Article Number: 5555
‘Clear and straightforward’ Beaulieu strives for transparency in its environmental initiatives
By P.J. Quinn
In a commercial marketplace overloaded with sustainable floor coverings, specifying a product that meets green building requirements can e a long and confusing process for architects, designers and end users. But when it comes to choosing a carpet tile that offers tangible environmental benefits verified by multiple independent third parties, Beaulieu Commercial claims there is a single clear-cut choice.
Nexterra carpet tile features a backing system made from 85% post-consumer recycled content, an attribute Beaulieu claims sets it apart from competitive products. The recycled content used to produce this material is plastic and polyester-based (PET) bottles and glass. “A minimum of 2 million pounds of glass is recycled annually into our tile backing,” said James Lesslie, president. “It is our belief that our tile backing process is the most energy-efficient process in the industry because the majority of our input materials are diverted from landfills.”
Nexterra is lighter than conventional carpet tile, offers exceptional performances in dry/wet tuft bind retention, is dimensionally stable and withstands heavy foot traffic. According to Clay Rigsby, director of sustainable initiatives for the Bolyu Contract, Cambridge Commercial and Aqua Hospitality brands, Nexterra’s performance is indistinguishable vs. products made from 100% virgin or other recycled materials. “The studies we have done show that it takes only 9% as much energy to obtain post-consumer PET polymer as to produce virgin PET.”
The carpet tile itself has a minimum 50% post-consumer recycled content and certified Platinum by the NSF-140 2007 Standard through NSF International. The NSF-140 standard is a point system with established requirements for performance covering six key areas:
• public health and environment
• energy and energy efficiency
• bio-based, recycled content materials or environmentally preferable materials
• manufacturing
• reclamation and end-of-life management
• innovation
“It’s a remarkable achievement for Beaulieu to have all its Nexterra-branded tile products certified at the platinum level,” said Kevan Lawlor, president and CEO, NSF. “The platinum level certification establishes Beaulieu as a leader in environmental stewardship within the carpet industry and further validates Beaulieu’s commitment to creating a more sustainable future.” A second product in the line, Nexterra with Cushion, is made from 88% post-consumer recycled content and said to be 2.5% stronger than conventional carpet tile backing.
GREEN POWER
Indeed, the carpet tile and backing are only part of the Nexterra environmental story. Last fall, Beaulieu Commercial was one of 10 organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its green power purchase. The award recognizes EPA Green Power Partners that distinguish themselves through purchases of green power from a utility green-pricing program, a competitive green marketer, or a renewable energy certificate (REC) supplier. “Our two commercial facilities are 100% powered with green energy purchases where we either direct purchase wind energy from green farms, and offset the rest with wind energy purchases from wind farms in the Midwest,” Lesslie said.
In addition to NSF-140 Platinum, the Nexterra line earned several other third-party certifications. As well, all Nexterra tiles and adhesives carry the Carpet & Rug Institute Green Label Plus certification and qualify or assist in obtaining LEED points for indoor air quality. For specifiers, this ensures Beaulieu’s environmental initiatives are consistent with doing the right thing and operating in a manner that is transparent.
“Our company always wants to do the right thing environmentally,” noted Rod Schnurr, vice president, purchasing, at Furniture Row in Denver. “Making the choice with carpet tile with the Nexterra backing was easy because the environmental attributes are clear and straightforward.” Furniture Row has utilized approximately 27,000 square yards of Nexterra carpet tile.
For every square yard of tile manufactured by Beaulieu Commercial, 16 16–ounce water bottles and more than 2.5 pounds of post-consumer glass are kept out of a landfill. Pure Contract has also eliminated the use of water in producing Nexterra carpet tile backing and decreased by 20% water consumption at its manufacturing facility, Beaulieu reports. “Pure is compelled to set an example for customers by looking for cleaner energy resources and waste reductions,” Lesslie said. “We are continually searching for new innovations to help produce and market new products, thereby reducing raw materials used.”
To that end, Beaulieu contends to be the first mill to develop an antimicrobial carpet treatment for residential and commercial carpets. An antimicrobial carpet treatment is available as a custom option on all broadloom and carpet tile products for Bolyu Contract, Cambridge Commercial and Pure Contract Carpets, protecting the product from fungal growth. “Everyone is focused on keeping their environments as clean as possible,” Lesslie noted. “This provides an extra level of protection.”
In a commercial marketplace overloaded with sustainable floor coverings, specifying a product that meets green building requirements can e a long and confusing process for architects, designers and end users. But when it comes to choosing a carpet tile that offers tangible environmental benefits verified by multiple independent third parties, Beaulieu Commercial claims there is a single clear-cut choice.
Nexterra carpet tile features a backing system made from 85% post-consumer recycled content, an attribute Beaulieu claims sets it apart from competitive products. The recycled content used to produce this material is plastic and polyester-based (PET) bottles and glass. “A minimum of 2 million pounds of glass is recycled annually into our tile backing,” said James Lesslie, president. “It is our belief that our tile backing process is the most energy-efficient process in the industry because the majority of our input materials are diverted from landfills.”
Nexterra is lighter than conventional carpet tile, offers exceptional performances in dry/wet tuft bind retention, is dimensionally stable and withstands heavy foot traffic. According to Clay Rigsby, director of sustainable initiatives for the Bolyu Contract, Cambridge Commercial and Aqua Hospitality brands, Nexterra’s performance is indistinguishable vs. products made from 100% virgin or other recycled materials. “The studies we have done show that it takes only 9% as much energy to obtain post-consumer PET polymer as to produce virgin PET.”
The carpet tile itself has a minimum 50% post-consumer recycled content and certified Platinum by the NSF-140 2007 Standard through NSF International. The NSF-140 standard is a point system with established requirements for performance covering six key areas:
• public health and environment
• energy and energy efficiency
• bio-based, recycled content materials or environmentally preferable materials
• manufacturing
• reclamation and end-of-life management
• innovation
“It’s a remarkable achievement for Beaulieu to have all its Nexterra-branded tile products certified at the platinum level,” said Kevan Lawlor, president and CEO, NSF. “The platinum level certification establishes Beaulieu as a leader in environmental stewardship within the carpet industry and further validates Beaulieu’s commitment to creating a more sustainable future.” A second product in the line, Nexterra with Cushion, is made from 88% post-consumer recycled content and said to be 2.5% stronger than conventional carpet tile backing.
GREEN POWER
Indeed, the carpet tile and backing are only part of the Nexterra environmental story. Last fall, Beaulieu Commercial was one of 10 organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its green power purchase. The award recognizes EPA Green Power Partners that distinguish themselves through purchases of green power from a utility green-pricing program, a competitive green marketer, or a renewable energy certificate (REC) supplier. “Our two commercial facilities are 100% powered with green energy purchases where we either direct purchase wind energy from green farms, and offset the rest with wind energy purchases from wind farms in the Midwest,” Lesslie said.
In addition to NSF-140 Platinum, the Nexterra line earned several other third-party certifications. As well, all Nexterra tiles and adhesives carry the Carpet & Rug Institute Green Label Plus certification and qualify or assist in obtaining LEED points for indoor air quality. For specifiers, this ensures Beaulieu’s environmental initiatives are consistent with doing the right thing and operating in a manner that is transparent.
“Our company always wants to do the right thing environmentally,” noted Rod Schnurr, vice president, purchasing, at Furniture Row in Denver. “Making the choice with carpet tile with the Nexterra backing was easy because the environmental attributes are clear and straightforward.” Furniture Row has utilized approximately 27,000 square yards of Nexterra carpet tile.
For every square yard of tile manufactured by Beaulieu Commercial, 16 16–ounce water bottles and more than 2.5 pounds of post-consumer glass are kept out of a landfill. Pure Contract has also eliminated the use of water in producing Nexterra carpet tile backing and decreased by 20% water consumption at its manufacturing facility, Beaulieu reports. “Pure is compelled to set an example for customers by looking for cleaner energy resources and waste reductions,” Lesslie said. “We are continually searching for new innovations to help produce and market new products, thereby reducing raw materials used.”
To that end, Beaulieu contends to be the first mill to develop an antimicrobial carpet treatment for residential and commercial carpets. An antimicrobial carpet treatment is available as a custom option on all broadloom and carpet tile products for Bolyu Contract, Cambridge Commercial and Pure Contract Carpets, protecting the product from fungal growth. “Everyone is focused on keeping their environments as clean as possible,” Lesslie noted. “This provides an extra level of protection.”
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