At 3daysofdesign 2026 in Copenhagen, Tarkett will present Beginnings & Endings, an exhibition that positions circularity not as an afterthought, but as a starting point in design.
Curated by design futures consultancy FranklinTill, the exhibition reflects Tarkett's ongoing commitment to circular innovation, inviting visitors to rethink flooring materials, carpet, homogeneous vinyl and linoleum, not as finished products, but as part of an ongoing lifecycle.
© Tarkett
"Design defines what something is made of, how long it will last, and what will happen at the end of its life," underpins the concept of the exhibition, which emphasises responsibility across the full material journey.
Bringing this vision to life, Tarkett collaborates with three designers, Yinka Ilori, Laurids Gallée and Christian + Jade, each exploring a different material system and its circular potential.
Materials as starting points
British-Nigerian designer Yinka Ilori will transform an entire gallery space using carpet tiles designed with end-of-life in mind. These tiles can be disassembled into yarn and backing, allowing materials to be regenerated and reused through Tarkett's recycling processes.
Austrian designer Laurids Gallée focuses on homogeneous vinyl flooring, a material engineered to be remade. Post-use materials are collected, granulated and reintegrated into new production cycles, reducing both waste and resource consumption.
Meanwhile, Danish-Singaporean duo Christian + Jade explore linoleum, produced with up to 97% responsibly sourced natural materials. The process incorporates renewable ingredients and reclaimed materials, such as cork from the Sardinian wine industry, reinforcing a regenerative system.
Across all three installations, the materials on display will return to Tarkett after the exhibition, re-entering their respective circular systems, demonstrating the company's "closed-loop" approach in practice.
Collaboration as a catalyst
Central to Beginnings & Endings is the idea that circularity depends on collaboration across disciplines and industries. The exhibition aligns with Tarkett's broader Beauty of Circularity strategy, which focuses on design, materials and the circular journey.
Highlighting this approach is Tarkett's ReStart® take-back and recycling programme, which enables used materials to be recovered and reprocessed into new products.
Thomas Leneveu, Vice President Commercial Business Unit at Tarkett, comments: "Tarkett emphasises that circularity is a collective effort. By working with partners across industries, the company actively recovers valuable materials and enables them to be transformed into new products, demonstrating that collaboration is fundamental to closing the loop."
Engaging the design community
Taking place from 10–12 June at Galleri Susanne Ottesen in Copenhagen, the exhibition will include daily meet-and-greet sessions with the designers, as well as informal tours and talks aimed at fostering dialogue around circular design.
With Beginnings & Endings, Tarkett reinforces a key message: that the future of materials lies not only in innovation, but in designing for what comes next.
More information:
Tarkett
www.commercial.tarkett.com
