Article Number: 5545
Of ‘Epic’ Proportions: Shaw’s engineered hardwood line is made of post-industrial recycled content
By Ken Ryan
With a name like Epic, the executives at Shaw Industries knew they had something uniquely different on their hands. Three years after its launch, Epic — distinguished by an inner layer made from post-industrial recycled content — has stood out as a true champion of the environment.
“We’ve known since we introduced Epic that we had a special product,” said Scott Sandlin, vice president of business development for Shaw’s Hard Surfaces Division.
“We’ve made a better product that’s also good for the environment,” said Rick Knowles, vice president of sales for Shaw Hardwood Flooring.
And David Wilkerson, corporate director of sustainability and product stewardship at Shaw Industries, added, “It is a compelling story, a perfect story for the environment.”
Because Epic’s inner layer, EnviroCore, is made from post-industrial recycled content, it is one of the more sustainable engineered hardwood flooring products on the market. EnviroCore uses fewer trees with less waste. At the same time, the core creates a more dimensionally stable platform, the company said. “It’s the best of all worlds,” Knowles said.
The wood veneers used to create the visual appeal of Epic Hardwood are obtained from suppliers that are committed to being good stewards of the environment through sound forestry practices. Otherwise they wouldn’t be part of this effort. The veneers used for Epic’s surface and backing layers are grown in temperate North American managed forests where annual growth exceeds harvest amounts by at least 20%, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
At a time when sales of hardwood flooring have been sluggish throughout the industry because of poor economic conditions, Epic’s numbers have been robust, the company said. “We had every expectation that it would be an important product,” Wilkerson said, noting that the company built a plant in South Pittsburg, Tenn., to manufacture the line. “We’re very proud of this product.”
All Epic products are 3/8-inch thick but are produced using a variety of species, widths, colors, finishes and surface textures. The products also use approximately 50% less newly forested wood than conventional 3/8-inch engineered alternatives due to Epic’s dense inner layer, which is composed of recycled wood fiber generated in the manufacture of other products that would otherwise be burned or put into landfills. Epic’s veneers comply with the Lacey Act and CARB requirements.
Most of the 3/8-inch products are offered in 31/4- and 5-inch widths, coinciding with the trend toward wider planks. But for the first time ever, Shaw is also manufacturing the Epic engineered line in a 3/4-inch thickness, the standard for solid hardwoods.
“We have a pretty complete array of choices with five different species,” Wilkerson said. “It has become a real workhorse for us. In spite of the sluggish economy and weak housing market, the collection has done well. We’ll be excited when the market comes back, because we expect Epic will really take off.”
With a name like Epic, the executives at Shaw Industries knew they had something uniquely different on their hands. Three years after its launch, Epic — distinguished by an inner layer made from post-industrial recycled content — has stood out as a true champion of the environment.
“We’ve known since we introduced Epic that we had a special product,” said Scott Sandlin, vice president of business development for Shaw’s Hard Surfaces Division.
“We’ve made a better product that’s also good for the environment,” said Rick Knowles, vice president of sales for Shaw Hardwood Flooring.
And David Wilkerson, corporate director of sustainability and product stewardship at Shaw Industries, added, “It is a compelling story, a perfect story for the environment.”
Because Epic’s inner layer, EnviroCore, is made from post-industrial recycled content, it is one of the more sustainable engineered hardwood flooring products on the market. EnviroCore uses fewer trees with less waste. At the same time, the core creates a more dimensionally stable platform, the company said. “It’s the best of all worlds,” Knowles said.
The wood veneers used to create the visual appeal of Epic Hardwood are obtained from suppliers that are committed to being good stewards of the environment through sound forestry practices. Otherwise they wouldn’t be part of this effort. The veneers used for Epic’s surface and backing layers are grown in temperate North American managed forests where annual growth exceeds harvest amounts by at least 20%, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
At a time when sales of hardwood flooring have been sluggish throughout the industry because of poor economic conditions, Epic’s numbers have been robust, the company said. “We had every expectation that it would be an important product,” Wilkerson said, noting that the company built a plant in South Pittsburg, Tenn., to manufacture the line. “We’re very proud of this product.”
All Epic products are 3/8-inch thick but are produced using a variety of species, widths, colors, finishes and surface textures. The products also use approximately 50% less newly forested wood than conventional 3/8-inch engineered alternatives due to Epic’s dense inner layer, which is composed of recycled wood fiber generated in the manufacture of other products that would otherwise be burned or put into landfills. Epic’s veneers comply with the Lacey Act and CARB requirements.
Most of the 3/8-inch products are offered in 31/4- and 5-inch widths, coinciding with the trend toward wider planks. But for the first time ever, Shaw is also manufacturing the Epic engineered line in a 3/4-inch thickness, the standard for solid hardwoods.
“We have a pretty complete array of choices with five different species,” Wilkerson said. “It has become a real workhorse for us. In spite of the sluggish economy and weak housing market, the collection has done well. We’ll be excited when the market comes back, because we expect Epic will really take off.”
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