Commercial Director Louise Walters explains how Designer Contracts’ efforts continue to support their Net Zero ambitions.
As a major supplier of floorcoverings to the UK’s new build sector, working with customers, suppliers and staff is at the very heart of our drive towards sustainable solutions and minimising our impact on the climate. As well as the award-winning environmental achievements we’ve accomplished through our partnership with the manufacturers of SpringBond, our long-established, carpet recycling scheme diverts some 250 tonnes of waste from landfill each year. And earlier this year, our in-house campaign to promote sustainability in the workplace, has saved the company some 63,737-kilowatt hours and slashed our total energy usage by more than 10%.
Shared commitment is critical to the success of circularity, so collaboration and co-operation with industry colleagues – both external and internal – are essential for achieving sustainability goals.
Our customers expect us to help them make greener choices when it comes to flooring. As a company we strive to have a sustainable supply chain and partner with suppliers and manufacturers committed to reducing waste and supporting a circular economy.
One example of this has been our partnership with Think Group, manufacturer of the revolutionary underlay, SpringBond. An eco-friendly alternative to PU foam, felt and rubber underlay, it is manufactured in the UK and made from 85 per cent recycled fibres.
By working closely with the team there, we first developed the product – which is fully recyclable at the end of its life – in 7mm and 9mm thicknesses. More recently the new SpringBond Eco-Step 8mm option was added to our portfolio: as with the original 9mm and 7mm FR specifications, the new line is five times stronger than standard PU.
Each roll of SpringBond contains over 180 PET plastic bottles, eco-engineered in a Z-shape structure to create natural bounce back, 100% consistency and zero lumps and bumps.
Our relationship with Think Group goes back several years and we have received multiple awards for our part in preventing millions of plastic bottles from polluting the world’s oceans. The collaboration also earned us the Partners in Sustainability category title in the PFM Partnership Awards 2021.
Using SpringBond in an average three-bedroomed house saves over 1,000 bottles from landfill and offers users a number of benefits. It is lightweight, dust-free, and has excellent thermal and acoustic properties – perfect for homeowners who are conscious about reducing their carbon footprint, without compromising performance.
The underlay solution delivers multiple advantages for housebuilders too – including regulatory compliance and helping to meet increasingly stringent environmental building regulations. It also contributes to sustainable construction certifications.
SpringBond transforms up to 900 recycled plastic bottles per household into high-performance underlay, diverting plastic waste from oceans and landfills and creating a sustainable lifecycle for single-use plastics.
Other environmental considerations for housebuilders include supply chain sustainability. SpringBond’s efficient production processes minimise environmental impact while local manufacturing reduces transportation emissions. Its long-term durability also reduces replacement frequency. That, in turn, helps housebuilders achieve broader environmental goals through circular economy leadership.
SpringBond was also the first underlay solution to achieve Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certification, establishing new benchmarks in sustainable flooring. As one of only a few underlays with this certification, it maintains a leading position in environmental transparency and sustainable manufacturing. This internationally recognised certification provides transparent, verified environmental impact data across the product’s entire lifecycle – from manufacturing to end-of-life management.
In addition to the groundbreaking benefits of SpringBond, Designer Contracts has long sought to expand the eco-credentials of its wider portfolio of floorcovering products. It can sometimes be challenging to find a product which matches ethical integrity with quality and performance, but as more and more manufacturers respond to the need and demand for sustainable products, the range of goods available is increasing in both choice and quality.
We recently boosted our Blue Book collection with two new eco-carpets made entirely with yarn from ethically sourced, internationally accredited plastic bottles. Eco-Abode is a two-ply tufted, cut pile twist made from 100% recycled polyester. Available in a range of 14 warm and cool shades, it comes in 4m and 5m widths and is designed to feel luxurious underfoot while offering the added bonus of saving around 6,400 plastic bottles from landfill for every house where it is used. Eco-Glade, is a stain resistant, two-ply carpet made using 100% recycled polypropylene yarn….
Read the full article in the April edition of Showhome.
