Desso Awarded for Innovative Approach to Recycling at National Carpet Recycling UK Conference

WAALWIJK, The Netherlands, July 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Desso, the global carpets, carpet tiles and sports pitches company, has been recognised for its innovative approach to recycling and presented with an Innovation in Recycling Award at this year's Carpet Recycling UK Annual Conference on 24^th June.

The awards, which are open to all Carpet Recycling UK members, champion organisations that have developed and are continuing to develop new systems and processes to recycle fibres from carpet waste.

Last year, 400,000 tonnes of carpet waste was buried in UK landfill^[1] - a substantial amount, but the figure would have been higher without Carpet Recycling UK's activity. Since the organisation was established in 2008 it has managed to successfully divert 329,000 tonnes of carpet from landfill to recycling or energy recovery.

Desso, a founding member of the not-for-profit recycling organisation, has been at the forefront of developing a number of sustainability initiatives as part of a shift towards the Circular Economy and Cradle to Cradle® principles. This includes the Desso TakeBack™ programme, which is a closed loop recycling system for used carpet materials. The business also offers an end-of-life international collection service for all types, and brands, of carpet and carpet tiles with the exception of those containing PVC.

Keith Hall, Technical Services Manager at Desso commented on the award: "We are very proud to receive this award from CRUK and would like to take the opportunity to thank the team for their support in helping us to achieve our recycling targets."

Laurance Bird, Director of CRUK stated: "The judging panel was particularly impressed with Desso's highly innovative approach throughout the whole organisation and their efforts in establishing closed loop recycling of carpet tiles."

The Carpet Recycling Awards are independently judged and Desso was selected by a panel of four industry figures: Chief Executive of the CFA, Richard Catt ; Chief Executive of Resource Association, Ray Georgeson; Director of Axion Consulting, Roger Morton; Director of Axion Polymers, Keith Freegard.

^[1] Based on the Carpet Recycling UK annual survey in 2013 which collected self-reported figures from carpet recyclers throughout the UK and an estimate of incineration of carpets by local authorities.

About DESSO^® 

Desso is a global carpets, carpet tiles and sport pitches company, active in more than 100 countries. Desso products are supplied to corporate offices, education, healthcare, government, homes and also hotels, cruise liners and airlines.

It also produces world leading sports surfaces such as the DESSO GrassMaster^®, which has been installed at the home grounds of premier football sides and at the football 'temple' Wembley.

Today, most people spend on average 90% of their time indoors which has led to the company's vision: 'How to make the floor work for our health and wellbeing'.

Our mission is to ensure that we develop unique products that deliver a much improved indoor environment that maximises people's health and wellbeing and ultimately their performance. This is driven by our innovation programme based on the three pillars of Creativity, Functionality and Cradle to Cradle^® design.

For more information please visit: http://www.desso.com

SOURCE Desso