During its nearly 130 years of existence, Mohawk has prided itself on being a leading innovator in areas such as product development. This fall retailers and consumers will see the fruits, or in this case vegetables, of its latest technological breakthrough. SmartStrand made with DuPont Sorona is the first bio-based fiber in the residential carpet industry.

Made partially from corn sugar, it is arguably the most significant breakthrough on the fiber side of the business since DuPont’s 1986 introduction of Stainmaster, especially when you consider how the industry and buying public are increasingly putting a premium on green products. Dubbed Bio-PDO— using state-of-the-art industrial biotechnology—this new development allows Mohawk to replace a great deal of petroleum when making its successful SmartStrand fiber made with DuPont Sorona polymer.

“The Sorona product has been one of best introductions we’ve had since the company was started,” said Jeff Lorberbaum, chairman and CEO of Mohawk. “It is unusual to have a product come out and have it accepted so widely. It exceeds the performance and aesthetic expectations of our customers. And now we’re making it bio-based.”

Made with 37% renewable resources, Sorona is a significant breakthrough in polymer science. Lorberbaum noted the renewable resource-based polymer offers properties identical to petroleum-based fiber. “Chemically it’s the same. We are extremely pleased with the quality and consistency of the biological root. The fewer process variations translate into improved performance.”

The environmental benefits of the new SmartStrand are easy to see, Lorberbaum noted. “Seven square yards of 40- ounce carpet featuring the renewably sourced Sorona polymer will save energy and natural resources equal to one gallon of gasoline.”

In more general terms, production of 100 million pounds of Bio-PDO will save the energy equivalent of more than 15 million gallons of gasoline per year.

Also, SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona does not need any fluorocarbon chemicals for stain and soil performance, reducing the environmental footprint associated with the manufacturing of these chemicals.

“That makes SmartStrand doubly smart for the environment,” noted Tom Lape, president of Mohawk Residential. In terms of performance, Mohawk states the new biobased carpet fiber combines exceptional durability with permanent, engineered-in stain resistance protection that will never wash or wear off. The result is a carpet that truly is stain resistant for life.

Walter Fields, global business director of bio-based materials for DuPont, added, “Tests show that the fiber offers superior stain resistance for tough-to-remove substances, including mustard, red wine and bleach.”

While Mohawk put a great deal of emphasis on making the new SmartStrand both environmentally friendly and durable, Lape is quick to point out the company did not sacrifice fashion as “it is available in a variety of vibrant colors and styles.”

Dan Stalzer, co-owner of the 10-store chain Flooring Gallery in Iowa, noted Sorona has become one of his company’s top go-to products. “The first thing we do is get consumers to touch it. It is extremely soft. Second, you can tell the durability story. Then we close with stain resistance. It’s hard for that customer to look at any other fiber, especially now that we have the corn story to throw in as well.”

In addition to using less petroleum, and incorporating renewable resources and having no flurocarbon chemicals, the new SmartStrand is green in other ways. “Because SmartStrand outperforms and outlasts competing stain-resistant fibers,” said Frank Endrenyi, Mohawk’s vice president of sustainable development, “carpets made with SmartStrand don’t have to be replaced as often. And that means less carpet showing up in landfills.”

Put simply, SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona is as easy on the environment as it is on the homeowner.