The Japan Recycle Carpet Association (JRCA) established a Recycled Carpet Certification system that establishes quality standards for recycled carpet tiles.
The JRCA, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and chaired by Chuji Kondo, was established on November 1, 2023, with the slogan "Let's start from the ground up” to promote the use of recycled carpet tiles. Approximately 25 million square meters of carpet tiles are produced annually, with about 20 million square meters, or 80%, being disposed of due to replacement work.
Carpet tile recycling efforts in Japan have been ongoing for about 20 years. Companies participating in the JRCA have recycled approximately 60 million square meters (about 300,000 tons) of carpet tiles through horizontal recycling. This achievement is due to the collection and recycling of products from any manufacturer and the development of technologies to use recycled raw materials, with the cooperation of various companies. Additionally, manufacturers have promoted recycled carpet tiles, resulting in the release of many sustainable products into the market. However, customers have demanded a standard to compare environmental performance.
Introducing this system will ensure the quality of materials for recycled carpet tiles in the market, facilitate repeated recycling, and enable the collection, recycling, and reuse of products regardless of the manufacturer. Kondo said this is crucial for the effectiveness of recycling and contributes to sustainability. Furthermore, to address the global issue of greenwashing, the new system will involve regular third-party audits to ensure customers can select our products with confidence and trust.
Recycled Carpet Certification Criteria
The Recycled Carpet Certification certifies carpet tile products that meet the following four conditions: specifying the carbon footprint of products (CFP), stipulating the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, using separated raw materials for each component, and continuously preventing greenwashing. Carpet tiles that meet these conditions will contribute to a sustainable society by ensuring optimal resource recycling. The Recycled Carpet Certification system certifies carpet tiles that are produced within an optimal resource recycling value chain.
- At least 25% of PCR material must be derived from carpet tiles
- CFP must be marked on the product
- Separate raw materials must be used for each component
- The JRCA conducts an annual greenwash check from the time of certification
Audits by the Green Check Committee
As awareness of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) grows, greenwashing—the practice of exaggerating environmental benefits—has become an issue. To ensure customers can select appropriate products with confidence and trust, JRCA has established a Green Check Committee composed of third-party experts with no vested interest in the association to conduct periodic audits.
The Green Check Committee verifies the consistency of data on the production volume of certified recycled carpet products, the purchase volume of separated recycled materials, the production volume of recycled materials, and the collection volume of used carpet tiles. Products that meet the criteria will continue to be certified as Recycled Carpet Certification products.
External Members of the Green Check Committee
- Kohzo Ito, professor at The University of Tokyo, Fellow, National Institute for Materials Science
- Masanori Toyoizumi, certified public accountant and partner at Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting LLC
- Kazuhiro Yoshii, lawyer and partner at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Certification Mark
The certification mark will be provided for products certified by the Association, indicating that the carpet tiles have been recycled using appropriate recycling methods.
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