This new initiative features a regular-dye Savant fiber with 90% recycled content. The new fiber contains 50% post-consumer and 40% post-industrial recycled content and meets the stringent requirements of BASF’s certification programs.

“We expect this exceptionally high recycled content fiber to further differentiate our Savant brand from the competition,” said Ian Wolstenholme, Sales and Marketing manager for BASF’s Carpet Products. “At BASF, we approach our products, processes, and the communities where we live and work with a high level of eco responsibility. The new Savant option typifies the cradle-to-cradle philosophy which is integral to the 6ix Again Sustainability program, now in its eighth year of evolution.”

As part of its ongoing product stewardship program, BASF rigorously evaluates its products using an Eco-Efficiency Analysis that was developed in 1996. BASF has completed more than 100 analyses for a variety of products and processes.

BASF recently reviewed three major BCF fibers used to make carpet; nylon 6, nylon 6.6 and polypropylene. The main factors analyzed are raw materials, energy requirements throughout the life cycle of the product, health hazards, risk potential, and emissions (air, water and solid waste). The study showed that nylon 6 surpasses both nylon 6.6 and polypropylene and leaves behind a smaller ecological footprint on our planet.

Introduced at the NeoCon Show in Chicago last June, Savant is a natural BCF nylon product that offers a broad color selection, stain resistance and ozone fastness. Three major carpet mills are expected to offer 17 new styles featuring Savant to the North American market during the first quarter of this year.