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Forbo’s Back to the Floor announces lower bag threshold

Forbo’s Back to the Floor recycling scheme has lowered its collection threshold from two bulk bags to just one bag giving greater flexibility on collections of installation off-cuts of its flooring products.

The new threshold of one bag – around 70m² of Forbo flooring off-cuts is needed to fill it – has been introduced in response to feedback and requests from participants in the scheme, which recycles Forbo’s clean installation off-cuts back into new flooring products.

Given that there is an estimated 10% wastage arising from each new flooring installation, each bag can hold enough off-cuts from a 700m² floor area. This calculation enables contractors to allow for sufficient bags to recycle off-cuts from any project – and especially helps those who could collect this amount over a number of smaller jobs.

Back to the Floor Scheme Co-ordinator, Matt Charlton said: “By lowering the threshold to one bag, we are facilitating greater take-up of the Back to the Floor scheme across the flooring supply chain, especially for smaller installers and retail outlets. Volumes collected from smaller projects can all go together in one bag, contributing towards their overall sustainable goals.

“The lower threshold has been warmly welcomed by collectors, particularly by those with limited storage space at their premises and who may have struggled to store more bags. It also encourages greater participation, by retailers for example, as this is ideal for their requirements.”

Since its launch in November 2012, virtually the whole flooring portfolio supplied by Forbo can now be collected through its recycling initiative, thus closing the recycling loop. The addition of Tessera Carpet Tiles installation off-cuts in November 2013 widened the sustainable disposal options for flooring companies, enabling 100% of Tessera carpet trim to be reused in the UK.

Back to the Floor also collects and reprocesses smooth vinyl, cushioned vinyl flooring, plus Marmoleum and Flotex installation off-cuts for recycling back into new Forbo products.

Matt added: “Enabling collections from just one bag means even more flooring companies can join Back to the Floor, making it easier and more accessible for all. Collections are backhauled using the existing transport network.”

Scheme members are provided with colour-coded polythene bags and bulk bags, which can be collected from site or dropped off at participating distributors when filled with the specified materials.

Marmoleum is recycled into new flooring at Forbo’s plant in Kirkcaldy, Tessera off-cuts are processed at the Bamber Bridge plant near Preston, while the Flotex and vinyl flooring goes back into flooring at the Ripley site.

For more information, call 0161 355 7618 or email [email protected].

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