Cormar's Journey to Sustainability

At Cormar Carpets, we believe that sustainability is not just a passing trend but the cornerstone of responsible business practices. For us, sustainability means planting the seeds of a thriving planet for future generations to inherit and enjoy.

As a company rooted in craftsmanship and innovation, we recognise the importance of safeguarding our environment. We're on an exciting journey to continuously improve our processes, products, and practices, ensuring that sustainability is woven into every step of our operations. From reducing our footprint to sourcing eco-friendly materials, we're dedicated to making a positive impact, not just in the homes we furnish, but on the world we share.

Embracing sustainability is integral to Cormar Carpets' commitment to environmental stewardship. We recognise the importance of taking meaningful action against climate change, protecting our natural resources, and minimising waste to ensure a liveable environment for generations to come. By integrating sustainable practices into our operations, we not only reduce our environmental footprint but also contribute to the health and wellness of countless communities.

What have we achieved on our journey so far?

We have invested £750,000 so far this year renewing our fleet to reduce our CO2 emissions on the road
Today at least 68% of all our waste is recycled across all 3 sites
Switched our cutting sample envelopes to use 100% recyclable paper made from Eucalyptus fibres
We have installed LED lights across all our production and distribution sites reducing the amount of energy used
Patron members of Carpet Recycling UK since 2008

UKSFA members logo

Innovate Recycle Partnership

This year we were delighted to partner with Innovate Recycle, the first plant to recycle post-consumer and industrial carpet at volume in the UK and gained their Tuft Accreditation.

All our polypropylene ranges have been certified by Innovate Recycle as 100% recyclable and so far in 2024 over 175 tonnes of our carpets have been recycled by Innovate Recycle through our various partners and made into plastic components.

Moving forward, we are working to introduce markings on our Polypropylene carpets so it can be easily identified as 100% recyclable.

Find out More About Innovate Recycle

Achieved ISO 14001

In 2024 we have obtained ISO 14001 ensuring our environmental objectives are externally measured and audited, and have been re-accredited again this year.

ISO 14001 is the internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems (EMS). It provides a framework for organisations to design and implement an EMS, and continually improve their environmental performance. By adhering to this standard, organisations can ensure they are taking proactive measures to minimise their environmental footprint, comply with relevant legal requirements, and achieve their environmental objectives.

Find Out More About ISO 14001

UKSFA

The UKSFA, UK Sustainable Flooring Alliance (formerly Carpet Recycling UK), support the flooring industry to reduce the amount of textile and resilient flooring in the UK going to landfill and encourage and support more sustainable design and solutions leading to a circular economy. Cormar are proud members of the UKSFA, among other businesses and organisations from every stage of the flooring supply chain.

Find out more about UKSFA

What's next on our journey?

Reduce our energy usage by 30%
Identify a renewable source of energy to power parts of our manufacturing plants
Implement this source of renewable energy to power our tufting machines
Achieve net zero at all of our manufacturing sites
Continue to reduce our CO2 emissions on the road by further investing in our fleet
Through our recycling partners (such as Innovate Recycle) provide our retailers and customers the ability to send their carpet for recycling
We are investigating ways with one of our partners to recycle our latex waste into fuel for waste energy
We are working with several universities to find ways to recycle excess carpet fibre from our manufacturing process