EnvironCel™ by Universal Textile Technologies

CALHOUN, GEORGIA, May 7, 2008—Woolshire Carpet Mills is an eco-conscious manufacturer that makes all its products from sustainable New Zealand wool. Now, the company is making the best even better by offering its wool carpets with an optional EnviroCel™ backing. This soy-based 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.

“We’ve been looking for an eco-friendly backing to offer with our wool carpets, but until now, we could not find one that met our high quality standards,” says Terry Green, executive vice president of Woolshire. “EnviroCel™ is exceptional. It is a sustainable backing that is not affected by water or temperature changes, can withstand repeated wet cleaning and is able to support heavy foot traffic and furniture. The backing also features an extruded fiberized adhesion layer that provides increased flexibility and delamination strength, while significantly reducing product weight. Lighter and more flexible, EnviroCel™ backings make our wool carpets easier to install.”

EnviroCel™ technology replaces over 90% of the petroleum-based polymers in its polyurethane formula with bio-based polymers derived from domestically grown soybeans. EnviroCel™ also contains Celceram™, a highly refined material recovered from the process of coal combustion in an electric utility power plant that has the added benefit of increasing a carpet’s dimensional stability. In addition, the EnviroCel™ backing type used by Woolshire incorporates post-consumer recycled PET plastic from soft drink and water bottles.

“We commend Woolshire’s eco-efforts,” says Wes Connelly, North American Area Manager for Wools of New Zealand. “As a Wools of New Zealand Brand Partner, they share our commitment to environmentalism and strive to make improvements that enhance indoor environments while bettering our world.”