What are your environmental and sustainability best practices?
Milliken’s philosophy of sustainability unites with our pursuit of excellence or quality. This powerful combination drives innovation and allows us to establish and meet very aggressive goals (zero waste, carbon negative, green energy initiative). As a company Milliken has a rich eco-heritage that permeates all our decisions.
When Did Milliken become concerned with sustainability?
Our people, planet and profitability have been a concern for more than a century. Sustainability has been a core value at Milliken for decades. Milliken’s Total Quality Management program embraces sustainability as a critical element of organizational and manufacturing excellence.
How do I compare when specifying carpet for green interiors?
As with any product selection, a holistic approach requires consideration of materials, production, design and end of life alternatives. Decisions should not be made based on single factor comparisons. Multi-attribute certification like the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Sustainable Carpet Assessment Standard NSF-140 and SMaRT from Sustainable Products Corporation are examples of reliable guides.
Does carpet represent a sustainable choice for green buildings?
Although carpet covers more than 70 percent of the floors in homes and workplaces in the United States, several myths about whether it is an appropriate choice for green buildings persist. Carpet balances design aesthetics and performance metrics to support high performance green buildings with sustainable materials produced in an earth-minded manner offering durability, reclamation and sound reduction among other benefits. Milliken’s modular carpet may be installed without on-site adhesives to eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
How does carpet support healthy interiors?
Carpet may be wrongly blamed for contributing to asthma and allergies and for emitting high levels of VOCs. Studies have shown that carpet is better at trapping allergens than hard surfaces, because carpet fibers catch particles and allergens that fall to floor. Proper cleaning keeps them out of the air. Unlike smooth surfaces that allow dust and other allergens to re-circulate, properly maintained carpet leads to improved air quality and a healthier indoor environment. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label carpet program has such a positive impact on the indoor environment that the American Lung Association approves its use in its Healthy Homes programs and it exceeds the green building requirements dictated by California schools.
What happens to the carpet at End of Life?
It depends. We look at each situation with our customer to evaluate the condition of all carpet Milliken replaces to determine the highest form of recovery possible. Milliken carpet, which is really an assembly of parts in the face fibers and backing systems, is engineered for reuse. Milliken’s No Carpet to Landfill pledge drives responsible end-of-life alternatives. All Milliken Floor Covering products can be reused, renewed, or recycled.
Does carpet contain PVC or other chemistries that may affect Indoor Air Quality?
The ATMI Chemical Inventory Protocol is one of the most comprehensive reviews of raw materials and processing chemicals in industry. Milliken applies this protocol to monitor and approve all incoming materials used in the manufacture of our products. Coupled with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools, we are able to effectively eliminate the introduction of any chemicals of concern from our operations. Milliken introduced PVC-free carpet in 1986 based on these protocols and the concern of the chemical class on human health.
How have you reduced packaging?
Beginning in 1996, Milliken reduced packaging for modular carpet by 68% over traditional methods. This reduction was accomplished by studying the reasons for packaging, the process of receiving and installing our products with our customers, and understanding the protection necessary for the products in shipping. Today, all packaging is made of 100% recycled materials and all may be recycled.
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