The challenge
Industrial processes use chemicals, some of which can have adverse effects on humans and natural systems or can contaminate water, air or soil if not handled and disposed of responsibly.

Building materials such as flooring products can contain traces of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can be emitted into the indoor environment, affecting air quality. In addition, using energy from fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

Our approach
Interface is moving aggressively toward eliminating all its emissions into the ecosphere, striving to create factories with no smokestacks, effluent pipes or hazardous waste generated. By 2020, we want clean water, clean air and healthy carpets to be the only things that leave our factories.

Our products are tested and proven to be amongst the lowest emitting in the industry and the chemicals we use do not pose a risk to customers at current trace levels, but we continually work to minimise their use.

We are also firmly committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by improving the energy efficiency of our manufacturing processes and using renewable energy where possible.

Putting our approach into practice in Europe
Over the last two decades, we have made significant improvements to eliminate emissions from our products and operations at many different levels. Some of our achievements include:

• Wherever possible, replacing materials that emit VOCs with low emission materials. All our products are continuously tested at independent test houses according to the strict criteria of GUT. They are also compliant to the requirements of the Green Label Plus programme from CRI and can contribute towards various recognised green building rating systems
• Introducing a new laser system to print codes onto carpet tiles so we can identify and trace them, replacing an organic solvent-based ink previously used. The new system has reduced environmental impacts from solvents, and has cut ink consumption at our Scherpenzeel factory by three tonnes per year
• Developing products which use less yarn, such as our FlatWorks range, and using recycled materials in our carpets where possible without compromising performance. This also helps lessen our reliance on virgin oil-based resources and reduce the carbon footprint of the products
• Introducing TacTiles™, a revolutionary glue-free installation system for carpet tiles which reduces environmental impact by 90% compared to traditional adhesives, and virtually eliminates VOCs and odour during installation while increasing speed and flexibility
• Reducing the number of smoke stacks at Scherpenzeel in the Netherlands from 10 to one, and installing a filter that reduces limestone dust emissions by 99.9%