Modulyss

Modulyss uses yarn made of old fishing nets to make carpet tiles

"The demand for eco-products has grown tremendously in recent years”
Katrien De Cooman, sustainability manager at Modulyss

As an East Flemish company, Modulyss designs and produces modular carpet tiles for the international contract market (offices, hotels, public authorities, schools, etc.). “We are proud of our environmental approach and are very careful in selecting our materials.”

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Modulyss operates in 95 countries and targets architects and designers all over the world. “For us, aesthetics, quality and sustainability all go hand in hand,” explains Katrien De Cooman, sustainability manager at Modulyss. “In 2008, we were the first European carpet manufacturer to launch an ecological carpet tile. In the meantime, we have extended our ecological range to no less than ten eco- collections. The yarn, the primary backing and the backing are all made of recycled materials.”

Cleaner oceans

The yarn in the carpet tiles from Modulyss is made from polyamide 6 (PA 6). “Econyl (recycled nylon) yarn is made of post-industrial and post-consumer waste from the production process and from old fishing nets. The polymer PA 6 is subjected to a process of regeneration, allowing it to be reused as PA 6 yarn without losing its usual qualities. The yarn remains wear-resistant, colourfast and easy to maintain. Since 2015, we have been an associate partner member of Healthy Seas, an organisation focused on protecting the oceans by removing abandoned fishing nets from the water. Aquafil, our yarn supplier, transforms the PA6 from the fishing nets back into new Econyl yarn. In this way, we help to keep our oceans cleaner.”

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PET bottles and waste cuts

“The primary backing in the ecological carpet tiles consists entirely of recycled polyester made from PET bottles. We also use post-industrial chalk as filling for the backing. We recycle material left over from the cutting line in order to avoid precious resources being wasted. Remnants are shredded and added to the tile backing, which is made of bitumen. Using this method, the backing of all carpet tiles contains up to 10 per cent post-industrial waste cuts. We began this ‘back2back’ concept as early as 2007.”

Tiles as fuel

“Thanks to the CARE project, our carpet tiles remain useful even at the very end of their life cycle. In partnership with the Vanheede Environment Group, we offer our customers the chance to make the most of their tiles’ energetic value by using them as fuel for cement ovens at the end of their life cycle. Bitumen and yarn are both oil-based products and have a high calorific value. They therefore contain plenty of energy and are ideal for use as fuel. The carpet waste is collected, ground and combined with other waste before being converted into pellets suitable for burning. Chalk from carpet tiles is recycled and used as a raw material for cement.”

A rewarding green image

“At Modulyss we have been focused on finding creative and innovative methods to minimise the environmental impact of our carpet tiles ever since 2007. Demand for our eco-products has increased tremendously in recent years. High levels of sustainability are now very much a requirement in commercial building projects. It is also becoming increasingly important to our customers to portray a green image. We are now able to reap the rewards.”

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