August 20, 2004—Shaw Industries, Inc. recently announced that it is phasing out its PVC-backed carpet tile. “At the end of the year, we will be exiting PVC entirely,” announced Steve Bradfield, Shaws corporate director of environmental affairs. “Were not leaving PVC because we think its a terrible material,” Bradfield explains, but rather because Ecoworx offers higher performance and lighter weight at the same cost. He also explained that the PVC backing complicates the reclamation options, because “anything that breaks down nylon also affects PVC.”
By the end of 2003, 70% of Shaws production had already shifted to its Ecoworx (catalyzed polypropylene) backing. Each tile is printed with a toll-free phone number to call when taking advantage of Shaws free take-back recycling guarantee. Shaw Industries is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. and the worlds largest carpet manufacturer.
For more information, contact Shaw.
—From Environmental Building News.
