufacturers Altro and Polyflor became founding and funding members of the vinyl flooring take-back scheme Recofloor. Waste vinyl flooring collected under the scheme is diverted from landfill and recycled. The scheme accepts uplifted vinyl flooring and post-installation off-cuts. Vinyl flooring material is collected in bags and either picked up by Recofloor or dropped off at any participating flooring distributor or Recofloor drop-off site, located across the UK.

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"PVC is a preferred material in terms of quality, value and environmental safety. It helps others to reach their sustainability goals and is seen as a safe material providing convenience, comfort and high social value as well as having good sustainability credentials. This has been achieved by leadership and commitment from the industry itself working with others in an open and honest way." www.vinylplus.eu The recycled flooring is either used to manufacture new flooring or used to make traffic management products such as traffic cones and road sign bases. The scheme is managed

by Axion Consulting.

The scheme reflects the fact that customers are increasingly keen to see their flooring recycled at the end of life. It also complies with Site Waste Management legislation (requiring all waste to be pre-treated before going to landfill).

Participants receive a certificate of commitment providing them with ‘green credentials’ to show to potential customers and help gain new contracts. A material collection specification is available in Recofloor’s ‘Guidance for Separating Vinyl at Source’ brochure.

Conclusion Despite all these positive recycling initiatives, and some equally strong endorsements within the construction sector, PVC remains a controversial material for the green building movement.

Individual responses to PVC (and indeed many other materials) are largely driven by what environmental impacts individuals consider when evaluating a particular material and how the same individuals weight those impacts.

Some clearly believe that any possible health risks related to dioxin release and exposure overrides any potential benefits; making PVC an unacceptable building material. Others view the environmental health issues in a more holistic manner and conclude that PVC is acceptable, and often preferable, to alternative materials.

The truth of the matter is that no material is 100% sustainable, they all have their own environmental challenges. It is now universally accepted that the only way to compare the environmental impact of competing materials, such as flooring, is life cycle assessment. This method of assessing environmental impact considers the whole life cycle of a product from the manufacture or extraction of raw materials that go into making the product to its eventual disposal at end of life. This is the basis for the BREEAM environmental profiling scheme in the UK. Life cycle analysis, including the one used in BRE's Green Guide to Specification and the study set up by the European Commission, have found, that when manufactured responsibly and viewed over their entire life cycle, PVC-based floor coverings perform no better or worse than competing materials.

BREEAM (The British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), is the most widely used environmental assessment scheme for buildings in the UK. There are many facets that make up an overall BREEAM assessment, one of which is the Materials section. BRE Global Green Guide ratings are based on a cradle to grave life cycle assessment of a product based on a 60 year life span of a building.

40 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAInABILITy 2012

Altro Timbersafe II installation at Domino’s Pizza, Crowborough.

Generic ratings of hundreds of construction products have been published in the Green Guide to Specification. Ratings vary from A+ to E, with A+ being the most desirable with the least environmental impact. Vinyl flooring generally scores highly, typically A+. Given this external endorsement, plus the impressive strides taken in the recycling arena, it is little wonder that vinyl flooring is confident it its future.

Axion Consulting T: 0161 355 7618 W: www.recofloor.org Appricod British Plastic Federation European Plastics Converters European Plastics Recyclers Instituto do PVC PlasticsEurope European PVC industry

www.appricod.org www.bpf.co.uk www.plasticsconverters.eu www.plasticsrecyclers.eu www.institutodopvc.org www.plasticseurope.org www.vinylplus.eu

Background Resilient flooring represents 10% of the UK flooring market with an estimated annual market size of over 30 million square metres. They are all thin floorcoverings which are applied over a smooth continuous substrate to produce an impermeable decorative finish. They are used in both domestic and commercial areas. There are four major types of flooring represented in the sector: vinyl, linoleum, rubber and synthetic thermoplastic. All these flooring types can be recycled but need to be separated first.

Vinyl flooring is supplied in either sheet or tile form. It is produced by heating together PVC resin with plasticisers to give flexibility, pigments to provide colour, stabilisers to ensure stability to heat and light and mineral fillers to improve the properties and reduce the cost.

In 2007, the market size was approximately 26 million m² of which 42% is considered domestic and 58% contract. Of the contract market, 62% is believed to be safety flooring. The total value of the market was estimated to be £271 million.

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waste carrier with the environmental regulator and record their waste carrier registration number on the SWMP. All sites receiving waste have an appropriate permit, licence or registered exemption from the environmental regulato. Record these details (including the permit or licence reference number) on the SWMP. Also check waste carriers with your environmental regulator, either the Environment Agency, Northern Ireland Environment Agency or Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. You can find licensed waste sites in your area by using WRAP's Waste Directory.

Step 6 – Organise materials and waste

Nine steps towards better site waste management Effective site waste management planning (SWMP) is simple if the nine steps outlined in the WRAP SWMP Template V2 are followed carefully.

Step 1 – Plan and prepare Start the SWMP during the concept and design stage of the project. Design decisions can contribute to waste prevention and reduction. Record all decisions about the project design, construction methods or materials that will minimise the waste produced on site. Ensure all measures taken to reduce waste are recorded. Schedule time to prepare the SWMP while the construction work is being planned.

Step 2 – Allocate responsibility for the SWMP Several people can be involved in delivering a SWMP, but someone must be appointed to take overall responsibility of the plan. This will be the client in the pre-construction phase, but responsibility may transfer to the principal contractor when construction starts. One person should always be in charge of the plan and responsible for updating it. That person needs to clearly understand their responsibilities and have the authority to ensure that others cooperate. The client and the principal contractor must sign a declaration that they will handle materials efficiently and manage waste appropriately in line with their duty of care.

Guidance on operatives’ duty of care waste responsibilities can be found on the WRAP website.

Step 3 – Identify the waste

Make significant savings by carefully planning the materials required. Avoid over-ordering to save money and reduce site waste. Pre-order materials to specification at the design stage to reduce waste created from off-cuts and reduce labour costs.

Consider using recycled or previously used materials wherever possible. Record all the decisions made to minimise waste, such as the construction methods and materials to be used.

Step 7 – Communicate the plan and carry out training Once a plan has been formed, communicate it to others, especially subcontractors. Keep the SWMP on site. Make sure everyone working on the project knows where to find it. Make sure that all workers on site have the right training and information to carry out their work according to the SWMP. Explain to staff and contractors why the SWMP is important.

Include SWMP information in the site induction, and provide regular updates. If required, develop a training programme to ensure everyone understands how to report waste and material use. Ensure that everyone is aware of the importance of asking for and recording the correct paperwork, receipts, destinations for materials, etc. Train workers on the importance of not mixing wastes or contaminating skips. Designate skip areas and label skips clearly. During the project, carry out spot checks and monitor your staff regularly to make sure they are following procedures. Appoint a ‘site champion’ with the authority to make sure that everyone sticks to the plan.

Step 8 – Measure your waste and update your SWMP Once your project is underway ensure the SWMP is updated regularly. Keep track of all movements of waste within and from the site. Record the types of waste taken, who removed the waste and where they took the waste. Keep waste documents as an appendix to the plan and make sure it is updated with the totals of waste handled to reflect the progress of the project.

Identify the types and quantities of waste that the project will produce. Work out in advance what materials will be used at every stage of the project, estimate how much waste will be produced and set realistic targets for how much of that waste you can reuse, recycle or dispose of. Use a data sheet or table, if necessary, including the waste hierarchy, onsite and off-site options for handling the waste, and any special arrangements for hazardous waste. Use the data sheet at the planning stage of the project and then throughout the project, for example to report weekly or monthly summaries.

Step 9 – Review and learn lessons

Step 4 – Identify how to manage the waste

If the project is in England with an estimated construction cost of over £500,000, then compare the estimated and actual quantities of each waste type and then estimate the cost savings achieved by following the plan.

Work out the best options for recycling and disposing of all the types of waste produced. Know where, when and what sort of materials can be reused, recycled or disposed of both on-site and off-site. Store and dispose of all waste responsibly. Save time and money by segregating wastes as they are generated. Keep signed waste transfer notes (WTNs) or consignment notes for all waste that is disposed of or transferred from site. Keep WTNs for at least two years and consignment notes for at least three years.

Step 5 – Identify where and how to dispose of waste Know where and how the waste will be disposed of. If using a waste disposal contractor ensure they dispose of it safely and legally. Check that anyone transporting waste is registered as a 42 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABIlITY 2012

By the end of the project the SWMP should give an accurate record of how the materials have been managed on site and whether waste management targets have been met. If the project is in England with an estimated construction cost of between £300,000 and £500,000, within three months of the project being completed the principal contractor must add more information to the plan to confirm the plan has been monitored and updated on a regular basis and to explain any changes from the original.

Information from the plan may prove useful for future construction projects. The results could be sent to staff and customers to inform everyone involved in delivering the SWMP about its value, impact on the cost of the project and benefits to the environment; or used to help plan future projects.

This information was based on NETREG's 'A simple guide to SWMPs'

W: www.constructionrecycling.co.uk W: www.wrap.org.uk

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Linoleum: Manufactured in a closed loop cycle Linoleum has long been a favoured flooring surface among the hard green community. And there are many good reasons why. For a start, linoleum is durable and easy to care for, as well as being sound-insulating and soft underfoot. It is also a completely natural product that derives its wear characteristics and longevity from the fact that its colours and patterns are embedded into its structure during construction.

Linoleum is made from renewable raw materials such as linseed oil, resin, wood flour, cork flour and jute. It is also manufactured in a closed loop cycle, meaning that all waste can be recycled at every stage in the process.

Linoleum flooring waste can also be incinerated safely, producing thermal and electrical energy from renewable sources.

Linoleum is also carbon-neutral. The CO2 produced in the incineration process is the same or less than the CO2 absorbed during the growth of the various plants used to make the linoleum, such as flax, wood, cork, resin and jute.

New surface treatments add another environmental benefit.

Tarkett, for instance, offers Linoleum xf: a surface protection that claims to provide superior resistance as well as easy cleaning and maintenance.

You’re thinking truly sustainable flooring

www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/yourthoughts

linoleum

vinyl

carpet tiles

flotex

creating better environments 44 CFA GUIdE TO SUSTAINABILITy 2012

entrance systems

The sustainable specification website - www.greenspec.co.uk - finds five positive aspects to linoleum and only two negatives. The plus points are that the material is recyclable, a renewable resource, non toxic, durable and biodegradable.

On the negative side its cites CH4 emissions and Eutrophication; both derived from fertiliser used in linseed production.

GreenSpec has calculated the embodied energy for a variety of flooring materials. The embodied energy (carbon) of a building material can be taken as the total primary energy consumed (carbon released over its life cycle). This would normally include extraction, manufacturing and transportation.

The figures included in GreenSpec’s table are an abbreviated adaptation of a survey published by the Sustainable Energy Research Team of the University of Bath in 2008. The figures are based on analysis of publicly available information.

Material Linoleum Marble Sawn hardwood Cork insulation Vinyl flooring PVC (general) Terrazzo tiles Ceramic tiles Carpet tiles (polyamide) Wool carpet

Energy

Carbon

Density

MJ/kg

kg CO2/kg

kg /m3

25.00 2.00 10.40 26.00 65.64 77.20 1.40 12.00 279 MJ/m2 106.00

1.21 0.116 0.86

1200 2500 700 - 800 160 1200 1380 1750 2000 4.6kg/m2

www.greenspec.co.uk/embodied-energy.php

2.92 28.1 0.12 0.74 13.7/m2 5.53

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A study by Carillion into hospital flooring options concluded: “Linoleum is inherently bacteriostatic and feels nicer under foot as it is a natural product and, therefore, is well suited for use within hospital patient areas. Integrated coving solutions and multi-coloured welding make linoleum a complete solution where high hygienic standards are required.

Linoleum can be renovated and repaired in case of damages or accidents, extending its useful life. Linoleum is also compliant to all existing indoor air emission regulations.”

The BRE’s Green Guide offers the following environmental assesment of plain and decorative linoleum.

Summary Rating Water Extraction Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Ecotoxicity to Freshwater Ecotoxicity to Land Fossil Fuel Depletion Photochemical Ozone Creation Kg of CO2

A B A+ D C A+ A+ 44.0

Climate Change Mineral Resource Extraction Human Toxicity Nuclear Waste (higher level) Waste Disposal Eutrophication Acidification

B A+ A+ E A+ A+ A

An eco audit by Prof Manfred Hegger of Darmstadt University concluded that the material ... “ is produced largely from renewable and safe raw materials. Quantitative analysis proves that this is a floor covering with a long life, the environmental impact of which is extraordinarily small and virtually impossible to minimize further.”

Information Sources United Kingdom Resilient Flooring Association 01273 329797 European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers Institute www.erfmi.com

Julie Dempster Marketing Manager at Forbo Flooring Systems, sets out some of Forbo’s sustainability policies and commitments “With so many manufacturers claiming to be green, it’s easy to become overwhelmed when looking for sustainable flooring products. More and more customers are asking for environmentally friendly products and, for contractors, it is becoming increasingly difficult to decide what to recommend.”

“A good starting point is to look for manufacturers that demonstrate a clear commitment to the four Rs: Reduce, Renewable, Reuse and Recycle. Companies that apply these guiding principles focus on improving the environmental performance of the entire product chain: from reducing the amount of raw materials used to recycling pre-consumer waste into the manufacturing process.

“This is the cornerstone of Forbo’s environmental approach and is fully backed by comprehensive Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), which are completely independent studies that prove products have been thoroughly assessed and endorsed by external parties. Independent Life Cycle Assessment studies (LCAs) are crucial in measuring a product’s true eco-credentials. The studies investigate the environmental impact of products from cradle to grave - from materials, pre-processing, production, distribution, installation, use, maintenance and recycling to disposal. LCAs therefore allow all environmental aspects to be taken into consideration.”

“Forbo’s company ethos of ‘creating better environments’ permeates every part of its business and is evident in the numerous steps the company has taken to improve its environmental performance. Many of Forbo’s ranges are produced using high levels of recycled materials and re-engineering of many of the product lines is underway to reduce the raw materials used at the outset, while linoleum products such as Marmoleum are already manufactured from natural, renewable materials.”

“Marmoleum is one of the most sustainable flooring products available and is made predominantly from natural, rapidly renewable raw materials including linseed oil, rosin, wood flour, limestone, pigments and jute.

Marmoleum contains 97% natural raw materials, 70% of which are rapidly renewable, and has a 40% recycled content. It is also naturally biodegradable and fits perfectly in sustainable building concepts, as it is BRE A/A+ rated and has been specified within BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated projects”.

“Reducing waste is also of paramount importance and in 2010 Forbo saw an increase in the amount of product waste that it was able to both reuse and recycle – reaching almost 80%. If the waste that is used to produce energy is also included, this figure is approaching 95% with only 5% of Forbo’s product waste reaching landfill.

Also Forbo have been taking back back Vinyl and Marmoleum installation waste for several years, in order to recycle it back into the manufacturing process.”

Forbo’s use of renewable electricity continues to grow – now accounting for more than 86% of the total electricity the company’s manufacturing facilities consume. This has helped Forbo reduce its carbon footprint still further. More at www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/environment

We’re thinking 97% natural raw materials 70% rapidly renewable 40% recycled content The flax flower that produces linseed oil used in the manufacture of marmoleum

Your thoughts. Our knowhow.

Marmoleum. 12 independent Eco-Labels and BRE A/A+ ratings*.

For more information visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/yourthoughts or contact us on 0870 122 1463.

See us at stand S630

*Generic Green Guide Rating

CFA GUIDE To sUsTAInABILITy 2012 45

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Left: Mandarin Stone is a Welsh-based company importing natural stone from all over the world. Recently they have looked to source stones closer to home and now offer two Welsh slates, Classic Welsh Blue Grey (left) and Classic Heather. The natural 'riven' texture of Welsh slate offers a classic flooring choice.

Adhering to the code also involves monitoring purchasing practices and internal operations, including energy and transport, to ensure best use of natural resources and minimum environmental impact; developing relationships with suppliers, customers, contractors and relevant third parties to discuss and promote improvements in environmental performance; and seeking to incorporate environmental considerations into future decision-making at all levels.

Stone: An indigenous source of longevity Stone is a highly durable, low maintenance building material with high thermal mass. It is versatile, available in many shapes, sizes, colours and textures, and can be used for floors, walls, arches and roofs. But is stone a sustainable building solution? There are currently over 400 building stone quarries in the UK, more than enough to meet current demand, but with a growing influx of cheap, imported stone and synthetic imitations, the industry is under threat. To meet sustainability standards, steps must be taken to ensure that the stone is found on site, reclaimed from nearby demolished buildings or sourced from a local stone quarry.

Only then can stone be considered a true example of a sustainable building material.

As sustainability has moved centre stage, Stone Federation members have recognised that their operations impact upon the environment and, therefore, endeavour to ensure that the potential harmful effects of their actions are minimised wherever practicable. Stone Federation members are committed to considering and conserving the environment during the course of their activities. To achieve each member company’s objectives, staff, partners, stakeholders and customers should follow a sustainable course.

To quantify this course of action, the Stone Federation has published a code of pratice that enshrines this sustainable approach. This code dictates that Stone Federation members are committed to identifying and complying with all relevant legal requirements; striving to attain a satisfactory balance between economic, social and environmental responsibilities; reducing energy usage in all areas of the business where possible; minimising the amount of waste produced by reducing, reusing and recycling; ensuring careful and responsible disposal of any waste produced according to legislation requirements; and endeavouring to source materials from sustainable resources wherever practicable.

At the same time Stone Federation members are charged with ensuring awareness amongst all employees of the importance of environmental issues, and providing training appropriate to their responsibilities. They also have to ensure that their activities are safe for employees, associates, delegates and others who come into contact with their work.

46 CFA GUIdE TO SUSTAINABILITy 2012

State of the Trade survey While sustainability has grown in importance, the most recent survey of Stone Federation members found that price has become the most important factor for architects and local authorities when awarding contracts involving the use of natural stone, often at the expense of the quality of work.

The suggestion is made in the survey that contracts are awarded on price, even if the lowest price seems unrealistic, and that not enough architects and authorities are insisting on the use of Stone Federation members with the skill and expertise they bring to a job.

Most of the companies responding to the survey were based in the South of England, followed by London and then the Midlands. Turnover was greatest in London, followed by the South and then the North of England with the Midlands dropping to fourth place. There appears to have been a slight fall in turnover this year among some companies classified as "supply only" although the majority say they expect future business to be "steady".

The majority of companies report spare capacity although there are mixed messages about the future with an equal number forecasting a future increase or decrease.

One bright spot is that 42% of companies report increased enquiries with a further 39% stating "no change". Only 19% reported a decrease in enquiries. This is tempered by the fact that 96% report tender prices either decreasing or remaining constant.

Members complain that UK suppliers have to complete more paperwork than overseas companies - health and safety requirements being partly responsible - and claim this is "unfair competitive tendering."

The survey found little change in the generic stones requested by clients and that situation is expected to remain unchanged in the future, although price is identified as the key reason why change could happen.

In total 92% of respondents saw sustainability and ethical sourcing as medium to high priority issues.indication of its likely future development.

Information Sources Stone Federation Great Britain 01303 856123 enquiries@stonefed.org.uk www.stone-federationgb.org.uk

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The delicately carved surface of Nora’s new Norament 926 Crossline range was developed by Lars Contzen. The range plays with light and shadow and strong harmonies of colour. The range is environmentally sound (Blue Angel). Part of the Nora System Blue concept, it is free of PVC, plasticizers (phthalate) and halogens (chlorine). The range is very hard-wearing, featuring a dense and closed surface typical of Nora rubber floor coverings.

It also benefits from Nora Cleanguard for simple maintenance. The products is also dimensional stabile, comfortable under foot, permanently resilient, anti-static and resistant to cigarette burns. It also provides high footfall sound absorption.

Norament 926 Crossline is based on high-grade industrial and natural rubber qualities that are free of PVC plasticizers and chlorine-organic compounds. Nora stipulates that the rubber it uses fulfils the strictest quality and ecological specifications. Nora also insists that its suppliers are certified in accordance with ISO 9000 and ISO 14001 standards. Testing of the raw materials is complemented by regular verification by independent institutes.

Nora Flooring Systems UK Ltd T: 01788 513160 E: info-uk@nora.com W: www.nora.com/uk W: www.nora-crossline.com/uk

Rubber: Natural selection It’s a common misconception among specifiers that modern

produced, over seven kilos of carbon dioxide are absorbed by the mature rubber trees used to make it. This is around seven times more efficient than linoleum, which is made from linseed plants, while PVC, as a synthetic, achieves zero carbon sequestration.

rubber flooring is a ‘natural’ product. In fact, virtually all the rubber flooring on the market today is made from synthetic SBR. In environmental terms, synthetic rubber compares quite favourably with its main competitors, which are PVC and linoleum.

True rubber flooring is made from sap (latex) tapped from natural rubber tree. It is a 100% renewable resource, founded on environmentally attractive land use regimes.

Rubber flooring is easy to install and maintain, is anti-static and provides effective sound insulation and vibration reduction. Rubber flooring is also resistant to fading and cigarette burns. However, the majority of rubber flooring is made from synthetic rubber. They thus vary in their degree of sustainability dependent upon the choice of additives, source of the rubber, recycled content, transportation costs and impacts, and a number of other variables.

CFA member, Nora Flooring Systems, for instance, offers a range of rubber flooring options that do not contain any PVC, plasticizers (phthalate) or halogens (e.g., chlorine). The absence of PVC, says Nora, guarantees its floors will not generate any hydrochloric acid, dioxins or furans.

Extremely tough and hard wearing, Nora’s sustainable rubber floors are said to have a life expectancy far above the average of other resilient floor coverings. A long life expectancy means conservation of resources, both of the actual flooring products and of the accessories required to install them. The dense, no-wax surface also ensures the infrequent need to renew, replace or dispose of Nora rubber floors.

All the leading manufacturers point out that natural rubber is a wholly renewable raw material, and that rubber trees are exceptionally efficient at carbon sequestration – the absorption of harmful CO2 from the atmosphere. Dalsouple has calculated that for every square metre of DalNaturel 48 CFA GuIDE TO SuSTAINABIlITy 2012

Rubber is also easy to recycle, not just once but several times, with many potential applications. All these factors, combined with an energy efficient production process and long service life, contribute to an environmental life cycle performance that is worlds away from existing products.

Rubber receives its resilient properties during processing. It remains resilient due to vulcanization and returns to its original form after deformation.

Dalsouple goes back to nature With sustainability high on the design agenda, Dalsouple recently decided to improve the environmental profile of its products, by going ‘back to nature’. Dalsouple has been a specialist manufacturer of rubber products since the 1940s.

In these early days, all production used natural rubber.

However, in the 1960s, Dalsouple moved away from natural rubber to synthetic rubber alternatives. Given the simpler manufacturing processes of the time, SBR was cheaper, easier to process and offered more consistency and colour uniformity.

Dalsouple’s major pitch at the green specifier is DalNaturel; which the company promotes as “the new generation natural rubber floorcovering.” Manufactured to the same exacting performance standards as Dalsouple’s standard synthetic products, and available in virtually all of the 80 colours and 30 textures in the Dalsouple range, DalNaturel boasts over 90% natural ingredients.

A rubber tree is usually around 25 metres tall and has a life of around 30 years. Plantation trees are planted to a density of

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Above: When Kingspan Off-Site’s Lighthouse, designed by Sheppard Robson, was launched at BRE’s Innovation Park it was billed as the most advanced house ever produced for mainstream construction. With annual fuel costs of just £30, Lighthouse has pushed the boundaries of modern housing design to become the first to achieve Level 6 of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes.

Gilbert McCarthy, Managing Director of Kingspan Off-Site, explained: “This super insulated, airtight building has been designed to provide a way of living that encourages lifestyles that are inherently ‘light’ on the world’s resources.”

This demonstration project was designed to show that it is possible to have a home that is architecturally striking and still achieve the highest level of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes (Level 6). It has a simple barn-like form, derived from a 40° roof accommodating a PV array. The sweeping roof envelops the central space: a generous, open-plan, top-lit, double height living space, with the sleeping accommodation at ground level. The living space uses a timber portal structure to enable floors to be slotted between the frames or left open as required.

It is constructed using Kingspan’s TEK Building System of high performance structurally insulated panels, which provided a thermal insulation performance of 0.11 W/m² K: reducing the heat loss to potentially two thirds that of a standard house. The upstairs study and stairways featured a green rubber flooring by Dalsouple. The Lighthouse was deconstructed in 2011.

Above: Green Lighthouse is Denmark's first public carbon neutral house.

The house was built in less than a year in a close public/private partnership.

The partners are the University of Copenhagen, Velux, Velfac, the Danish University and Property Agency and the City of Copenhagen.

Green Lighthouse located at the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen and serves as a one-stop-shop where students advice on their studies, exams, etc.

Green Lighthouse was built by a consortium consisting of Hellerup Byg, Christensen & Co. Architects and COWI. The building is cylindrical in order to ensure the ideal conditions between minimum surface and maximum volume. The cylindrical shape and adjustable façade louvres allow light to twist around the building following the sun. In this way, the optimal generation of energy is ensured. The sun is the house’s main energy source. Cooling of the building is made possible with natural ventilation and thermo-active concrete floors that absorb the heat. Natural ventilation takes place through the upper part of the windows that open and close automatically in order to allow fresh air to enter; no electrical powered systems are therefore needed. Solid construction and heavy-duty insulation of walls and roof reduce heating demand. Energy for basic lighting is generated by the building itself, while the roof is tilted South and covered with solar cells and solar panels.

Dalsouple’s natural rubber flooring in smooth DalUni, colour Bleu Pale, was installed in this innovative eco building project.

up to 500 trees per hectare. A hectare of rubber trees can produce 800 sq. metres of DalNaturel per year, or 2.2 sq.metres per day. What’s more, at the end of their productive life, old trees provide high quality wood used for construction, furniture and luxury goods.

As has been noted earlier, rubber trees, with a functioning lifespan of up to 30 years, are extraordinarily efficient at extracting CO2 from the atmosphere; a process known as sequestration. This, combined with modern energy efficient factory production processes, makes the environmental case for using natural rubber flooring very strong.

Since the move away from natural rubber all those years ago, explains Dalsouple, improvements in manufacture now ensure that a natural rubber floor can offer the same consistent quality and performance as its synthetic counterpart. This means that DalNaturel is suitable for a wide range of contract and residential installations. It is tough, anti-slip and burn resistant, but feels soft and warm underfoot. It has excellent noise absorption properties, yet is dust free, hygienic and easy to maintain.

“We firmly believe that DalNaturel is the most environmentally-friendly and sustainable resilient floorcovering in the world!”, states the company.

All manufacturers now place great emphasis on their environmental performance. Yet, despite a burgeoning mass of data, it is enormously difficult to make valid comparisons between different materials. Each manufacturer is selective in the information released, and the measurements used.

And, by and large, they are simply measuring existing products that were designed years ago in a different environmental climate. While improvements can be achieved, they will inevitably be gradual and marginal.

50 CFA GuIDE TO SuSTAINABILITY 2012

Hard wearing and easy to maintain Leading manufacturer Nora stresses the many practical benefits of rubber flooring, in particular an extremely long life that compares favourably to other resilient floorcoverings.

It is for this reason that rubber floorcoverings are often specified for high use areas such as airports. A long life also means that resources are saved thanks to relatively less frequent modernisation and disposal.

Nora also notes that the dense and closed surface typical of rubber floorcoverings facilitates easy and economic cleaning.

These advantages also have a very positive effect on the price/benefit ratio, especially when it comes to longer periods of use.

Rubber flooring is also slip-resistant, pleasantly warm under foot, permanently resilient, and combines high walking comfort with good footfall sound absorption (with typical values of up to 20 dB).

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Rubber floors are also resistant to cigarette burns, classified as flame-retardant and generally do not contain any PVC, plasticizers (phthalates) or halogens, such as chlorine.

This means that in case of fire, no hydrochloric gas is released which can lead to caustic burns of the respiratory tract and which might form hydrochloric acid when combined with fire fighting water.

A new future for old tyres Worn vehicle tyres are a notoriously intractable waste problem. However, old tyres can be recycled or reused in many ways, including as residential flooring. This is carried out at specialist tyre recycling facilities where tyres are shredded and ground into small pieces, before being further processed to produce the liquid material used for the floor.

Each tyre is made up of numerous components, typically rubber and carbon black at 58%, steel wire at 41% and then a varieties of chemicals, including polyester, at less than 1%.

The rubber, polyester and carbon black are all extracted for processing into rubber flooring. Tyres are shredded and ground into small particles known as rubber crumb. This is then conveyed under an electromagnet, removing the pieces of steel reinforcing wire. The crumb is then passed through a set of screens which graduates them into different sizes, while air is injected removing nylon, fluff and lighter materials.

Rephouse is a leading manufacturer of rubber flooring systems with more than 25 years’ experience in both production and installation all over the world. Rephouse’s commercial rubber flooring is durable enough to withstand heavy use in high traffic areas yet offers, at the same time, flexibility and permanent resiliency to ensure a comfortable floor for offices and public areas.

Rephouse also offers sports and playground flooring that is designed to reduce the risk of injury. Its modular rubber safety tile flooring is a great alternative to hard surfaces and is available in both tile and paver patterns.

Rephouse rubber products also include an acoustical underlay for hardwood flooring providing sound absorption as well as thermal insulation properties. All of Rephouse's rubber flooring products are environmentally friendly and fully recyclable.

The photograph shows the Mars Restaurant in Mumbai with its striking purple NeoFlex floor.

EXF Perform Better Europe T: 01473 734100 W: www.exf-fitness.com

The crumb is then ready for melting. This is achieved by heating crumb in a steel cauldron. This liquid rubber can then be poured into non-stick containers and allowed to cool, ready for reheating and laying as a rubber floor. Dyes can be added, depending on the choice of colour required.

The liquid rubber is then pumped from the heating pot onto the floor and spread evenly, allowing the liquid to find its own level. Once solidified, the rubber floor can then be buffed up to give a superior non-slip surface, or patterns can be cut into the floor using grinding tools.

Typical of the new generation of tyre recyclers in the UK is Crumb Rubber. Following investment from The Una Group and Foresight Group, Crumb opened its state-of-the-art in 2007.

Crumb Rubber aim is to produce significant volumes of controlled high quality rubber crumb and powder, to help increase profit margins at rubber and plastic manufacturing companies. This is achieved by substituting high quality recycled rubber powder for a percentage of the virgin material content. Not only does this help boost profitability but, in many cases, can even improve the mechanical performance and aesthetic qualities of the finished product.

Customers can also support their sustainability objectives by using our products as they are derived from end of life vehicle tyres.

Produced specifically for Kimpton Flooring, KimStud 2.6mm thick studded synthetic rubber tiles are chemical, cigarette burn and slip resistant. The tiles are made by a leading Italian manufacturer and meet all current EEC fire and safety requirements. They are warm, sound absorbent and come in a variety of bright modern colours that will visually enhance any commercial or domestic location.

T: 029 2086 2086 W: www. kimptonflooring.co.uk

Crumb Rubber T: 0845 111 4556 W: www.crumb-rubberuk.com Dalsouple T: 01278 727777 W: www.dalsouple.com Nora Flooring Systems UK Ltd T: 01788 513160 E: info-uk@nora.com W: www.nora.com/uk CFA GUiDE TO sUsTaiNabiliTy 2012 51

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2011 witnessed a drastic decline on the North american market. annual sales decreased from 41 million sq. metres in 2010 to 27 million sq. metres. In 2010, the USa recorded sales of 24 million sq. metres. This declined to just 13 million sq. metres in 2011. There has also been a decrease in the Canadian market, down to 13 million sq. metres in 2011, compared to with 17 million sq. metres in the previous year.

In asia, European manufacturers sold roughly 11 million sq. metres, which marks a slight increase in sales. This can be attributed to markets, such as Israel and Iran. The Chinese market also saw slight growth. South america remains stable at 16 million sq. metres, with the Chilean, Mexican and argentinian markets all performing well.

In conclusion, 2011 saw the laminate flooring market stabilise further and continue to offer great sales opportunities. Western Europe has found its equilibrium at comparably high levels, while the Eastern European market also shows signs of consolidation.

Above: Sonic by Egger typifies the popularity of metallic effects.

Laminate: Consolidation and technical advances The economic crisis has been weathered and the international laminate flooring markets are consolidating.

That is the view of the European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF), the trade association that represents the lion’s share of European laminate. Regarding sales, the detectable upward trend of the previous year has been solidified, states EPLF, and even though a slight decline was recorded in global sales, 2011 will go down as one of the best years in the history of EPLF. In 2011, the 22 member companies of EPLF achieved global sales of 468 million sq. metres of European-manufactured laminate flooring: a 4 % drop in the global sales of EPLF member companies.

The EPLF’s core Western European markets were stable in 2011, with a miniscule 1% fall in sales. In absolute figures, sales have dropped from 302 million sq. metres in 2010 to 299 million sq. metres in 2011.

Germany remains the largest single European market, with sales of 80 million sq. metres. Turkey lies in second place with million sq. metres. Sales in France have remained stable with 41 million sq. metres. Ranked fourth in terms of sales, Great Britain recorded its first sales growth for years with 30 million sq. metres, up from the previous year’s 29 million sq. metres. The Netherlands took fifth place with sales of 21 million sq. metres.

In 2011, the European producers of laminate flooring sold 103 million sq. metres (previous year: 109 million sq. metres) in Eastern Europe: a fall of 5.5 %. Poland was the largest market at 26 million sq. metres, just ahead of Russia at 25 million sq. metres. Other significant Easter European markets ain 2011 were Romania (9 million sq. metres), Ukraine (8 million sq. metres), and Hungary (6 million sq. metres).

52 CFA GUIdE TO SUSTaINaBILITy 2012

“We are not bursting with joy, but we can be content,” stated EPLF President, Ludger Schindler in december 2011. “Even though new floor coverings continue to be put on the market, laminate flooring is always able to assume a dominant role.”

Extreme Surfaces is the hot ticket The European laminate flooring industry is characterised by its innovative strength and technical expertise. The current buzz phrase in the market is “Extreme Surfaces” and this is expected to be a key feature of trade fairs throughout 2012.

With modern print methods, such as embossed-in-register and digital printing, the colours of surfaces are altered and achieve unparalleled levels of authenticity.

One obvious result has been the marked aesthetic improvement in stone decors, which up until now have proved less popular with the consumers than wood-effects and other mainstream laminate designs.

Creative decors continue to be the domain of the leading laminate flooring manufacturers, who are now starting to explore the true potential of digital printing. However, not every manufacturer has chosen this development path: it is a business decision that depends on the strategic orientation of each company.

The EPLF’s member companies’ achievements in research and development are supported by the association’s continuous work on standards in Brussels (CEN) and Geneva (ISO). In 2011, a large project of the Technical Committee included a contribution to the revision of EN 14041, the so-called CENorm.

The goal is to revise the standard in respect to the integration of ecological parameters, such as VOC-threshold levels. VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are fleeting organic bonds that can be found in all building products and are emitted into the air. The revision is based on the existing legal guidelines pertaining to VOC-threshold levels, which is rooted in the approval procedures of the building inspectorates.

The process as a whole has not yet been concluded.

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Above: Concrete by Witex typifies laminate’s contemporary appeal.

Above: Painted wood by Haro shows the development of timber decors.

However, the development of a system to represent emission levels on product packaging has made significant progress.

The revised draft standard is scheduled to be released by the end of 2012.

the natural wood on which they were modelled. However, this cannot only be said about wooden decors, but also about today’s stone designs.

Finally, work on the ISO standard for laminate floorings, in which more than 20 countries worldwide are involved, continues to move forward. It is important to European manufacturers that the system of performance classifications found in ISO draft standard EN 13329 is included and updated in the ISO standard.

In 2011 EPLF undertook an extensive market survey, analysing the image that the consumers in three core markets - Germany, France and Poland - have of laminate flooring.

For this project, EPLF co-operated with Deutsche Messe, the company behind the Woodflooring Summit at Domotex 2012. The study confirmed that laminate floors are popular with consumers in all three countries, while architects expressed a more critical attitude towards the product, especially in Germany.

One important fact to come out of the study is that consumers are becoming more aware of the quality of laminate floors. This, in turn, is reflected in their willingness to spend more money on them. This ties in with the goals of EPLF and its member companies, since increased quality awareness adds value to the product’s perception, which further promotes the image of laminate flooring.

Other EPLF activities In addition to statistical analysis, the focus of the association’s committee is the provision of targeted expert information to EPLF member companies. This includes information on markets and products, the association’s policy, economic law, future developments and much more. In 2012, a mood barometer of the EPLF member companies will be developed to gauge the developmental trends of the coming years.

2012 laminate flooring design trends The new laminate floor designs for 2012 reflect a neverbefore-seen variety of extreme surface finishing styles that allow the creation of unusual designs. They all share an authenticity of optical and colour effects, which frequently even lets the floors appear more interesting and life-like than 54 CFA GuIDE TO SuSTAINAbILITy 2012

While pine is generally considered to be a pale wood, one of the clear trends in laminate flooring today is the use of pine effects in medium brown shades, some with subtle white effects.

Another popular wood species is elm, an expressive wood with dark beige tones. The modern slant emphasises these darker tones alongside reddish brown effects.

The new generation of ultra-realistic stone effects has been made possible by embossed in register technology and novel methods of surface treatment. Coloured, bleached, etched, whitewashed, oiled, waxed – there is a large range of possibilities available today to modify decors.

The goal is always to give surfaces that little something extra, thus increasing the quality of the decor and the laminate floor. Against this backdrop, stone decors, which have been far less popular than wooden decors, will receive a lot of attention in 2012. Slate, marble or granite – the current generation of stone effects stand out due to their natural designs and expressive textures.

Textured surfaces are also a key attribute for wood-effect laminates. Along with that popular all-rounder, oak, softwoods, such as pine, lark and elm, will be increasingly in the limelight in 2012, but featuring altered colours and modified designs.

The design extremes are also applied to formats. The country-house plank, with or without a V-joint, remains en vogue. However, it can be found more and more often as long or narrow planks.

The trend is moving toward decors with a consistent pattern direction, which creates a particularly homogenous, elegant appearance of the floor. Three-strip planks are also regaining popularity, but reflect a completely different perspective than before, as part of the new surface designs.

For tile designs, large, rectangular formats are preferred, which create a spacious effect in larger areas. However, the new surfaces not only polarise in terms of format, but also in their degree of glossiness . Completely matt or high gloss are both fashionable. For instance, elm wood with modified colours in a matt oiled finish may well become the trendsetter of 2012. It remains to be seen, however, if it will usurp the predominant place of oak.

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Above: Frosted Oak by Berry is one the new generation of wood effect laminates that stand out due to their natural designs and highly expressive textures.

Creative metal and textile surfaces

High wood content scores well

Metal and textile decors are another hot design trend for 2012. These fashionable finishes come in large square or rectangular tile formats that are perfectly suited for places such as loft apartments or offices. Full advantage of the versatility of metal designs is taken with zinc, chrome and copper tones and simulated aged effects.

Thanks to its high wood content, laminate flooring scores well in terms of using renewable resources and global warming potential in particular, because wood produces CO2, a greenhouse gas, during plant growth. At a time when increasing numbers of public and private buildings all over the world are being certified for their sustainability, EPDs are becoming increasingly significant for the construction industry. They will form a part of the European construction materials ordinance which will be binding for all manufacturers in the EU.

Textile decors are now widely available in many different grey tones, which are particularly striking when used in combination with white furniture. The popular black and white theme of the interior design world remains current.

Other creative decors impress with geometric or floral designs in strong pink, neon green, blue or black and white; once again made possible by modern digital printing.

First EPDs for laminate published The first EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) for laminate flooring have just been published on the IBU website (Institut Bauen und Umwelt) at www.bau-umwelt.de.

The EPLF produced the EPDs last year in collaboration with the Aachen-based TFI Textiles & Flooring Institute, paving the way for more sustainability in the floor coverings industry.

There are three sample EPDs for DPL (direct pressure laminate), HPL (high pressure laminate) and PDL (direct print laminate) flooring, which cover most of the products manufactured by the EPLF’s members.

An EPD provides details about the ecological impact of construction materials and is a key basic document for sustainable building for architects and planners. It contains detailed information about the entire life cycle of a product with regard to the use of renewable and non-renewable resources, the global warming potential, the ozone depletion potential, acidification and eutrophication in water and ground-level photochemical ozone production, also known as summer smog. For laminate flooring, production, installation, cleaning, care, disposal and recycling are considered in detail.

56 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITy 2012

In the USA and many Western European countries, there are already certification systems for sustainable building, e.g.

LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in the USA, BRE Building Research Establishment in Great Britain and HQE Haute Qualité Environnementale in France.

In Germany, the DGNB Deutsche Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen e.V. has been awarding quality seals in gold, silver and bronze since last year. The architect who plans and constructs a building can refer to the EPDs of individual construction materials, such as floor coverings, to see how they affect the environment. He adds up the values which have been calculated for all the construction materials using the same pattern, thereby producing a sound sustainability assessment.

The laminate flooring EPDs just completed are among the first EPDs in the floor coverings industry to be available in Europe. Those published to date include Balsan Re.Source tufted, loop-pile carpet tiles; Desso Carpet tiles 100% PA6; Egger Laminate Flooring; and Egger Direct Print Laminate Flooring as well as the EPLF’s generic EPDs for DPL, HPL and DLP laminates.

Information Sources European Producers of Laminate Flooring www.eplf.com European Federation of the Plywood Industry www.europlywood.org North American Laminate Floor Association www.nalfa.com

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Sustainability: Sourcing the wood from the trees When specifying hardwood floors, the issue of sustainability is both critical and controversial. While there are many reliable sources of information and established timber certification schemes, such as FSC and PEFC, recently there have been several high profile cases where illegally-logged timber has found its way into the UK flooring supply chain, despite manufacturers and distributors signing up to these schemes.

There are also concerns among some producing nations, most vocally the USA, that green building initiatives like LEED, have an in-built structural bias in favour of imported FSC-certified timber at the expense of established, wellmanaged, indigenous forests.

A further argument - and one with considerable justificationis that the environmental credit system used by some green building evaluation and certification systems, places longestablished sustainable materials, such as timber, at an unfair disadvantage against some newer materials.

Thankfully, reputable and well-researched guidance is readily available. One such source is The Global Forest & Trade Network’s (GFTN) Guide to Responsible Purchasing of Forest Products (http://gftn.panda.org/practical_info/timber_buyer). This publication is now supported by web pages, which are searchable and easier to maintain, allowing GFTN to continue to offer the best advice available, as well as offering numerous links to other websites that offer greater depth to the understanding of aspects of responsible purchasing of forest products.

The GFTN’s interactive Guide to Legal and Responsible Sourcing combines the wisdom previously contained in GFTN’s resources on legality and responsible procurement into a single, more in-depth resource to help companies navigate the complex and fast-changing regulatory and legislative landscape governing trade in timber and timber products. This online resource is a vital tool to anyone who purchases forest products, including processors, importers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.

Features of this interactive tool include comprehensive and integrated advice from GFTN’s Guide to Responsible Purchasing of Forest Products and Keep It Legal manual. It also includes a never before published set of national indicators and verifiers for legality - GFTN’s Common Legality Framework - that is comprised of several broad principles of legality, each supported by individual criteria and indicators linking the principle to existing legislation The site also has new guidance on addressing legality in major timber producing and exporting countries, with a particular focus on developing countries with high biodiversity forests where illegal logging and trade are known to be a significant concern The site offers the ability to print and bookmark specific sections of interest and search a number of key terms, enabling the user to both easily access the overall concepts and drill deeper on specific issues 58 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINAbILITy 2012

Above: Kahrs’ Oak Siena provides a calm appearance but still features a certain degree of variation in the grain. This three-strip oak floor has a matt lacquered finish.

The site also offers instant access to other online resources, thereby offering a greater depth to the understanding of aspects of responsible purchasing of forest products

Chain of Custody certification The next step after implementing a responsible purchasing policy, and eliminating illegal timber, is to obtain a thirdparty verified Chain of Custody certification. A CoC certification is a guarantee that the timber / timber products originate from a legal and well managed certified forests.

In the USA and Europe there have been many significant developments in certification and chain of custody and GFTN has responded by enhancing the advice available regarding legality. The guide lays out a generic approach for the development and implementation of a responsible purchasing policy. The original paper versions of these two guides are still available as PDF downloads.

For most flooring specifiers, contractors and distributors, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the primary source of environmental information on timber, even if it is only as a badge of quality on flooring stocks.

The FSC is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation that promotes the responsible management of the world’s forests.

Established in 1993, FSC provides internationally recognised standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies, organisations and communities interested in responsible forestry.

The FSC logo and on-product labels have become the globally trusted mark for businesses and consumers looking for sustainably-sourced forest products.

In some countries as much as 80% of the timber is harvested illegally. FSC challenges this by promoting environmentally

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appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management.

FSC has defined 10 principles and associated criteria that describe how forests have to be managed to meet the social, economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual needs of present and future generations. FSC’s standard-setting process is designed to be transparent, democratic and inclusive.

FSC does not issue certificates itself. The certification process is carried out by independent organisations called certification bodies. This allows FSC to remain independent from the assessment process and supports the integrity of the FSC certification system.

Certification bodies assess forest management and chain of custody operations against FSC standards. Each certificate holder is audited at least once a year and must fully comply with FSC requirements to achieve and maintain FSC certification.

FSC is nationally represented in more than 55 countries. By 2010, there were over 120 million hectares of FSC-certified forest in over 80 countries around the world: roughly 5% of the world’s production forests. FSC forest management certification is a way of ensuring that a forest manager’s or owner’s, careful and long-term forest management is recognised. To sell material from an FSC certified forest with the FSC logo, the forest manager must also achieve FSC chain of custody certification.

FSC chain of custody is engineered to facilitate credible tracking of FSC material from the forest, through all the

production processes, to the retailer and consumer. Only FSC Chain of Custody certified operations are allowed to label products with the FSC trademarks.

The second major source of information on sustainable timber is PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), the world's largest forest certification organisation. With two-third's of the world's certified forest managed in compliance with PEFC's Sustainability Benchmark, PEFC offers the widest supply of certified timber globally, providing companies with choice and availability.

PEFC International is an umbrella organisation that endorses national forest certification systems developed through multi-stakeholder processes and tailored to local priorities and conditions. PEFC is dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification. PEFC UK Ltd, a member of PEFC International, was established in 2000.

PEFC works throughout the entire forest supply chain to promote good practice in the forest and to ensure that timber and non-timber forest products are produced with respect for the highest ecological, social and ethical standards. With the PEFC eco-label, specifiers and contractors can readily identify products from sustainably managed forests.

With about 30 endorsed national certification systems and more than 220 million hectares of certified forests, PEFC claims to be the world's largest forest certification system.

A huge variety of PEFC-certified softwood and hardwood

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60 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY 2012

entrance systems

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timber is available from an extensive network of merchants and suppliers including: Western Red Cedar, European Larch, Douglas Fir, European Redwood, Beech, Cherry, European Oak, American White Oak, American White Ash, Finnish Spruce and Birch.

Black Walnut, Cherry and White Oak are perfect for highspecification flooring. Certain innovative modified woods, such as Accoya, are now also PEFC-certified.

World’s largest Life Cycle Assessment Another valuable source of information is the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). The Council recently commissioned what it is billing as probably the largest Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study ever undertaken in the international hardwood sector from Consultants PE International The study should provide fresh ammunition for AHEC in its battle for hearts and minds in the sustainability debate. The AHEC, while supporting FSC certification for wood products, argues that FSC has apparently failed to fully address the very issue it was created to solve, that of tropical hardwood deforestation. While most softwood supplies and plantation wood fibre can now be sourced with a FSC certificate or similar scheme, only a relatively small amount of global hardwood is certified, claims AHEC. The AHEC says that FSC has yet to effectively adapt its standard to work for small non-industrial landowners. The AHEC argues that although FSC certification for US

USA-based Schlabach Woodworks used reclaimed wood from an old Ohio barn to create this stunning hardwood floor.

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Government’s timber procurement policy requirements in practice. In addition, it provides information for everyone involved in production, purchasing and trading of timber and timber-derived products on both the EU Timber Regulation (which will be applicable as of March 2013) and the FLEGT regulation.

The TTF, CPET and WWF produce a local authority timber guide called, 'Where does your timber come from?' that offers advice on setting up and implementing a timber procurement policy which is in line with the UK Government policy. As local authorities are major buyers and users of timber this is an important initiative which can further strengthen efforts to ensure responsible timber sourcing throughout the UK.

EU bans illegally-logged timber Above: Maple flooring by Versatile Wood Floors.

hardwoods is still the exception rather than the rule, this does not mean that all these hardwoods are unsustainable.

AHEC points out that 50 years of extensive data collection shows that growth has exceeded harvest by 2 to 1.

On a European level, the most important trade body is probably CEI-Bois, the European Confederation of woodworking industries, was founded in 1952 and represents the interests of the European woodworking industry, which includes more than 350,000 companies generating an annual turnover of 180 billion euro and employing around 2.4 million workers in EU27.

The primary goal of CEI-Bois is to further the interests of the European wood sector and to this end, it aims to influence EU policy-making. It is the main body representing and defending the interests of the European woodworking and furniture industries towards the European Union.

The day-to-day management of CEI-Bois is performed by the secretariat in Brussels, supported by a number of working groups dealing with sustainability, competitiveness and construction issues. Additional ad hoc working groups are established when needed.

Government procurement boost The UK Government's 2016 targets for zero carbon new housing is a continuing challenge and the impending EU legislation totally banning illegally harvested timber and timber products from the EU market in 2013, should prove a significant driver to the specification of sustainable timber and boost general awareness of forest certification schemes.

The Central Point of Expertise on Timber Procurement (CPET) website provides online information on how to meet the UK Government’s Timber Procurement Policy, the EU Timber Regulation and the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation. CPET is funded by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and is operated by Proforest, an independent company with wide experience in responsible purchasing.

The CPET website has detailed information and advice on how public sector buyers and their suppliers can meet the UK 62 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY 2012

The drive towards sustainable timber sourcing received fresh impetus when, in summer 2010, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to pass legislation banning the import and sale of timber obtained through illegal logging. The parliament voted 644-25 in favour of the legislation, paving the way for the rules to come into effect from 2012.

This will close a loophole that has made it possible for European firms to import and sell timber that has been logged illegally in countries such as Brazil and Indonesia.

According to WWF, the trade is worth up to £700 million a year, with up to a fifth of timber imported into the EU alleged to come from illegal sources.

Under the new regulations, all companies importing and selling timber in the EU will be required to demonstrate that they have exercised adequate due diligence to ensure their timber has been felled legally.

European environment commissioner Janez Potocnik welcomed the passage of the legislation, arguing that the regulations marked a significant step towards tackling illegal logging. "Combating illegal logging will bring environmental and development benefits, " he said. "With this, we are sending a signal to the world that the EU will no longer serve as a market for illegally harvested timber."

He added that the new rules would also strengthen the EU's hand as it seeks to work with developing countries to implement forest governance and protection schemes.

The vote was welcomed by environmental groups, many of which have waged a decade-long campaign to outlaw the import of illegal timber. "At long last illegal timber and products made from this wood will no longer end up in UK shops," said Sarah Shoraka, forests campaigner for Greenpeace. " And that's not just good news for the forests, it's also good news for British consumers too, because no one wants to play a part in destroying the last remaining rainforests."

However, green groups also counselled that it will be up to individual member states to enforce the new regulations, and advised that robust policing and hefty fines will be required to ensure imports of illegal timber are reduced.

"Now we need to make sure that this law becomes more than just a piece of paper, with penalties that act as a deterrent to criminals," Shoraka said.

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The vote was also welcomed by London-based campaigning charity the Environmental Investigation Agency which has been at the forefront of efforts to curb deforestation for more than a decade. For more information on illegal logging, visit the EIA’s website, listed at the end of this article.

The BRE’s Green Guide gives 14mm solid hardwood flooring with underlay (element 821580003) an A+ overall rating, with A+ also achieved for climate change, water extraction, mineral resource extraction, stratospheric ozone depletion, human toxicity, ecotoxicity to freshwater and land, waste disposal, fossil fuel depletion, eutrophication, photochemical ozone creation and acidification.

TRADA revises its timber LCA

Above: Reclaimed Parquet Flooring from www.ecoflooringuk.com.

TRADA Technology has revised its Wood Information Sheet Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a process of compilation and evaluation of inputs, outputs and potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its lifecycle.

FEP estimates that the total wood flooring consumption in the EU/EFTA area has stabilised at around 95 million sq. metres, with growth especially on the German, Austrian, Swiss and Swedish markets. Some other important countries are still facing difficulties, athrough there were first indications of a slow but gradual recovery in Spain.

Many industries, rather than simply responding to increasingly stringent regulation, are now actively seeking to develop more environmentally benign products and processes. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the best known tools for assessing the environmental impact of activities. LCA accounts for material energy and waste flows associated with a product from ‘cradle to grave'. Assuming that high quality and representative data are fed into the model, LCA can offer a credible assessment of the burden placed on the environment.

This Wood Information Sheet describes the background and applications of LCA, its limitations and various methodologies and tools, both generic and constructionspecific. It explains the role that carbon footprinting plays in demonstrating timber's outstanding carbon credentials.

TRADA members may download Life cycle assessment in PDF format from the TRADA bookshop free of charge. The cost is £12.00 for non-members.

TRADA Technology stresses that Life Cycle Assessment is different to Life Cycle Costing (LCC), which is a financial decision-making technique that takes into account initial and future costs. A separate WIS 4-31 explains LCC in the context of timber components and complete buildings.

TRADA is also a rich source of specification information.

TRADA Technology’s team of expert timber technologists have access to an extensive, up to date and continually growing library of technical information that covers timbers from aba to zundu and most of those in between. TRADA regularly provides advice and information to suppliers, clients, specifiers and contractors on the selection, specification and selection of “lesser-known” timber species help to ensure that, where these timbers are used, the risk of problems or failures are eliminated.

2011 wood flooring statistics FEP, the European Federation of the Parquet Industry, estimates that European wood flooring consumption in 2011 remained stable in comparison with the previous year. The general picture, however, was not uniform, with the market performance changing considerably from country to country.

64 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY 2012

“Under the circumstances, the overall performance of our industry is commendable. Parquet is very much alive and one can only hope that the promising results attained by certain countries will gradually spread to other regions as well thereby contributing to the much desired uniformity in the FEP territory”, stated FEP President, Lars Gunnar Andersen.

Raw material availability and related cost evolution, as well as the persisting fierce competition with products from Asian countries, remain the main concerns for European wooden flooring producers.

“Nonetheless, and in spite of the shaky recent economic indicators of the European Commission, the resilience, creativity and innovative edge of the FEP member companies,” says Anderson, “as well as the top quality of European parquet, fuel the conviction that our industry is very much up to the challenges it has been facing for the past few years and will emerge a winner when it comes to the crunch.”

Information Sources AHEC BM TRADA Certification Canadian Standards Association (CSA) CEI Bois CITES CPET EIA (Environmental Investigation Agency) FEP, European Parquet Federation FIRA International FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) GFTN (Global Forest & Trade Network) Malaysian Timber Certification Council PEFC Proforest SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) TRADA and TRADA Technology

www.americanhardwood.org www.bmtrada.co.uk www.csa.ca www.cei-bois.org www.cites.org www.cpet.org.uk www.eia-international.org www.parquet.net. www.askfira.co.uk www.fsc.org http://sourcing.gftn.panda.org www.mtcc.com.my www.pefc.co.uk www.proforest.net www.aboutsfi.org www.trada.co.uk

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Information Sources: Ideas, Inspiration and Advice FLOORING American Hardwood Export Council 020 7626 4111 www.americanhardwood.org The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) is the leading international trade association for the US hardwood industry, representing the committed US hardwood exporters and the major US hardwood product trade associations. AHEC runs a worldwide programme to promote the full range of American hardwoods in over 50 export markets. AHEC Europe, established in London in 1988, serves Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa, providing promotional assistance and technical information on American hardwoods.

Ascer: Tile of Spain www.spaintiles.info Ascer (Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers of Spain), founded in 1977, promotes the interests of the ceramic tile industry in Spain.

BCTC: British Carpet Technical Centre 0113 239 5263 www.bttg.co.uk BCTC provides an extensive range of product testing and certification services.

British Standards Institution 020 8996 9001 www.bsigroup.com BSI Group is a leading business services provider to organisations worldwide, offering a range of services for management system certification, product testing and certification, and standardisation. BSI operates in a range of sectors including building and construction.

Carpet Foundation 01562 755568 www.carpetfoundation.com Supported by many of the UK’s leaning manufacturers, The Carpet Foundation aims to be the consumer’s definitive guide to carpets and carpet retailers. The Foundation also drives the wool rich quality mark.

Carpet Recycling UK 0161 440 8325 www.carpetrecyclinguk.com Carpet Recycling UK has been set up to address the barriers to recycling carpets. CRUK does not offer carpet recycling services directly, but works to ensure that carpet recycling services will be offered across the UK as quickly as possible. It aims to stimulate end markets for carpet recyclate through technical research and promotion to key industrial sectors; encourage a competitive carpet recycling industry within which highest environmental value technologies are supported; and expand the range of collection channels.

Ceram Research 01782 764428 www.ceram.com Ceram is a global expert in materials testing, analysis and consultancy, providing customised solutions that can help customers to measurably improve performance and profitability through safer, regulatory-compliant and betterengineered products.

66 CFA GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY 2012

Construction Products Association 020 7323 3770 www.constructionproducts.org.uk www.constructionproducts-sustainability.org.uk The Construction Products Association represents the UK’s manufacturers and suppliers of construction products components and fittings. It acts as the voice of the construction products sector representing the industry-wide view of its members. Everyone who belongs to one of the 43 trade association members, including the CFA, is a member of the Construction Products Association.

Confindustria Ceramica: Tiles of Italy www.confindustriaceramica.it www.italiatiles.com Formerly known as Assopiastrelle, Confindustria Ceramica is the trade association representing Italian manufacturers and exporters of ceramic tiles. It is a major source of information for this important industrial sector in Italy.

Contract Flooring Association 0115 941 1126 www.cfa.org.uk The Contract Flooring Association was formed in 1974 by the amalgamation of three flooring associations: The Floor Covering Contractors Association, whose members specialised primarily in smooth floor coverings: the Association of Flooring Contractors (hardwood flooring) and the Carpet Planners Association. The CFA’s membership, therefore, consists of contractors engaged in the installation of all floor finishes, including in-situ floorings and sub-floor screeds, as well as manufacturers and distributors of flooring materials, adhesives and accessories: plus flooring consultants.

Contract Flooring Journal 01892 752400 www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk The official magazine of the Contract Flooring Association, CFJ is the UK’s leading flooring title, renowned for its editorial independence, extensive news coverage, in-depth features and authoritative technical articles.

The Cork Industry Federation 0871 231 3400 www.cork-products.co.uk The Cork Industry Federation is an association of companies involved in the importation, manufacture and distribution of cork products in the UK and for export. The Federation seeks to uphold quality standards within the industry and to promote the use of cork in its many different applications.

The CIF has recently created an educational website www.planetcork.org - designed for use in schools.

European Producers of Laminate Flooring www.eplf.com Representing the major European laminate flooring manufacturers, the EPLF promotes the image of laminate flooring as a product, provides information for end users and dealers, champions innovation and quality; and regulates the market through its work on standards. EPLF also runs a consumer-focused website - www.mylaminate.eu/en - that promotes the benefits of laminate flooring to homeowners.

European Federation of the Parquet Industry www.parquet.net The European Federation of the Parquet Industry (FEP) unites

Europe’s national parquet federations, parquet manufacturers and suppliers to the industry. It is the main body representing and defending the interests of the European parquet industries. The primary goal of FEP is to strengthen and improve the position of wood flooring against other floor covering products, as well as to enhance the growth, prosperity and stature of the European parquet manufacturing industry.

European Federation of the Plywood Industry www.europlywood.org The main objective of FEIC is to deal with the questions with which the European plywood industries are confronted, especially to defend the common interests of its members before international bodies and, if necessary, before national authorities; collect and disseminate economic and technical information of interest to the sector; and support professional institutions to carrying out scientific, technical and economic research of interest to the plywood industry.

European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers’ Institute www.erfmi.com ERFMI represents the interests of the resilient flooring industry in ensuring the maintenance of high ethical standards within the industry. It represents the industry in negotiations with government departments, public bodies, trade associations, non governmental organisations and similar bodies in the European market on matters relating to the resilient flooring industry. It also promotes the preparation of international standards, specifications and classification systems and their adoption.

FeRFA 01252 714250 www.ferfa.org.uk FeRFA, the Resin Flooring Association, represents the major product manufacturers, specialist contractors and surface preparation companies, raw material suppliers and specialist service providers within the UK resin flooring industry.

Fibre Bonded Carpet Manufacturers Association 0161 761 5231 The Association represents the manufacturers of bonded fibre floor coverings by the needlepunch process. It is involved in the technical, as well as the commercial, aspects of the industry and is represented on BSI committees and internationally with CEN and ISO. The Flooring Industry Training Association 0115 950 6836 www.fita.co.uk FITA was set up and is fully supported by the CFA and NICF to provide training for the floorcovering industry. FITA has a fully equipped training centre at Loughborough where the majority of standard courses are run. FITA also has the use of a training facility in Manchester which is used for some of the Safety and Smooth (Commercial) Vinyl Fitting Courses.

Malaysian Timber Council 020 7222 8188 www.mtc.com.my The Malaysian Timber Council was established in1992 to promote the Malaysian timber trade and develop the market for timber products globally, to promote the development of the timber industry by expanding the industry's

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Information Sources: Ideas, Inspiration and Advice manufacturing technology base, increasing value-adding in production and increasing the pool of knowledge workers; and to protect Malaysian timber's global image.

National Carpet Cleaners Association 0116 271 9550 www.ncca.co.uk Established in 1968, the National Carpet Cleaners Association is an independent UK trade body dedicated to the cleaning of carpets, hard flooring, upholstery, curtains and other soft furnishings. The principal objective of the NCCA is to establish and maintain minimum standards within the carpet and upholstery cleaning industry, with the dual aim of safeguarding the reputation of the industry and protecting its customers, both domestic and commercial.

National Federation of Terrazzo, Mosaic & Marble Specialists 0845 609 0050 www.nftmms.org The Federation is the only national body serving the interests of terrazzo in the UK. It was formed in 1933 by contracting practitioners keen to maintain and improve the standards of craftsmanship and technical control on which the industry depends. Those founding aims remain to this day and apply equally to mosaic and marble. Technical advice and assistance with specifications is freely given, with detailed specification sheets covering terrazzo, marble and mosaic available for the serious user. A technical inspection service is available for architects, contractors and clients alike.

Representation is maintained on all BSI relevant Code of Practice Technical Committees.

NICF: National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers 0115 958 3077 www.nicfltd.org.uk NICF promotes excellence in the fields of domestic carpet, laminate, resilient, timber and vinyl tile fitting. It aims to offer its members and relevant industry organisations a range of benefits, products and services that will progressively enable a relevant, self-financing organisation to attract the majority of qualified, highly skilled carpet and floorlayers in the UK to its membership.

National Specialist Contractors Council 0844 249 5351 www.nscc.org.uk The National Specialist Contractors' Council (NSCC) brings together the common aims of specialist trade organisations within the construction industry and is the authoritative voice of specialist contractors in the UK. Needlefelt Underlay Manufacturers Association 0161 761 5231 www.felt-underlay.com NUMA is the British Needlefelt Underlay Manufacturers Association. The aim of NUMA is to promote the benefits of felt underlay, allowing consumers to make a better informed choice when selecting their carpet and underlay combination.

North American Laminate Floor Association www.nalfa.com In 1997, a group of US and Canadian laminate manufacturers and importers joined forces in an effort to promote

continuous and responsible growth within the laminate sector as NALFA. Today it is the only North American trade association dedicated to the laminate flooring industry. In 2008, NALFA became an accredited ANSI standards developing organisation and published testing and performance criteria that are a benchmark against which all laminate flooring can be measured.

Satra 01536 410000 www.satra.co.uk Satra is a long-established testing house, well known in UK flooring circles for its work on slip resistance and related topics.

The Stone Federation of Great Britain 01303 856123 www.stone-federationgb.org.uk The Stone Federation is the official trade association for the natural stone industry. The Federation co-ordinates all aspects of the industry and provides specifiers and users with a first point of contact for information, advice and guidance in sourcing an appropriate material and a reliable service. The Federation represents employers, liaises with government on legal affairs, health and safety, technical standards, craftsmanship, training and education. It aims to provide a one-stop shop for product information, technical guidance and advice on all aspects of specifying and working with stone. The Stone Federation has an Executive which formulates the strategy for the Federation and meets three times per year.

Contact Flowcrete UK: T: 01270

753 000

E: uk@flowcrete.com W: www.flowcrete.co.uk

The

GREEN Floorzone

With ‘The GREEN Floorzone’ from Flowcrete UK, you’re just five steps away from a sustainable floor build-up...

1

Decorative Floor Finish

2

3

Isocrete Floor Screed

Underfloor Heating

4

5

Acoustic Insulation

Project Management

The GREEN Floorzone delivers a flooring surface that:

Includes up to 60% recycled material.

Contains OPC-free floor screeds.

Delivers cost-saving & lifecycle efficiencies.

Provides thermal energy-savings of 30%.

Can assist in obtaining BREEAM points.

Comes under one manufacturer’s warranty.

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Information Sources: Ideas, Inspiration and Advice The Tile Association 020 8663 0946 www.tiles.org.uk Formed in January 2000, The Tile Association represents the whole of the UK wall and floor tile industry under one organisation.

The Tile Council of North America www.tileusa.com The Tile Council of North America is an international trade association dedicated to expanding the market for ceramic tile manufactured in North America.

Tile & Stone Journal 01892 752400 www.tileandstonejournal.com The official magazine of The Tile Association, TSJ is the UK’s leading magazine for the ceramic tile and dimensional stone industry. It is read by retailers, contractors, distributors, manufacturers and agents and has won international awards for its highly-respected editorial coverage.

TRADA: Timber Research and Development Association 01494 569601 www.trada.co.uk TRADA is an internationally recognised centre of excellence on the specification and use of timber and wood products.

UKRFA: United Kingdom Resilient Flooring Association 01273 329797 UK trade association for the manufacturers of resilient flooring.

Underfloor Heating Manufacturers Association 020 7993 3000 www.beama.org.uk/en/energy/underfloor-heating/ UHMA is the UK trade association for all forms of radiant heating. UHMA's objectives are to set and enforce standards of technical excellence for materials used, design and installation; provide a forum for the exchange of technical expertise and experience between organizations in the industry; and disseminate the results of research into technical aspects of UFH; and promote awareness of underfloor heating and cooling in the UK and to provide information to professionals within the building industry.

SUSTAINABILITY Association for Environment Conscious Building www.aecb.net The AECB is a network of individuals and companies with a common aim of promoting sustainable building. It brings together builders, architects, designers, manufacturers, housing associations and local authorities, to develop, share and promote best practice in environmentally sustainable building. The AECB develops and publishes standards for sustainable building, and delivers training, including on the use of the Passivhaus standard and design tool.

Existing Homes Alliance www.existinghomesalliance.org.uk A partnership, collaborating to transform the UK housing stock. Alliance members work together to lobby government, engage with stakeholders and also to demonstrate best practice.

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UK Green Building Council www.ukgbc.org A membership organisation campaigning for sustainable construction, UKGBC includes businesses involved in planning, designing, constructing, maintaining and operating buildings; plus NGOs, academic institutions and government agencies.

Good Homes Alliance www.goodhomes.org.uk Group of housing developers and building professionals dedicated to meeting GHA Code requirements, which are Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3++ or the equivalent of Ecohomes Excellent.

International Sustainability Alliance www.internationalsustainabilityalliance.org In 2009, a group of leading real estate organisations approached the BRE Trust to work together to form an alliance to carry out benchmarking and sharing of knowledge using the Trust’s BREEAM In-Use database system. This group has become known as the International Sustainability Alliance and is dedicated to achieving a more sustainable built environment through the use of environmental assessment methods.

Passivhaus Institut www.passiv.de www.passivhaustagung.de Based in Germany but with an International reputation, the Passivhaus Institute has developed, and manages, the Passivhaus standard for low-energy building design.

Passivhaus Trust www.passivhaustrust.org.uk Not-for-profit organisation established by AECB to create a centre of excellence for the Passivhaus standard in the UK. www.passivhaustrust.org.uk Sust: The Lighthouse on Sustainability www.sust.org Scottish-based sustainable design portal including database of eco materials, products and services supported by The Lighthouse on Sustainability, The Ecological Design Group and SEDA. In November 2009, the Sust. programme became part of Architecture and Design Scotland's new Glasgow office, based at The Lighthouse in Mitchell Lane. Sust.org provides a unique web resource, giving access to a wide variety of information, resources and guidance on sustainability. While parts of the site are aimed at professionals such as architects and designers, other sections are more general and will be of interest to anyone wanting to know more about this subject.

The site brings together an overview of some of the key projects that Sust. has supported since its inception in 2002 with a focus on assisting the delivery and mainstreaming of sustainable buildings and places.

Ska rating www.rics.org/ska www.ska-rating.com Ska rating is an environmental assessment tool for sustainable fit-outs. It helps organisations achieve more sustainable fit-outs. Anybody interested in fitting out an office building in a more environmentally sustainable way can use the method to carry out an informal self-assessment of the environmental performance of their fit-out; commission a quality assured assessment and certificate from an RICS accredited Ska assessor; obtain clear guidance on

good practice in fit-out and how to implement it; and benchmark the performance of fit-outs against each other and the rest of the industry.

Sustainable Homes www.sustainablehomes.co.uk Sustainable Homes promotes awareness of sustainable development issues and good practice, and encourages housing associations to adopt sustainable policies and practices. It works with affordable housing providers, private developers and government to raise the benchmark for sustainable housing in the UK. Usable Buildings Trust www.usablebuildings.co.uk Charity that promotes better buildings through the more effective use of feedback on how they actually work. UBT is a partner in the Soft Landings Framework published by BSRIA (www.bsria.co.uk). This is designed to provide the structure for project teams to stay engaged after project completion to ensure that occupiers understand how to control and best use their new work environment.

WWF Global Forest and Trade Network-UK 01483 426444 www.wwf.org.uk The mission of WWF's Global Forest and Trade Network-UK (GFTN-UK) is to improve the management of the world's production forests by using the purchasing power and influence of UK businesses. GFTN-UK was founded in 1991 and has 40 participating companies. GFTN-UK also produces the Guide to Responsible Purchasing of Forest Products, Now in its second edition. The guide lays out a generic approach for the development and implementation of a responsible purchasing policy. It is aimed at any medium-size or large enterprise, including primary mills, secondary processors, importers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, that purchase or procure forest products.

FURTHER READING Guide to sustainable procurement in construction In the next 40 years, the world’s population is likely to double.

In theory this is good news for the construction industry because all those extra people will need homes, schools, workplaces and infrastructure.

But the world is of finite resources and, within 40 years, many of the natural resources that are taken for granted such as oil, water, some base metals and minerals, will be in very short supply.

This guide explains how to realise clients’ ambitions and mitigate reputation risks through more effective management of the supply chain. It recognises that some key principles apply and that the British Standard for sustainable procurement (BS 8903) can be used as a generic standard.

The main aim of this guide is to illustrate the breadth of procurement requirements, and as such this guide will help industry professionals to make their contribution to the sustainability agenda.

ISBN: 978-0-86017-695-4 Authors: C Berry and S McCarthy Number of pages: 150 (paperback) Publisher: CIRIA Date of publication: March 2011 www.ciria.org

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Information Sources: Ideas, Inspiration and Advice RECYCLING Construction Recycling Alliance www.constructionrecycling.co.uk The Construction Recycling Alliance is a new umbrella organisation that represents companies within the construction industry who are dedicated to reducing, reusing and recycling unwanted material. It aims to support its members by sharing innovative recycling techniques, disseminating guidelines and regulations, as well as liaising with policy makers at local, regional and national levels.

ESA - Environmental Services Association www.esauk.org The Environmental Services Association supports and promotes the waste and resource management industry. ESA works with politicians and regulators to bring about a sustainable system of waste and resource management for the UK. The ESA represents companies that collect the waste produced by households and businesses across the UK, treat this waste and, increasingly, turn a large percentage of that waste into new resources and energy for the nation. Ten years ago, over 75% of Britain's waste went to landfill. Today that figure is below 50%. While the logistics of collection and transport still matter, the industry has developed a range of technologies to treat waste and extract value from it.

Innovation is a constant feature of modern waste management and ESA aims to be at the forefront of the debate about waste prevention and recycling.

LARAC - Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee www.larac.org.uk LARAC was formed in 1985 to represent the emerging voice of local government recycling officers. Membership is open to any local authority within the UK. LARAC represents local authority views on waste and recycling issues, and has members from authorities in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. LARAC aims to inform and lobby key opinion formers and policy makers on LARAC members' behalf. LARAC believes that all material currently seen as 'waste' is, in fact, a potential resource and that it should not be disposed of by any means that does not recover a significant proportion of its value. LARAC contends that waste generation should be stopped at source wherever possible and products should be designed for durability, repair and re-use. Discarded materials should be collected for recycling or composting and, where recycling isn’t possible, processed to recover useful, stable, organic material and/or energy.

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Chartered Institute of Waste Management www.ciwm.co.uk The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), is the professional body that represents waste professionals working in the sustainable waste and resource management sectors worldwide. CIWM sets the professional standards for individuals working in the industry and has various grades of membership determined by education, qualification and experience.

Wood Recyclers Association www.woodrecyclers.org Set up in 2001, the WRA now has 70 member companies and represents the interests of the wood recycling sector to governments and the environment agencies and other regulatory authorities in the UK. The WRA published the wood packaging protocol to more accurately calculate the amount of packaging being processed. It has also produced the Wood Recyclers' Code of Practice, designed to raise business operational, quality, environmental and H & S standards in the sector. The WRA is currently working with the Environment Agency and WRAP to develop a Quality Protocol for post-industrial wood. Once achieved, this Quality Protocol will define the point at which the wood which members process ceases to be a waste and becomes a product. In parallel with the Quality Protocol development, the WRA is working with WRAP and BSI to develop a publicly available specification - PAS111 - for post-industrial wood.

CRUK - Carpet Recycling UK www.carpetrecyclinguk.com Carpet Recycling UK drives innovation in end-of-life solutions for carpets. CRUK’s vision is of a strong and diverse carpet recycling industry which recovers all carpet waste using best environmental technologies. CRUK anticipates a world where 100% of all carpet waste is diverted from landfill through re use and recycling.

BPF Recycling Council www.bpf.co.uk Established in 1933, the British Plastics Federation is the most powerful voice in the UK plastic industry with over 400 members across the plastics industry supply chain, including polymer producers and suppliers, additive manufacturers, recyclers, services providers, end users, plastics processors and machinery manufacturers. The BPF promotes the interests of its members principally through its four Market Sector Groups and its many common interest Business Groups. The BPF Central Expert Committees address industry

wide concerns including environment, fire, product safety and health & safety. Nearly all types of plastics can be recycled.

However the extent to which they are recycled depends upon technical, economic and logistic factors. The optimum recovery route for most plastic items at the ‘end-of-life’ is to be recycled, preferably back into a product that can then be recycled again. The UK uses over 5 million tonnes of plastic each year of which an estimated 24% is currently being recovered or recycled. The BPF is at the forefront of the innovation that is taking place in plastics recycling today.

Axion Recycling www.axionrecycling.com Axion Recycling Limited has four divisions and was formed to develop and operate innovative processing solutions to recover value from waste resources. Axion Polymers produces high grade polymer compounds for re-use in new products and equipment. Axion Consulting develops and operates innovative processing solutions for recycling waste materials. Axion Consulting works with a wide range of clients from Government agencies such as WRAP and DEFRA, to local authorities and commercial companies. Axion Engineering's expertise lies in designing and project managing new recycling plants and plant modifications for third parties; while Axion Energy commercialises innovative technologies to convert waste biomass into biofuels.

Flooring Sustainability Partnership www.fsp-uk.org secretary@fsp-uk.org 01233 637705 07860 399351 An important initiative aims to improve sustainability across theentire UK flooring sector.

Recovinyl http://recovinyl.com Recovinyl provides financial incentives to support the collection of PVC waste from the non-regulated PVC waste streams. Recovinyl is an initiative of Vinyl 2010, a commitment of the entire European PVC sector to advance sustainable development by improving production processes, minimising emissions, investing in recycling technology and boosting the recycling of waste.

WRAP - Waste Resources & Action Programme www.wrap.org.uk WRAP works in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to help businesses and individuals reap the benefits of reducing waste, develop sustainable products and use resources in an efficient way.

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