Tarkett receives renowned sustainability award

Flooring company Tarkett proudly announced its achievement of the prestigious EcoVadis Platinum Medal.

To qualify for the medal, the EcoVadis organization meticulously assessed Tarkett's environmental stewardship, social responsibility and sustainable practices, as well as its exemplary record of accomplishment in labour practices and human rights.

Tarkett is one of the top 1% out of 130,000 companies assessed by EcoVadis in 180 countries, and is the only flooring company to reach platinum status.

The firm has made sustainability an integral part of its corporate vision. The company claims that it is the first flooring company to transition to a circular economy where old flooring is recycled rather than disposed of.

Tarkett flooring is produced in conditions that respect the health of the workers producing it, and with limited greenhouse gas emissions. Tarkett is committed to healthier living spaces with its unique dust capture systems in carpets and phthalate-free plasticizers. Its vinyl flooring contains minimal amounts of harmful volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions levels.

The Tarkett take-back program recycles over 9,000 tonnes of old flooring per year.

Consumers support Tarkett's environmental policies, but also love the look and feel of their flooring. Tarkett's mechanical embossing system creates the realistic look of wood with the largest area without pattern repeat available in the flooring market. By mixing and matching assorted styles and colours of carpet or vinyl tiles, customised unique looks can be achieved.

Tarkett carpet and vinyl flooring is available from quality flooring services in the North Wales and Chester region.

Housebuilder installs recycled carpets in new homes

Cora Homes has fitted its new properties with carpets made from recycled plastic bottles and discarded fishing nets. This aligns with the housebuilder's policy of building houses in a sustainable and eco-friendly way.

The carpets prevent waste plastic from being disposed of in landfills. The fitting of carpets made from 100% recycled materials has been a hit with homebuyers, who have been surprised at how good the carpets look.

Plastic bottles are being processed to make yarn for the carpets. Traditional synthetic carpets contain oil, but these recycled ones require no extra oil. The underlay is made from 84% recycled materials.

The commercial director of Northamptonshire based Cora Homes, Matt Wright, said:

“The idea of having recycled carpets, saving plastic going into landfill, was a huge selling point for the flooring – it fits in perfectly with our ethos of sustainability.”

Many carpet manufacturers have reduced their impact on the environment or have plans for more sustainable carpet production. Many manufacturers use recycled materials in carpets and renewable energy sources in their manufacturing buildings. Another way to make more eco-friendly carpets is to use natural materials such as wool or sisal.

Not many housebuilders fit recycled carpets in new houses, but if you want more sustainable carpets in your North Wales or Chester home, visit a local carpet retailer to see their range of carpets that contain recycled or natural materials. These are available in a wide range of colours and patterns suitable for any décor style.

Tarkett refreshes IQ Optima range

Tarkett has unveiled the revitalized colour spectrum of its IQ Optima collection of vinyl flooring.

The range now has a diverse selection of 55 subtle tonal hues ranging from soothing blues and gentle coral to vibrant greens and sunny yellows, catering to various interior design schemes.

Originally designed for healthcare settings, Tarkett's IQ Optima line is designed to be versatile for both commercial and residential spaces, offering durability to withstand heavy use, along with resistance to heavy loads, stains, scuffs, and chemicals.

The maintenance of IQ Optima is very straightforward, requiring only a simple dry buff to restore its pristine appearance, eliminating the need for floor wax or additional finishes. This vinyl flooring is manufactured with minimal chemicals, promoting healthier indoor air quality. It is certified as being suitable for those suffering from allergies and asthma.

IQ Optima is available in rolls or tiles. The tile option allows for a personalized touch by mixing and matching colours to create unique designs.

Tarkett is committed to sustainability by minimizing its environmental footprint and offering a recycling initiative for repurposing old flooring whether made by Tarkett or not. The company's carbon emission reduction efforts are endorsed by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and align with the objective of limiting global warming by 1.5 degrees

Manufactured in Sweden, Tarkett's vinyl flooring is available through flooring services in the Chester and North Wales region. Installation is quick as it involves simply adhering the flooring to the subfloor with adhesive, although uneven subfloors require levelling before the vinyl is installed.

Six popular carpet tile design themes

Carpet tiles are available in a wide variety of colours that can be used in multiple design themes. The power of colour adds personality to a room. The colour of the floor is the tonal base to a décor style.

Here are the colours of six popular décor themes:

1. Pop

The Pop theme features bold and vibrant colours such as bright blue, purple and red that evoke visions of sunny weather, as well as tropical jungles.

2. Scandi

Scandinavian style is commonly associated with minimalism, along with pastel shades that are subtle and calming. Scandi style features natural colours to create elegant and sophisticated rooms.

3. New Luxury

Gold, aqua and navy carpet tiles with contemporary furniture and fitting create the opulent and glamorous look of new luxury.

4. Retro

Retro style often features yellow, orange and brown; nostalgic colours that evoke memories of the past.

5. New Natural

The New Natural look has the colours of the natural world, mainly blues and greens, that are designed to remind you of misty meadows and green hills.

6. Grey

To some, a grey-themed room is smart but dull, but to others, the silver tones of grey are sleek and impart a sense of calm reflection.

Whether you pick one of these design themes or prefer your own flooring style, you'll find an extensive range of carpet tiles at North Wales flooring shops. If you use carpet tiles in two or more colours associated with a style theme, you can lay them in various patterns to add a personalised touch to a room.

Smart ways to enhance the beauty of wood flooring

Wood and engineered wood flooring in North Wales homes is popular for its natural look and durability. Wood flooring, whether solid wood or laminate, makes a style statement in any room, but enhancing its beauty requires careful design choices for the rest of the room.

When installing wood flooring for the first time in a room, it's important to decorate the room in a complimentary colour palette. Though wood is mainly shades of brown, there will also be subtle hints of other colours such as orange, red, grey, or yellow. Homeowners can use a colour wheel chart to find the opposite colours to decorate the room in. For instance, blue can balance wood that contains hints of orange or yellow.

Many are tempted to continue the wood theme by adding wood furniture to a room with wood flooring. Instead, consider using a variety of other textures, such as woven fabrics, metal or leather. Features such as wooden chair legs and wood frames can be used for photos and wall art.

A wood floor can feel hard underfoot, making the room feel less cosy and relaxed. This can easily be fixed by adding deep pile rugs for extra comfort. Rugs can be used to define room areas like a home office space.

When choosing wood flooring options at a flooring company in North Wales, be mindful of the look of the rest of the room and how it complements the natural beauty of wood.