Tarkett, the Solon, Ohio-based manufacturer of sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions, reports that responsible material sourcing, renewable energy, closed-loop water systems, and a recycling program are just a few of the initiatives that have kept the company on track to meet global sustainability goals set for 2030, according to Roxane Spears, vice president of sustainability for Tarkett North America.
The company released its 2022 Corporate Social & Environmental Responsibility (CSR) Report, which was audited by an independent third party, and outlines the sustainability performance.
Highlights include:
- Scope 1 & 2 greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing operations were reduced by 41% versus 2019, notably through the increased purchase of renewable electricity.
- Tarkett has made significant progress with ReStart, its take-back and recycling program, by transforming end-of-use flooring and recycled materials into new floors. This helps reduce waste and carbon footprint, diminishing the need for virgin raw materials while avoiding landfill and incineration. In the last 12 years, the company has collected the equivalent of 11 Eiffel Towers (115,000 tons) of flooring through Restart, into its eight recycling centers. The program is now deployed in 26 countries, including Brazil, India, and several across North America and Europe.
- Within the Tarkett Sports Division, FieldTurf’s Goal Zero program in North America helps divert job-site waste from landfill and facilitates its reuse and recycling. In 2022, the company recovered over 4,250 pallets of old artificial turf, diverting them from landfill, and recycling 182 tons of material (403,000 pounds).
- For many years, Tarkett has proactively sought alternatives to phthalate plasticizers in collaboration with its suppliers. The company has considerably invested in research and development and modified its formulas and processes to manufacture vinyl flooring with ortho-phthalate-free plasticizer technology. As of today, 100% of Tarkett’s vinyl production sites in North America, Europe, Brazil, Ukraine, Serbia, and China use ortho-phthalate-free plasticizer technology.
- Tarkett has made further progress in terms of supporting its teams and local communities throughout 2022. Committed to diversity and inclusion, the share of women in management positions reached 27% in 2022, progressing towards the company’s 2025 target of 30%. The first Diversity and Inclusion Week organized across Tarkett locations continued to raise awareness among its teams.
See recent coverage about Tarkett's sustainability team: Tarkett Grows Sustainability Team
