York researchers solve the sticky problem with carpet tiles

News

Posted on Thursday 18 March 2010

A new adhesive for use in carpet tiles which has been developed at the University of York could help dramatically reduce their impact on the environment.

The powerful adhesives currently used to bind the layers of carpet tiles together make it challenging to recycle them. In Europe, around 70 million kilogrammes of carpet tile waste is incinerated or sent to landfill sites every year.

Researchers in the University of York’s Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence have created a new starch-based alternative that allows the layers to be separated and recycled.

The results of our research provide a potential solution to a serious waste problem

Professor James Clark

Testing has shown that the new adhesive is just as strong as established products, can withstand steam cleaning and is also highly flame retardant.

Professor James Clark, Director of the York Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, said: “Carpet tiles are becoming increasingly popular so it is important we find ways of producing them in a more sustainable way.

“The results of our research provide a potential solution to a serious waste problem and also demonstrate in broader terms how end-of-life considerations can be incorporated into product design without sacrificing quality.”

A key characteristic of the product developed in York is that its adhesive quality can be switched on or off using a chemical treatment that is inexpensive and does not damage the tile materials.

The research, which is published in the journal Green Chemistry, was conducted in collaboration with the UK-based operation of global carpet tile manufacturer InterfaceFLOR.

During the mid-1990s the company changed its business model to consider and reduce the environmental impact of every creative and manufacturing decision made. Now defined as Mission Zero, the company’s drive to eliminate its impact on the environment by 2020 plays a central role in the innovation of its products, services and processes.

Miriam Turner, Innovations Project Manager at InterfaceFLOR, said: “We have been working with the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence since 2004, when we began sponsoring a PhD to develop this innovative technology.

“With Technology Strategy Board funding, we have been able to keep this project going, thus bridging the gap between promising academic work and pilot scale industrialisation.

“We believe this new adhesive could play an important role in helping us to achieve our Mission Zero goal.”

Notes to editors:

The research ‘Switchable adhesives for carpet tiles: a major breakthrough in sustainable flooring’ can be found in full on the Green Chemistry website at http://bit.ly/9XuU0u.
The York Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence is based in the Department of Chemistry which was ranked among the top ten in the country in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
The research took one step closer to the commercialisation of a product in the autumn of 2006 when the Government-backed Technology Strategy Board invested £522,946 in SWIFT, a project with a total cost of £1,246.611. The consortium which involved a range of commercial partners was led by InterfaceFLOR and other members were: ITAC, NNFCC, Contract Chemicals Ltd and The University of York.

About InterfaceFLOR

InterfaceFLOR is the modular flooring division of US-based Interface Inc. The company is a worldwide leader in the design and production of high-quality, innovative modular floor coverings.

Interface was one of the first companies to publicly commit to sustainability, when it made a pledge in the mid-1990s to eliminate its impact on the environment by 2020.

Known as Mission Zero, this goal influences every business, manufacturing and design decision made and underpins all dimensions of the company: people, process, product, place and profit.

Interface is now more than half way to reaching its Mission Zero goal and has been widely recognised for its achievements to date. Its products have also received several awards, specifically for design and innovation. Recent accolades include:

Number 1 ranking in Globescan’s survey of sustainability experts
The Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development, both in 2002 and 2008
Sustainable Manufacturer of the Year, UK Green Building Council and Building Magazine, 2009
Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis (German Sustainability Award), 2009
Product of the Year for The Versaflex System, Mixology North 2009

About The Technology Strategy Board

The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led executive non-departmental public body, established by the Government. Its role is to promote and support research into, and development and exploitation of, technology and innovation for the benefit of UK business, in order to increase economic growth and improve quality of life. It is sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). For more information please visit www.innovateuk.org.