Carpet tile manufacturer Interface is further tightening its sustainability strategy. The company, known for its carpet tiles, already works with CO2-neutral floors and aims in the future to make a large part of its range CO2-negative. According to Eline Oudenbroek, Vice President Supply Chain & Operations EMEA, returning to a fossil-based model is no longer an option.
© Interface
Interface aims to operate fully regeneratively by 2040, without CO2 compensation. The focus is on absolute emissions reduction, particularly within scope 3. As a publicly listed company on NASDAQ, it sees sustainability and profitability not as opposites, but as complementary.
In product development, fossil raw materials have been phased out. For example, yarn is made from recycled fishing nets, and the backing of the carpet tiles contains bio-based materials that store CO2. Additionally, Interface is developing systems to collect used tiles after around fifteen years, disassemble them, and reuse them as raw material.
Sustainability is also a strict requirement for suppliers. Interface deliberately chooses new partners investing in bio-based and circular materials. Suppliers that continue to focus on petrochemical applications do not fit within the strategy.
According to Oudenbroek, the transition requires clear regulation and a level playing field, including product passports and incentives for circular procurement. "This is a long-term strategy spanning decades. But for us, this is the only way forward."
Source: www.change.inc
