The term ‘circular economy’ is increasingly used across most industries, from fashion to flooring. At its simplest, the circular economy is a shift away from the traditional
‘take–make–waste’ model. Instead of extracting raw materials, turning them into products and discarding them at the end of their life, a circular approach keeps materials in use for as long as possible.
That means designing products to be reused, repaired or recycled, and treating them as valuable resources rather than disposable items.
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) describes the circular economy as an approach that prioritises reuse and reduces the amount of valuable material sent to landfill.
Circular economy charity, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, puts it even more bluntly – design out waste, keep materials circulating at their highest value, and regenerate nature rather than deplete it.
For the flooring industry, these ideas are not abstract. It’s estimated that more than 500,000 tonnes of textile and resilient flooring waste – such as carpets, rugs, vinyl and luxury vinyl tiles – are generated each year in the UK.
Reducing waste is essential if the sector is to cut its environmental impact and support the UK’s net-zero ambitions.
CIRCULARITY IN PRACTICE
In a circular economy, flooring products are designed to be lifted, reused, repaired or recycled into new materials at the end of their first service life.
Some manufacturers have already redesigned traditional products to use a single polymer throughout, and now offer take-back schemes. These schemes allow certain flooring products to be returned after uplift, where they can be either reused directly or reprocessed into new products.
While natural materials such as wood and stone are more easily suited to circular models – as they are single-material products that can be reused directly or broken down for reuse – textile and resilient flooring products present a particular challenge.
These types of flooring are often complex composites, designed to be durable and long-lasting, with multiple layers bonded together. While this improves performance, it can make separation difficult and recycling more challenging.
Installation methods also play a role. Traditional adhesive-based installations can damage products during uplift, limiting opportunities for reuse.
In response, some manufacturers are exploring alternative installation techniques that allow easier removal with minimal damage, while others are redesigning products to improve material separation and increase recycled content.
Smarter design is key.
By considering the full life cycle of a product – from raw material extraction through to end-of-life recovery – the industry can significantly improve circular outcomes.
JARGON BUSTING
Like many sustainability movements, the circular economy comes with its own terminology. Fortunately, most of it is more straightforward than it sounds.
• Circular economy: Keeping materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, recycling and better design.
• Closed loop: Waste is recycled back into new products within the same sector, without loss of quality.
• Open loop: Waste is recycled into products for a different industry or application.
• Reuse: Using products or components again for the same purpose.
• Repurpose: Using a product for a different function without major alteration.
• Recycle: Processing used materials into new resources.
Alongside industry-led innovation, the Government is also accelerating the shift. Through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)’s Circular Economy Taskforce, the UK Government is encouraging businesses to keep resources in circulation, cut emissions and create
GOVERNMENT POLICY