Sustainability has come to the forefront as a legion of carbon-conscious consumers demand products that are in line with their beliefs and values. It is also undeniably a guiding concern for designers and architects, who are being tasked to create low impact interiors that are beautiful, healthy and environmentally sound.
Due to the significant waste produced by the installation, use and disposal of flooring, choosing the right carpet system can be critical in setting a project towards the path of sustainability. When looking at the sustainability of carpet, you must consider every aspect of the product lifecycle – from how it is sourced, manufactured and used to its individual components, including the fibre, backing material, and adhesives used for binding.
In these respects, few products can match the eco-credentials of the new Reuso collection by Carpets Inter – a high-performance, modular carpet tile designed to utilise every square inch produced to reduce waste. Using environmentally-respectful backing types, this eco-friendly carpet tile offers a package both inspired by, and the genuine reuse of, everyday materials into new products.
In Australia, Carpets Inter’s Reuso carpet tiles will be available exclusively from Above Left on EcoSoft® – an innovative cushion backing that is composed of 80% post-consumer recycled PET and 5% post-industrial recycled PET re-engineered from millions of discarded drinking water bottles. This eco-friendly product not only diverts plastic waste from our oceans and waterways, but also satisfies the stringent performance criteria of a carpet tile. EcoSoft® outperforms typical PVC and bitumen hard backs, as well as urethane cushion backs, in terms of lifespan, walking comfort, acoustic benefits, and indoor air quality.
Named after the Portugese word for “reuse”, the Reuso collection features textures and tones that are inspired by the natural beauty of aged material and its potential to become something new again. The result is a collection of complimentary components that work together seamlessly, providing the ability to mix colours and batches for a unique and economical installation that is gentle on the environment. The flexibility within this collection enables designers to upgrade work environments, renewing them with a feeling of purpose and creativity.
Beyond aesthetics, Reuso offers sound absorption that is superior to that provided by a hard back tile. Reuso carpet tiles can lower the sound of walking by 25 to 34 decibels (dB), whereas laminate flooring only reduces surface noises by 1 to 6 dB. Along with cushioning that reduces wear and tear and user fatigue, this high-performance carpet tile is ideal for almost any application, from busy commercial environments to quiet, focused workspaces.
Australian-owned and operated, Above Left is the sole distributor of Carpets Inter’s revolutionary range of eco-friendly commercial carpet tiles. Both brands share a vision of delivering beauty and efficiency to their customers while providing sustainability for our planet.
The Reuso collection is the latest example of Above Left and Carpets Inter’s unerring commitment to reducing waste across their entire product portfolio. To date, Carpets Inter EcoSoft® has recycled over 787 million PET bottles, thus reducing the impact of plastic pollution on our planet, one carpet tile at a time, with a goal to recycle one billion bottles by 2025.
When it comes to flooring, Above Left connects good design and proven environmental performance. All of Above Left’s products, including Reuso, have been awarded Red List Free by Declare™, the gold standard of environmental certification and product transparency, and meet the highest certification of WELL Certified builds.
