Back in 2005 Interface Global was experimenting with bio-based yarns – unfortunately they were using corn based yarns. A BIG mistake but one which they learnt from.
Bio-based yarns must
Corn based yarns didn’t meet any of the above criteria and so Interface after learning these lessons ceased the use of PLA fibre in their carpet tile manufacture.
However the technology was quickly diverted to new use. Castor bean bio based yarns. Castor bean plants grow on the fringes of the desert and are superior in many ways.
And importantly, once the carpet tile has had one life and is recycled into a new carpet tile, the carbon used to grow the plant in the first place is permenantly removed from the planet. Now that’s smart.
The pictures show the carpet tile in trial at Auckland University. The light coloured tiles are 100% bio-based yarns. The black tile is standard Interface nylon carpet tile with high recycled content. They are purposely randomly scattered to ensure we get an absulte read from the trial – castor wheels, high foot traffic and spills. Not much to look at, but oh so very smart.