Carpet manufacturers go green

Several carpet manufacturers are now creating more eco-friendly carpets.

Many people like the luxury of wool carpets in their homes. Wool is a sustainable material that is used to make premium-quality carpets. Though wool can be more expensive to buy than man-made fibres, it is much stronger, feels luxurious and will last a lot longer. Those buying wool carpets should look for The British Wool Foundation mark, which indicates genuine British wool carpets.

Some manufacturers are making carpets using corn glucose, which avoids the petroleum used in the manufacture of some man-made carpet fibres. Other carpet makers are using recycled materials. Discarded plastic bottles are used to make carpet backing and underlays, and old vehicle tyres can also be used in the production of underlays. Carpets made from discarded fishing nets are another innovative use of recycled materials.

High-quality carpets in North Wales homes should last for many years, but of course, no carpet lasts forever. Many in the carpet industry are concerned about throwing away carpets at the end of their life. A few years ago, most carpets ended up in landfill sites, but there are now organisations that take old carpets and recycle them. The raw materials in the carpets can be recovered and used in the manufacture of other products.

Many households in the North Wales and Chester areas are concerned about the environment. Carpet manufacturers share these concerns, which is reflected in the development of more eco-friendly carpets made from sustainable and recyclable materials.