Article Number : 3846 |
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| Date | 11/11/2008 9:09:34 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=3846 |
| Abstract | Wools of New Zealand works in partnership with leading carpet and rug manufacturers like Godfrey Hirst, J. Mish, Luzern, Masland, Nourison, Prestige Mills, Silver Creek and Woolshire. These companies conduct business in ways that complement the sustainable attributes of wool... |
| Article | Wools of New Zealand works in partnership with leading carpet and rug manufacturers like Godfrey Hirst, J. Mish, Luzern, Masland, Nourison, Prestige Mills, Silver Creek and Woolshire. These companies conduct business in ways that complement the sustainable attributes of wool. They aggressively work to find better ways of conserving energy, water and waste, and take full advantage of wool’s sustainable attributes to create floor coverings that improve the indoor—and outdoor—health of our world. All Wools of New Zealand branded products offered by the following mills contribute to LEED points, NAHB Green Homes Building point values and carry either CRI Green Label or CRI Green Label Plus. For over 150 years, Godfrey Hirst, an Australian manufacturer, has been committed to providing the very best in fibers. Its does so with a manufacturing philosophy of minimal impact that is efficient and environmentally responsible. The company’s eco- initiatives have been honored with several awards, including Outstanding Achievement in Greenhouse Gas Abatement, A Waste Wise Business from Eco-Recycle and the Save Water Award of Excellence. J. Mish operates a state-of-the art manufacturing facility in Cartersville, Ga., where great care is taken to minimize waste and energy. Wool yarns are specially spun to maximize efficiencies and diminish industrial waste. Any leftover wool is recycled into carpet pads and plant hangers. Also a priority at J. Mish is socially conscious initiatives, which benefit several charities, including the Floor Covering Industry Foundation. Luzern manufactures its carpets in the United States using only the finest New Zealand wool. The environmentally conscious company constantly employs new ways to minimize energy usage and invests in the most efficient CYP (tufting) machines on the market. Zero wool waste is also maintained at Luzern’s facilities. Post-industrial waste yarn is bundled and sold to recyclers for use in goods that responsibly further the natural benefits of wool. Masland takes environmental responsibility as serious as it does design. Waste elimination programs include the replacement of custom samples with recyclable CAD renderings for the design community. Another initiative includes the reclamation of waste yarn, which keeps more than 330,000 pounds of yarn per year from being discarded outside the recyclable chain. Reductions in natural gas and water used for the dyeing of yarn and the finishing of carpet have been reduced 22% and 17 %, respectively, and electricity has been reduced by 26%. Nourison’s environmental initiatives extend around the globe to some of the world’s most remote locations. In villages where sheep herding and cotton farming are a way of life, natural materials are harvested and processed with pride. By employing the farmers and artisans in hundreds of villages, Nourison’s “Global Village” initiatives sustain a trade that has been passed down for dozens of generations. Prestige Mills, along with its Concepts International, Weave-Tuft Carpet and Louis De Poortere divisions, offers carpet and rugs produced by many of the most eco-friendly mills in the world. The company specializes in New Zealand wool products and makes available dye-free options that are 100% natural. Sustainable styles are continually added across all Prestige Mills divisions, which support environmental preservation through the use of bio-based fibers. Silver Creek, a division of Bloomsburg Carpet, carpets aremade in the U.S. at the company’s Bloomsburg, Pa., facility. The majority of its products are woven of eco-friendly New Zealand wool on Axminster, Wilton and Velvet looms. Also available are dye-free, woven-wool carpets that are 100% natural. Jute, which has been spun with mineral oil and a cotton-fine chain, is interlocked with the face fibers to create an eco-friendly backing. Silver Creek’s strong weave extends the life of its wool carpets, prolonging the need for replacements. Woolshire Carpet Mills is an eco-conscious manufacturer that makes all its products from sustainable New Zealand wool. Recently, the company made the best even better by offering its wool carpets with an optional EnviroCel backing. This soy- ased backing from Universal Textile Technologies is the first high-performance, environmentally green system designed specifically for the installation and performance requirements of hospitality and high-end residential use. |