Recofloor’s 15th Anniversary event celebrates sustainability

Recofloor marked 15 years of its successful vinyl take-back and recycling scheme with an inspiring flooring sustainability event at the Belfry Hotel & Resort in Sutton Coldfield.

The event brought together industry leaders, delegates and businesses to celebrate progress and share knowledge in sustainable practices.

Sponsored by scheme founders Altro and Polyflor and hosted by sustainability champion Chris Hines MBE, the event featured an informative and uplifting programme of talks and networking, alongside the 2025 Recofloor awards ceremony.

Presentations on flooring sustainability topics by leaders from across the sector sparked a palpable sense of positivity among delegates. Speakers included Altro and Polyflor representatives, Recofloor members and from firms including Morgan Sindall, European Resilient Flooring Manufacturers’ Institute (ERFMI) and the CFA.

Established in 2009 as a collaborative project to tackle vinyl flooring waste, Recofloor has become a crucial platform for collaboration, recycling innovation and sustainability advocacy. Over the course of 15 years, Recofloor has significantly influenced the vinyl flooring industry by promoting recycling and reducing waste. Its efforts have empowered businesses to rethink their operations and align their strategies with sustainable practices.

Carla Eslava, Recofloor Manager, comments: “It’s been an amazing journey and we’re proud to be celebrating our 15th anniversary. Sustainability is here to stay. There is a lot to do and there is room to grow. I urge Recofloor members to keep going.”

The scheme has grown from its inception to become a pioneering force in the industry with more than 450 members, demonstrating that collecting and recycling vinyl flooring can be both practical and profitable. It has fostered partnerships and helped members to implement robust sustainability measures.

One of the event’s highlights was the emphasis on collaboration as the driving force behind Recofloor’s success. The scheme’s ability to unite various businesses under a common cause – to improve recycling efforts and promote sustainability – has spurred momentum within the industry.

Carl Brooker, Commercial Director at Signature Me, shared his company’s transformative journey since joining Recofloor in 2021. He explained how the scheme helped them to integrate sustainability into their operations.

“We started participating in the Recofloor scheme in 2021. During 2020, we took a step back, had a look at everything that was going on and plan our future strategy. Part of that was how do we improve our sustainability credentials as a business,” he says.

He revealed that Recofloor has enabled Signature Me to enhance its recycling infrastructure and reduce waste through practical measures such as having regular Recofloor collections, reducing skip sizes, and incorporating recycling routes for pallets, plastic, and cardboard.

He continues: “Recofloor has been a huge part of our sustainability goals. We introduced the concept fully to our contractors. When we’re working with our clients, the conversation around recycling and sustainability is a crucial part of the whole story.”

This sentiment underscores the scheme’s role in fostering dialogue about recycling and sustainability not only within businesses but also with suppliers and clients. The collaborative efforts have extended beyond vinyl flooring to include carpet manufacturers and other industries, demonstrating Recofloor’s far-reaching influence.

While the Recofloor 15^th anniversary event celebrated achievements, it also served as a reminder of the work that still lies ahead, and a call to action. Sustainability efforts require constant innovation, adaptation, and commitment.

As Michelle Keating, General Manager at Cornwall Carpets & Flooring Ltd, shared in her presentation, the commitment to sustainability is not just a corporate obligation but a moral imperative. Businesses across the industry must embrace practices that reflect their dedication to environmental stewardship.

She says: “Sustainability is a key part of what we do. Our involvement in the Recofloor scheme has had a positive impact in many ways, from reducing waste disposal costs and carbon emissions to gaining marketing recognition and fostering stronger relationships with our clients.

“It’s allowed us to become more efficient, save money and make a real difference to the environment, all whilst supporting the sustainability goals of our clients and partners.

“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, but obviously we know that there’s always more we can do and as a company we continue to grow and evolve, and we remain committed to improving our environmental impact and leading by example.”

Praising the scheme, Debbie Buckett, Director at Meadee Flooring, says: “I think Recofloor is really good, and it has made a considerable impact in reducing what we send to landfill. Obviously, it reduces skip costs, but it’s also good for the next generation that we are reducing what we’re sending to landfill.”

“Listening to people’s experiences here has been really quite motivational as well to see what we can actually build on, take it forward and emphasise it more to customers and our staff and just see other ways we can build on our efforts.”

Carla concludes: “Recofloor’s journey over the past 15 years is a testament to the power of industry-wide collaboration. By bringing together businesses, suppliers, and advocates, the scheme has achieved remarkable progress in recycling and sustainability.”

Chris Hines, event host, summarises: “The Recofloor scheme is a shining example of positive environmental change in an industry that is often seen or perceived as reluctant to change. It was an amazing day, uplifting, innovative and reinvigorated even more my belief that we can meet the challenges facing us.”

Founded by Altro and Polyflor, Recofloor is the flooring sector’s sustainable take-back scheme for commercial waste vinyl generated from all types of projects. Material is recycled and used in new products, including flooring. To find out more, go to www.recofloor.org, contact Recofloor on 0161 355 7618 or email [email protected].