Carpet Recycling UK’s (CRUK) recent eighth Annual Conference and Awards Event celebrated the successes and achievements of its resource recovery champions.

The program showcased the achievements and important contributions by members, both individuals and organizations, who have helped to drive forward greater sustainability in the sector.

Innovative schemes included carpet tile reuse supporting disadvantaged people, recycled fibers turned into horticultural growing mats and collecting waste carpet from retailers for energy recovery.

CRUK's director, Laurance Bird, emphasized that segregating carpet waste for reuse and recycling remains a key challenge, particularly for retailers, with whom they’ve been working to develop new solutions. Thanking CRUK’s core funders Cormar Carpets, Lifestyle Floors/Headlam, Desso, ege, Milliken, Balsan and Marlings for their on-going support, Laurance said: “In taking a voluntary producer responsibility positioning within the market place, they are recognized as leaders for sustainability within the carpet value chain.”

Looking ahead, CRUK will continue to promote design for easier resource recovery, identify new recycling technologies for carpet materials and to develop further recycling outlets and markets in line with circular economy principles.

CRUK's third annual awards ceremony celebrated the achievements of members who have demonstrated innovation, commitment and best practice in the sector. Three awards, introduced for the first time this year, reward winners based on their company’s activity as a CRUK member.

Graham Kempton of Designer Contracts was named Recycling Champion for his commitment to making carpet recycling work by reorganizing delivery routes and increasing the capacity to collect more waste. Tony Winder of Winder Carpets and Neil Green of Made by U were Highly Commended.

Designer Contracts also won the Take Back Partner of the Year award for the second year running for working ‘tirelessly to make recycling happen’ and working closely with their recycling partners. Linney Cooper and Branagan Flooring Services were Highly Commended.

Carpet Tile Recycling was named Reuse Member of the Year for recognizing the need to accept all carpet tiles for reuse and its development of new innovative outlets for those tiles that cannot be reused. Midland Carpet Tile Recycling and M25 Made by U were Highly Commended.

Recycler of the Year went to Desso UK, a Tarkett Company, for its innovative approach to moving carpets up the waste hierarchy and design of a product that can be more easily recycled in the future. Xtraction and Waste to Energy b.v. were Highly Commended.

Made By U won the Best Newcomer award, having made a significant impact since recently joining CRUK; the Outstanding Achievement award went to Anglo Recycling Technology and Cormar Carpets won the Longstanding Support award.

For more information, visit carpetrecyclinguk.com.