InterfaceFLOR Receives Industry’s First EPD

InterfaceFLOR is the first North American carpet manufacturer to receive a third-party verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for its Convert™ design platform products manufactured with post-consumer type 6 and 6,6 nylon.

What is an EPD?

An EPD is a statement of product ingredients and environmental impacts that happen during the entire life of a product. It is similar to the ingredient and nutrition labels on food. Instead of calories and recommended daily allowances, an EPD shows things like raw material extraction, energy use, air, soil and water emissions and water use and waste generation. Not just a green claim or promise, an EPD shares product information in a consistent way, certified to a public standard and verified by a credible third party.

Why create an EPD?

Creating an EPD requires the increased transparency that people are requesting and we are committed to being open about our products' environmental impact. Because type 6,6 nylon is the largest contributor to the environmental impact of the manufacturing stage, this EPD is also a means for us to measure our progress toward an efficient, closed-loop manufacturing cycle.

How are EPDs created?

EPDs follow a credible, verifiable process in their development. Companies must have a commitment to full disclosure of what is usually confidential information about how products are made. In addition, companies must perform a comprehensive life cycle assessment according to ISO 14040 standards. From this information, an Environmental Product Declaration is developed based on ISO 14025 standards. Both the EPD and the LCA have to be third party verified.