Product Sustainability
In line with our 2025 Product goals our carpet design strategy has been developed to help to create circular economies through internal assessments and industry-wide collaborations.
We use Life Cycle Assessment methodologies, including BRE Environmental Profiles and Environmental Product Declarations, to design products that not only minimise their environmental impact but also help improve well-being and productivity by making
the workplace healthier, happier and safer.
Wherever possible, we develop products with recycled content and locally sourced raw materials.
Our sustainable product strategy is guided by three principles:
1. PRODUCTS WITH MAXIMUM RECYCLED CONTENT
Partnership with Healthy Seas
As a further commitment to the Closed Loop Economy, Milliken has partnered with ‘Healthy Seas, a Journey from Waste to Wear’. Healthy Seas aims to recover discarded fishing nets from the seas and to regenerate them into high-quality ECONYL® yarn, which is subsequently turned into brand-new products such as Milliken carpet.
Recycled yarns
Milliken now offers over 1000 design options using Econyl® 100% regenerated nylon, featuring 50% post-industrial and 50% post-consumer recycled content. Collections featuring Econyl include; Artistic Liberties, Change Agent, Clerkenwell, Colour Compositions, Consequence 2.0, Crafted Series, Dissident 2.0, Fractals, Glazed Clay, Lightbox, Light Trails, Naturally Drawn, Out of the Shadows, Poise, Poise Retold, Tracing Landscapes, Unexpected Purpose and Urban Collective.
Recycled backing materials
Milliken’s innovative cushion backing includes 90% recycled polyurethane, providing a light weight backing solution that is not only environmentally sound but also enhances performance in use. Many Milliken products also contain primary backing materials sourced from recycled materials such as PET bottles.
2. PRODUCTS THAT MINIMISE WASTE
TractionBack® adhesive-free installation
TractionBack reduces the raw materials used during installation as well as reducing installation time and cost. Indoor Air Quality is also improved through the elimination of VOCs associated with adhesive.
Optimising face-weight for performance
Milliken ensures that products are not wastefully over-engineered. Products are designed with the optimum face weight for their budgetary and performance requirement
3. PRODUCING PRODUCTS THAT MAXIMISE THEIR USEFUL LIFE
Cushion Backing
The cushion backing protects the face of the carpet from the effects of wear and in doing so can extend the life of the carpet by up to 40%. This allows Milliken to offer impressive 12 and 15 Year Wear Guarantees on cushion back collections.
Protective Flooring Solutions
Carpet is one of the most abused elements of a building and studies show 90% of dirt can be kept off the flooring with effective entrance matting systems. Milliken offers a highly effective system of modular matting solutions designed to provide a primary barrier for dirt entering a building. Not only does this keep the carpet clean, it increases its longevity and improves indoor air quality.