flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Can Sustainable Materials Compete With Virgin Material?

Sponsored Content Voice of the Brand

Can Sustainable Materials Compete With Virgin Material?

Aquafil has developed an innovative process that recovers nylon waste and transforms it into a regenerated nylon that performs on par with virgin raw material and enables projects to deliver on sustainability goals.


By Aquafil | August 17, 2020

The design industry has long been pervaded by the idea that sustainable materials are “not enough”—not flexible or durable enough, not creative enough, not inexpensive enough to justify their use.

These outdated notions have prevented industry professionals from taking advantage of new advances and products. Innovations like ECONYL® regenerated nylon have proven that materials made from waste can perform on par with virgin materials, all without sacrificing form or function.

 

Masland Contract Taps into ECONYL® regenerated nylon to create their contemporary carpet tile line, “Crafted”


 

Count on Performance

 

When it comes to choosing between material made from waste and virgin raw material, performance level is often debated. But it’s a problem that doesn’t exist anymore. The development of new technologies and manufacturing processes has given way to sustainable materials that can have the same performance level as virgin material. 

Floors covered by carpet made from ECONYL® regenerated nylon fibers have the same performance as virgin nylon carpet. 

What makes these floors durable and long-lasting? It goes back to the ECONYL® Regeneration System, which transforms nylon waste into brand new nylon yarn. This process, called depolymerization, breaks nylon waste down into its chemical building blocks and then forms new nylon polymers which are spun into nylon yarn.

 

The latest commercial collection by Venture Contract is made with ECONYL®

 

Unleash Creativity 

 

Performance is just one part of the puzzle. Aesthetics are also a key consideration when it comes to choosing materials, and despite outdated misconceptions, sustainable materials don’t limit creativity or prevent beautiful results.

ECONYL® yarn is available in 170 colors, all of which allow customers to maintain color consistency in their performance-driven carpets, rugs, and carpet tiles. This diverse set of options allows for beautiful results and a range of different styles.

 

Reduce Waste and Fight Climate Change

 

Did you know that 4 billion pounds of carpet is discarded in landfills each year in the U.S.? Only 5 percent of this carpet waste is recycled. 

The numbers are no surprise—flooring and carpets are some of the most frequently replaced parts of commercial buildings. 

Through its two recycling facilities in Woodland, California, and Phoenix, Arizona, Aquafil is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of carpet waste. Each facility has the capacity to collect and recycle 36 million pounds of carpet each year, which translates to 25,000 square yards of carpet diverted from landfills each day.

Beyond its recycling efforts, Aquafil has found resourceful ways to recover nylon waste by engaging in various global environmental and social programs, such as the Healthy Seas Initiative. 

Through this, Aquafil spreads awareness of ocean conservation issues and protects marine life through the recovery of abandoned fishing nets, which are responsible for millions of deaths of marine animals each year.

This recovered nylon waste is transformed into new yarn, which has the same characteristics as nylon made of virgin raw material, while also having a notable environmental impact: ECONYL® regenerated nylon reduces the global warming impact of nylon by up to 90% compared with material made from oil.

ECONYL® also contributes to LEED v.4 credits in four categories, helping you achieve your sustainability goals. Those four categories include integrative process, indoor environmental quality, materials and resources, and innovation. 

 

The noho move chair is made from upcycled waste plastic.noho tapped into ECONYL® nylon for its sustainable and regenerative qualities to reimagine conventional furniture design.

 

Be Versatile

 

Prioritizing sustainable materials is more crucial than ever before, and architects and interior designers are in a unique position to reshape the industry and help our planet—all without restricting creativity and function. 

The benefits of sustainable materials extend across a variety of applications. Along with carpet, ECONYL® yarn can be used in the fashion industry through products like sportswear, swimwear, and bags.

This regenerated nylon can also be used in furniture made with injection moulding. For sustainable furniture company noho, focusing on recyclable materials has led to the noho move™ chair, which is made from upcycled waste plastic.

 

Look Ahead

 

The push toward an increasingly sustainable society doesn’t present a challenge but rather a chance to innovate. While using recycled materials that are currently available is an important first step to take, it’s also paramount to design new products that in the future will be easier to recycle and designed to be disassembled into their components. 

A material like ECONYL®, for example, is regenerable an infinite number of times. That means you can create new products and buy new products without ever having to use new resources.

Pioneering these new products now helps preserve our planet and ensures a brighter, better future for generations to come.

Find sustainable carpet designs that use ECONYL(R) for your projects:
https://bit.ly/3h4T9ln

Download our eBook:
https://bit.ly/3ayDVCL
 

Related Stories

Sponsored | Voice of the Brand | Sep 2, 2021

Protect Your Walls and Sloped Roofs with a Smarter Sheathing System

Integrated Continuous Insulation’s Role in the Ever-Changing Construction Landscape

Sponsored | Voice of the Brand | Aug 31, 2021

Mix It Up with Metal Cladding

Combining architectural metal panel profiles and colors creates high-end, modern facades that meet the budget and the time frame. PAC-CLAD Metal Wall Panel Systems provided the solution for both a downtown high-rise in Pittsburgh and a midwestern university’s technology campus.

Sponsored | Voice of the Brand | Aug 30, 2021

Code, Cost, and Convenience

Integrated Continuous Insulation’s Role in the Ever-Changing Construction Landscape

Sponsored | Voice of the Brand | Aug 9, 2021

From the Top: 3 Trends Influencing the Future of Commercial Roofs

Commercial roofs are being reimagined to provide interactive spaces supplying nature in urban locations and mitigating extreme weather effects by managing heat and stormwater runoff. Read how biophilia, extreme weather events, and environmental sustainability are influencing vegetative roof assembly (VRA) design and product innovation.

Sponsored | Voice of the Brand | Aug 3, 2021

ALPOLIC Heralds the Success of a Small Business with a New Storefront

James Royce Rug Gallery trusted ALPOLIC to showcase their museum-quality collection in West Hollywood. With nearly unlimited finish options, the design team delivered sophistication with easy-to-maintain ALPOLIC MCM. Small business owners need curb appeal to succeed and the chic façade featuring ALPOLIC fashioned a storefront that demanded to be noticed. 

Sponsored | Voice of the Brand | Jun 21, 2021

Domestic Isn’t Dead: Why U.S.-made Jumbo HSS Are the Big Thing in Structural Steel

Atlas Tube’s new mill will roll the world’s largest HSS right here in America, reinforcing Atlas Tube’s commitment to domestic manufacturing. Made with new technology to speed delivery and minimize environmental impact, the Jumbo HSS sizes will let designers and builders across the continent do more with structural steel. 

Sponsored | Voice of the Brand | Jun 17, 2021

Vision, Vision, Vision

Innovations in fire rated glass technology including largest tested and listed sizes, butt-glazed walls with minimal framing and expanded door sizes and vision lites give architects the unprecedented ability to add vision and transparency to fire rated areas that have been devoid of natural light and vision for many years.

Sponsored | Voice of the Brand | Feb 2, 2021

Smarter Sheathing System for Residential and Multifamily Builds

When it comes to defying the elements, buildings are only as strong as the products used to protect them. Increase the quality and durability of residential and multi-family builds with Georgia-Pacific’s ForceField® Weather Barrier System.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Voice of the Brand

Designs Inspired by Timber with Less Limitations

Explore new possibilities in your design with the natural look of wood, without the weight, maintenance difficulties, or expense. Three projects, featuring ALPOLIC’s Timber Series, highlight how metal composite materials provide beautiful, durable and safe solutions with a look so real, you’ll look twice.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021