What's Inside:
- All About Carpet
- Standards & ',,
Specifications
- Future Directions
-What Can You Do?
- Contacts and
Resources
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Pollution Prevention
and Toxics
(7409M)
EPA742-B-01-003
December 2O01
www.epa.gov/oppt/epp
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide
Greening Your Purchase of
Carpet
Carpet is quiet, soft, slip-resistant and often quite beautiful. These qualities
make it an extremely common choice as a floor covering for office space. But
carpet also presents a problem for solid waste management programs around
the country and contributes to concerns about poor indoor environmental quality.
By considering a variety of lifecycle attributes, from the materials used to manufacture
and install carpet to recycling and disposal issues, purchasers can make informed
decisions about carpet options.
Why Green Your Carpet?
Environmental and Health
Concerns
Environmental and health concerns asso-
ciated with carpet include indoor air.quali-\
ty, toxic chemical emissions from /'"
manufacturing and disposal operations,
and solid waste impacts. A variety of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be
emitted from carpet materials. For exam-
ple, 4-phenylcyclohexene has a~very low .
odor threshold and has been associated
with indoor air,,quality complaints follow-
ing the installation of new carpet. Other
compounds emitted from carpet, such as
formaldehyde and styrene, can present
acute or chronic health concerns under
certain expbsure conditions.
The disposal, by incineration, of carpets .
and carpet materials is a source of environ-
mental contamination. Dioxins and Furans
are formed as by-products during waste
combustion, especially poorly or uncon-
trolled combustion, where the chlorine
content of the waste may play a more sig-
nificant7role in their production. Chlorine-
containing materials that may be present in
waste include, but are not limited to,
polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC or vinyl
and a common component of carpet back-
ing), chlorinated solvents, and sodium
hypochlorite (bleach) ...Dioxin is a potent .... •
carcinogen that is highly persistent in the
environment and bioaccumulates through
the food chain.
About 4 billion pounds of carpet enter
the solid waste stream in the United States
every year, accounting for more than 1 per-
cent by weight and about 2 percent by vol-
"ume of all municipal solid waste (MSW).
Furthermore, the bulky nature of carpet
creates cbllection and handling problems
for solid waste .operations, and the variety
of materials presehton carpet makes it diffi-
cult to recycle. Some believe that the solu-
tion lies in manufacturing with recovered
materials. xx
x.
Lifecycle and Trade-off Issues
Significant impacts can occur throughout
the life cycle of carpet, and these impacts
vary with the types of materials used, the
pattern of carpet use and replacement, E
the options available for reuse, recycling
or disposal. An approach for evaluating the*;
lifecycle impacts of carpet and-other floorl?
. '. "i 'sis.
coverings is included in the Building fort^
Environmental and Economic
Sustainability (BEES) tool, which can be.. :• ''
downloaded from . BEES includes-lifecycle
impact data on nylon and recycled poly-
ethylene terephlate~(PET) carpet. General
information on lifecycle analysis and its
role in environmentally preferable purchas-
ing can be found in the EPP General
Training Tool at
.
> Printed on paper that contains at least 50 percent postconsumer fiber.
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All About Carpet
Nylon is the most popular fiber used in commercial car-
pet facing. Two closely related forms of nylon, "nylon 6"
and "nylon 6,6," are used in carpet facing. Recycled
nylon 6 is available and used by some manufacturers. At
present, there are no commercial sources of recycled
nylon 6,6. Some manufacturers believe that nylon 6,6
provides better performance for certain characteristics
such as stain resistance. Polypropylene and polyester
also are used in carpet face fiber. Recycled PET is widely
available, but carpet made with PET face fiber is not as
durable as nylon or polypropylene carpet and is usually
recommended only for light- to moderate-wear condi-
tions.
Carpet fibers may be "solution dyed" by the fiber manu-
facturer or dyed later at the carpet mill as the carpet is
manufactured. Some believe that solution dyeing during
Tiber manufacture results in lower emissions and better
color fastness than subsequent dyeing at the carpet mill.
However, the differences between solution dyeing and
mill dyeing are highly dependent on the particular
processes used, and it is difficult to generalize about the
advantages of one process versus the other.
Carpet backing is used to provide structural support to
the face fiber. The primary materials used in carpet
backing are jute, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), and polyurethane. Jute is a renewable bio-based
product but is not as durable as the synthetic backings.
Recycled-content (up to 100 percent) PVC backing is
available, but dioxin and other chlorinated byproducts
are formed during the manufacture and disposal (by
incineration) of PVC. Polypropylene avoids the chlori-
nated byproduct issues of PVC, but its manufacture
requires somewhat more energy than PVC does, and
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recycled-content polypropylene backing is not readily
available. A new polyurethane backing under develop-
ment uses a polyol derived from soybean oil. In addition
to the renewable resource advantage, it appears that
soy-based polyurethane requires less energy during the
curing step than polyurethane made from standard
petroleum-based polyols.
Carpet cushion is placed underneath the carpet to pro-
vide additional comfort, insulation, and noise reduction.
In some cases, the cushion is integrated with the back-
ing. Materials commonly used in carpet cushion include
polyurethane, jute, synthetic rubber, PVC, and other
synthetic fibers. All of these substances can be obtained
from recovered materials.
Because of its complex nature (typically at least three
different materials bonded together), carpet is a difficult
item to recycle. However, some manufacturers do have
programs to collect used carpet for materials recovery
and subsequent processing into a variety of products.
Most of the carpet in the United States that is recycled is..
separated and processed into new products by the
DuPont Carpet Reclamation Program (1-800-
4DUPONT). A few other carpet manufacturers have
collection programs for used carpet, and a number of
manufacturers incorporate postconsumer materials in
their carpet. A description of recycling activities in the
carpet industry can be found at the Carpet and Rug
Institute's Web site.
VOCs_can be emitted from any or all carpet compo-
nents, as well as from the adhesives that are sometimes
used during carpet installation. Field or laboratory test-
ing can help identify and quantify the compounds emit-
ted. It is not possible to predict the identities and
quantities of these emissions based solely on the chemi-
cal composition of the materials used in the carpet.
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Carpet and Rug Institute's Green
Label Emission Limits
The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends the fol-
lowing emission limits for carpet, cushion, and adhe-
sive products.
Carpet
TVOC 0.500 mg/m2hr
Styrene 0.400 mg/m2hr
4-Phenylcyclohexene 0.050 mg/m^hr
Formaldehyde 0.050 mg/m^hr
Cushion
TVOC 0.500 mg/m2hr
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) 0.400 mg/m2hr
4-PCH 0.050 mg/m2hr
Formaldehyde 0.050 mg/m2hr
Adhesive
TVOC 10.00 mg/m2hr
2-Ethylhexanol 3.00 mg/mrhr
ormaldehyde 0.030 mg/m2hr
What Can You Do?
Environmentally preferable carpet choices each have
their own merits, and choosing one depends on the
specific need, location, and use for the carpet. Some
questions to consider in determining the best choice
for your situation include:
What are the durability requirements?
Since increasing the durability of carpet generally
requires a more resource-intensive manufacturing-
process and makes use of recycled material difficult,
it is important to anticipate the expected use pattern
and replacement schedule in order to make the best
environmental purchase. For example, don't specify
the most durable carpet for a temporary space with
light use and frequent change in tenants and, there-
fore, frequent renovations and flooring replacement.
Tiles or broadloom?
Tiles use more material initially because of the
need for a thicker backing but, depending on the use
pattern, can save materials in the long run because
worn or soiled tiles can be replaced individually
rather than replacing the entire carpet. Also, keep in
mind that .broadloom carpet comes in standard
widths — typically 6 and 12 feet. Because tiles are
smaller, typically less/carpet is wasted when tiles are
installed in. spaces with different dimensions.
What is the recycled content of the carpet face fiber,
hacking, and cushion?
Is there a mechanism for recycling some or all of the
carpet components?
What are the chemical emissions from the
manufacture and disposal of carpet materials?
What are the emissions from the carpet itself or
from other materials, used,during its installation,
e.g. adhesives? Do any of these emissions present
indoor air quality concerns?
It's Policy
The federal government has undertaken various initiatives to mandate the consideration of the environment in
purchasing decisions. A growing number of state and local governments also have implemented green purchasing
policies or programs. In 1995, EPA established the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program to
encourage federal employees to consider a broad range of environmental factors, such as reduced toxicity and
lower VOC content, in their purchasing decisions. In 1997, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which pro-
vides broad purchasing guidance to federal employees, was amended to support federal procurement of green
products and services. In addition, executive agencies, under Executive Order 13101, have been directed to iden-
tify and give preference to the purchase of products and services that pose fewer environmental burdens.
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Contacts and Resources
Green Seal
Green Seal is the independent, nonprofit organization
dedicated to protecting the environment by promoting
the manufacture and sale of environmentally responsi-
ble consumer products. It sets environmental standards
and awards a Green Seal of Approval to products that
cause less harm to the environment than other similar
products. The Choose Green Report on Carpets offers a
list of recommended carpet brands, their manufactur-
ers, and contacts. Green Seal's consensus Environmental
Standard for Commercial Adhesive, GS-36, covers
carpet adhesives. Both the report and the standard are
available through Green Seal's Web site,
Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines
(CPG)
<\vww.cpa.gov/cpg>
Designates products that can be made with recovered
materials and recommends minimum recovered mate-
rial content levels.
The National Negotiated Outcomes Group
on Carpet
Partnership of several states, the carpet industry, and
EPA; addressing concerns about the large quantity of
carpet that enters the solid waste stream.
DuPont Carpet Reclamation Program
(1-300-4DUPONT) '.___ ., „; r_ _ : ,=
Collects and separates used carpet; processes into new
products. , .... ,.,- ,...'...• : .- . .
Carpet and Rug Institute
General information on the carpet,industry and.infor-
mation on the CRI Green Label program.
EPA's Purchasing Tool Suite
EPA& EPP Program has developed the following Web-based tools to help purchasers consider the environment,
along with price and performance, when buying a product or service:
Database of Environmental Information for Products and Services — A searchable database of product-
specific information (e.g., environmental standards and guidelines or contract language) developed by govern-
ment programs, both domestic and international, as well as third parties. , .
Promising Practices Guide for Greener Contracts — A series of short .case studies highlighting successful
strategies for incorporating environmental factors into a variety of product and service contracts.
General EPP Training Tool — Covers basic EPP principles and mandates, along with some more in-depth
applications of EPP, in an entertaining and multimedia format.
for Buyinj.Grecn.with the. Government Credit Card — Tips to help government credit card holders
make greener choices when buying products, such as cleaning products.
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Standards and Specifications
A number of states and EPA Regions have incorporated
contract language that takes health and environmental. _
considerations into account when purchasing carpet.
Massachusetts state agencies specify minimum levels of
recycled content for carpet purchases; both
Massachusetts and Minnesota allow only low-VOC
adhesives; and Washington specifies the maximum '.
emissions allowed in the first 30 days following installa-
tion. EPA Region 7 specifications prohibit certain chemi-
cals and require emissions to meet the Carpet and Rug
Institute's "Green Label" voluntary standard (see box,
next page). Region 10 allows only low-VOC and
formaldehyde-free adhesives and requires that any car-
pet unable to be reused must be recycled with the
Dupont Carpet Reclamation Program or its equivalent.
The Carpet and Rug Institute's "Green Label" program
encourages manufacturers to reduce chemical emissions
from carpet products. EPA also is exploring the develop-
ment of voluntary consensus standards for carpet prod-
ucts. The standards would incorporate environmental
factors into the product design,and manufacturing .
process. In addition, under EPAs Comprehensive
Procurement Guidelines (CPG), federal agencies are
required to purchase carpet and carpet cushion, among
other items, with recovered content. The CPG.currently
addresses only polyester carpet, but recent proposed.
changes in the CPG also address nylon carpet and nylon
carpet backing, as well as including some revisions to
the existing polyester carpet designation (66 FR 45256,
August 28, 2001). . -. : .:"...
Purchasers can find contract language and other vol-
untary standards for carpet in the EPP Database at
.
Future Directions
The Midwestern Workgroup on Carpet Recycling was a
partnership of several states, the carpet industry, and
EPA that addressed concerns about the large quantity of
. carpet that enters the solid waste stream. EPAs participa-
tion in the Midwestern Workgroup supported the
Agency's Extended Product Responsibility program,
which calls on: those in the product life cycle—manufac-
turers, retailers, users,jand disposers—to share responsi-
bility for reducing the environmental impacts of their
products. The Midwestern Workgroup concluded its
meetings in January 2001 with the following outcomes:
• Government partners committed to developing
model procurement guidelines that address EPP in
the context of carpet purchases by public entities.
• Government and the carpet industry agreed to
negotiate national outcomes for the_end-of-life,,..
management of carpet, including the establishment
of reuse and recycling rates. .... ::..-.- ;
• The carpet industry agreed to create, fund, and
manage a third-party organization that will be ,
responsible for achieving the negotiated outcomes.
The National Negotiated Outcomes Group on Carpet,
at , is a succes-..
sor to the earlier Midwestern Workgroup and is devel-
oping a new Memorandum of Understanding that
describes specific targets and timetables for the agreed-
upon outcomes and sets the roles and responsibilities of
the various signing parties, including the newly formed
third-party organization named Carpet America
Recovery Effort.
Five Guiding Principles
To help government purchasers incorporate environ-
mental considerations into purchasing decisions, EPA
developed five guiding principles. The guiding princi-
ples provide a framework purchasers can use to make
environmentally preferable purchases. The five princi-
ples are:
1. Include environmental considerations as part of the
normal purchasing process.
2. Emphasize pollution prevention early in'the pur-
chasing process.
3. Examine multiple environmental attributes
throughout a product's or service's life cycle.
4. Compare relevant environmental impacts when
selecting products and services.
5. Collect and base purchasing decisions on accurate
and meaningful information about environmental
performance.
For more information, go to the five guiding principles
on EPAs EPP Web site at
.
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