In 2015, Interface, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of modular carpet, was looking to develop a more sustainable carpet tile backing. Interface’s first sustainability mission – Mission Zero – challenged the company to eliminate any negative impact it has on the environment by 2020. It will accomplish this through initiatives such as renewable energy use, waste and water reduction, using biobased or recycled materials and recycling products at end of life. Building on that, Interface’s new innovation project had two goals: eliminate the product’s use of virgin petrochemical materials and reduce the product’s carbon footprint.

To achieve this, Interface needed a supplier that could provide the right renewable material and formulate it to meet their needs. Kraton’s portfolio of biobased materials, expert R&D teams and global presence with locations in the Netherlands and the U.S. made us the right partner for this project. Our collaboration on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was also key to a successful partnership. LCA is an important tool Interface uses to measure their environmental impact; so it was important that we could provide consolidated environmental data for the company’s Environmental Product Declarations (EPD).

This collaboration led to the creation of CircuitBac Green, a carpet tile backing innovation with high environmental performance. Circuitbac Green uses a mix of bioplastics and mineral filler, providing a carbon-negative alternative to existing backing materials. This means the product stores more carbon than is emitted during its production, significantly reducing the overall carbon footprint of the finished carpet tile. The total recycled and biobased content for a product using CircuitBac Green can reach as high as 87 percent. CircuitBac Green launched in Europe in late 2017 to positive reception and is generating increased interest.