SUSTAINBLE MARKETING
The construction industry generates 62% of the UK’s total waste, yet only 2% of this waste is being reused. Flooring manufacturer Tarkett wants to change this.
December 2024
Tarkett is a sustainability leader in the flooring industry with ambitious SBTi approved decarbonisation goals and the UK’s first post-use flooring recycling facility. They have made great progress, but are also acknowledging their own and the industry shortcomings.
Recognising that the climate crisis demands bold initiatives, the Tarkett team is championing cross-industry discussion and collaboration to drive change.
They have kicked this off in the UK by confronting a critical industry challenge that goes well beyond flooring: the lack of recycling in the built environment. The construction industry is a significant contributor to waste, generating 62% of the country's total waste, yet only 2% of this waste is being reused.
This is simply not enough.
To start tackling the issue, the Tarkett UK team is bringing businesses from across the sector together to highlight the barriers to progress - and offer inspiration from partners on what can be done.
By fostering open conversations at events like Clerkenwell Design Week and London Circular Economy Week, Tarkett is inspiring the industry to address economic, systemic, and cultural hurdles head-on.
At these events, panellists from across the industry identified key obstacles and opportunities:
Economic Challenges: Tight budgets and timelines make material reuse complex.
Systemic Barriers: A lack of infrastructure and entrenched cultural norms hinder circularity.
Future Directions: Panellists called for government support, material passports, and a cultural shift toward sustainable practices.
Reaching ‘beyond the room’, these discussions also created conversations elsewhere - outside the industry - including a feature in Edie: How can the building industry close the loop on waste?
The business is working closely with their partners to find practical solutions.
These initiatives allow all parties to learn as they go and pave the way for more large scale, cross industry solutions longer term.
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