Proof Positive Tile, Interface
Exhibited at this year’s NeoCon commercial furniture show in Chicago, this prototype carpet tile has a negative carbon footprint thanks to a closed-loop manufacturing process, according to its Atlanta-based manufacturer, Interface. The process turns carbon derived from plants (via photosynthesis) into durable materials that store the carbon within the product for at least a century. The tile can then be recycled at the end of its lifetime. Interface, whose manufacturing facilities operate on 96 percent renewable energy as of 2016, has been developing the technology to fabricate this product for 20 years. Though it is not yet available on the commercial market, the company is working on proper draping and scalability for the carpet tile, which is now being toured around the globe to gather feedback. interface.com
