A Long-Term Commitment to Doing Better
Flooring has long been one of the biggest contributors to landfill waste. Materials are bulky, difficult to process, and historically offered limited recycling routes. For almost nine years, we have focused on one objective:
reduce landfill as far as realistically possible, and keep pushing for
better solutions.
This hasn’t been a marketing exercise. It has been a practical, ongoing commitment built through investment, trial, and persistence. How Our Sustainability Journey Began We started by accepting a hard truth: mixed
waste equals landfill.
To change that, we invested in two industrial balers, allowing us to segregate waste streams properly and process materials individually rather than sending everything to landfill by default.
From there, we began the slow, difficult
work of understanding:
- What could be recycled
- What could not
- Where materials could realistically be sent
- And how to make the process work
This involved years of conversations with recyclers, manufacturers and industry bodies, alongside significant financial investment and countless hours of problem-solving.
Much of this work has been led personally by Helen, driven by the belief that everyone including flooring contractors have a responsibility to address the environmental impact of what we install.
What We Always Recycle
The majority of our waste is new, clean installation waste, which makes effective recycling achievable.
The following materials are recycled without exception:
- LVT flooring
- Sheet vinyl
- Polypropylene carpets
- PU underlay
- Plastics
- Cardboard
- Metals
These materials make up the vast majority of the waste generated through our flooring installations.
They are segregated, baled, and sent through established recycling routes as part of our standard operating process.
What Cannot Yet Be Recycled (and Why)
We are transparent about the limitations
that still exist. The only materials we currently send to landfill are:
- Natural carpets (including wool and
natural fibre products) - Some underlays
- Residue adhesive and adhesive tubs
- Latex bags and Primer bottles where
contamination prevents recycling - Gripper rods
These materials do not yet have reliable
recycling solutions at scale. Where this is the case, we minimise volumes, segregate responsibly, and continually review options as new processes emerge. We do not claim zero landfill.
We focus on reducing it responsibly and honestly.
Understanding Carpet Recycling
There is often confusion around carpet
sustainability. While natural carpets are widely perceived as environmentally friendly, they cannot currently be recycled at end of life.
At present:
- Polypropylene carpets are the only
carpets that can be recycled at scale
- The latex backing is broken down and used in fire retardant
materials
- The polypropylene is melted into plastic pellets and reused
We make a point of educating clients and homeowners on this distinction, so sustainability decisions are based on fact rather than assumption.
Working With Manufacturers to Improve the Industry
Contractors alone cannot solve this
challenge.We regularly engage with major manufacturers, encouraging:
- Better product design
- Materials that can be fully recycled
- Backings and constructions that support circular reuse
We have seen early discussions around carpets made entirely from polyester, including backing and latex, which could allow full melt-down and reuse. These developments are promising, but they are not yet industry standard.
We will continue to challenge manufacturers to think beyond current limitations and invest in better long-term solutions.
Supporting Better Recycling Beyond OurOwn Sites As part of our commitment, we became a local
recycling drop-off point, allowing:
- Local companies and individuals to dispose of cardboard and plastic responsibly
- Trade customers to drop off recyclable waste for a fee
This supports wider industry behaviour change and helps reduce mixed waste and illegal dumping.
Why This Matters to Our Clients
For developers and commercial clients, our approach delivers:
- Reduced environmental impact
- Clear, honest sustainability practices
- Support for ESG and environmental objectives
- A contractor actively working to improve industry standards
- Transparency around what is and is not currently possible
Sustainability, for us, is about progress,
and doing the extra thing if that means a better result down the line.
Why This Matters to Our Clients
For developers and commercial clients, our approach delivers:
- Reduced environmental impact
- Clear, honest sustainability practices
- Support for ESG and environmental objectives
- A contractor actively working to improve industry standards
- Transparency around what is and is not currently possible
Sustainability, for us, is about progress,
and doing the extra thing if that means a better result down the line.
