Shaw Nixes PVC by 2005

Long-range plan to cease use of dioxin-producing PVC nearing completion.

Staff -- Interior Design, 6/18/2004

Shaw Industries Inc. announces its exit from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) carpet backing, effective at the end of this year. Driving the decision is the growth of EcoWorx, a non-PVC carpet backing introduced in 1999.

PVC is a dangerous component because of the carcinogenic dioxins that result when it burns. Over the past four years when presented with a choice, customers self-selected the Eco Worx technology, which reached 70 percent of Shaw’s total carpet tile production by year-end 2003.

Shaw received acknowledgement for EcoWorx from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a recipient of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. The honor recognizes Shaw for developing a carpet tile that may be sustainably recycled and has less embodied energy than traditional PVC carpet tiles, while maintaining equal or greater performance.

“EcoWorx meets customer demand for a PVC alternative product and provides a sustainable flooring solution that makes good economic, functional and environmental sense for all stakeholders,” said Randy Merritt, executive vice president of marketing for Shaw Industries.

Demonstrating Shaw’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, EcoWorx was the result of a product development project with the following criteria: energy efficiency superior performance, financial sustainability, and the use of sustainable material that meets Cradle-to-Cradle Design Protocol.

Following nature’s organic cycle of renewal, the Cradle-to-Cradle Design Protocol ensures products can be continually broken down and reused again through closed-loop or “cradle-to-cradle” recycling. Rather than using traditional approaches that recycle used carpet into other products that could eventually end up in a landfill, this progressive approach enables Shaw to maintain continuous responsibility for product material.

To ensure EcoWorx remains in this continuous loop, the product is backed by an environmental guarantee. Shaw guarantees it will pick up EcoWorx at the end of its life, at no charge to the customer, and recycle it into more EcoWorx, enabling the company to use the same materials in a perpetual loop. Shaw includes an 800 number printed directly on the carpet tiles to facilitate that process.

“EcoWorx is a product everyone can feel good about-- it saves carpet from landfills, saves the end user from transportation and tipping fees, and reduces our dependency on new raw material,” said Merritt.