Interface is renowned for its sustainable approach to making carpet. In this latest initiative, fishing nets are being transformed into carpet tiles.
October 13th, 2014
Interface is famously known for its Mission Zero vision – a plan that involves eradicating its environmental footprint by the year 2020. And one of its latest initiatives, in partnership with Zoological Society of London and its yarn supplier Aquafil, is leading it one step closer to its goal.
The Net-Works programme has established a community-based supply chain for collecting discarded fishing nets in rural coastal areas in the Philippines. These are then turned into recycled nylon that Interface is able to utilise in its carpet tile production.
In the first two years alone, more than 35,000kg of old and unwanted fishing nets have been collected, helping 4,500 villagers in 24 communities in Danajon Bank and the Bantayan Islands (one of only six double-barrier reefs in the world). If not collected, the nets would have ended up on beaches or in the sea, ultimately taking a toll on the environment and marine life.
On the socio-economic front, artisanal fishers and members of the community, who generally live below the poverty line, can also earn supplemental income. Net-Works is closely integrated with community banking systems that support and strengthen the local, developing economy and provide new financial opportunities for residents.
“It may seem a little crazy that a commercial carpet tile company has ended up working with the fishing community on a remote double barrier reef. But that’s the beauty of seeing design as more than just product. Co-innovating with experts from lots of different disciplines has been brilliant; together we’ve re-imagined what the value chain could look like. Sustainability is the mother of all collaborations after all,” says Miriam Turner, AVP Co-innovation at Interface and co-founder of Net-Works.
Interface
interface.com
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Create a configuration to suit your needs with this curved collection.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
The Sustainability Summit panel delves into innovative models such as the Nightingale Housing model and the AssembleFutures concept.
Join us on Nov 9 at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium for the 2023 Sustainability Summit! Renowned architects will share their expertise at the Sustainability Awards.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
As a program between Powerhouse Parramatta and Cité Internationale des Arts, the galang residency supports Indigenous creativity and dialogue around cultural heritage and representation.
Wood Marsh, a practice that spans 40 years, has been the first to design many of Melbourne’s landmark infrastructure projects – including the monumental noise walls along the Eastern Freeway (the first non-building to receive the Victorian Architecture Medal), Eastlink, the Geelong bypass and the pedestrian bridge at the west end of Bourke Street. The […]
On the 22nd of February, the local design scene brimmed with excitement as Unison marked its 10th anniversary by becoming the first MillerKnoll dealer in the Australia and New Zealand region.
Overcoming pandemic hurdles to redefine guest experiences amidst Sydney’s bustling entertainment precinct, The Darling has undergone a two-year restoration that melds Art Deco interiors with the necessities of hotel living.