How the flooring industry is delivering sustainability for social housing landlords
Meeting the evolving expectations of landlords and residents
Sustainability in flooring isn’t just about innovation – it’s about meeting the evolving expectations of social housing landlords and their residents. Drawing on insights from Designer Contracts, this blog explores how suppliers are working together to deliver greener solutions, improve transparency, and support circularity across the sector.
Why sustainability is now a core priority for landlords
As environmental responsibility becomes a growing priority for customers, businesses must align their operations to meet these expectations. This means partnering with suppliers who are equally committed to sustainable practices, ensuring that materials are responsibly sourced and that contractors are equipped to implement greener solutions on the ground, supporting your sustainability goals.
Giving members the data they need
Transparency is also key. Landlords increasingly expect their suppliers to provide data on carbon performance, procurement standards, material choices and manufacturing processes. They want to make informed, greener choices, and it’s the responsibility of suppliers to support them in doing so.
Tackling waste through innovation
Innovative recycling technologies are helping to address the challenge of waste. For example, over 500,000 tonnes of end-of-life carpet are produced in the UK each year. Thanks to new processes, it’s now possible to deconstruct carpet at volume and repurpose its materials across various industries. But to make this work, manufacturers must embrace extended producer responsibility (EPR), designing products with recyclability in mind from the outset.
Building the right relationships for long-term impact
Partnerships with recycling experts and sustainable suppliers are more important than ever. While building these relationships takes time and effort, they are vital to achieving circularity. High-performance products that can be effectively recycled are central to this mission.
Product innovations that support member goals
One standout solution to member challenges is underlay made from 85% recycled fibres, including plastic bottles. It offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional PU foam, felt and rubber underlays. Other advances include carpets made entirely from recycled polypropylene and polyester yarns—saving thousands of plastic bottles and litres of oil from landfill.
Helping members make informed choices
Clear, accessible product information is also crucial. Members should be able to see at a glance whether a product has an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), contains recycled content, is UK-made, uses low VOCs, or is produced in facilities powered by renewable energy. Certifications like Eurofins Indoor Air Quality can further support these claims.
Driving change from within
Sustainability must also be embedded internally. For example, some organisations have introduced Sustainability Champion schemes, empowering staff to monitor energy use and waste. Initiatives like this can reduce energy consumption by over 10%, demonstrating that small changes can lead to significant impact.
Working together to build a greener future
The journey to circularity is complex, but with the right partnerships and practical innovations, social housing landlords can lead the way in sustainable flooring. By embedding sustainability into every stage – from procurement to installation – members can deliver real impact for communities and the environment.
With thanks to Designer Contacts who are an awarded supplier on the PfH Furniture and Flooring framework. For more information about our flooring solutions, please click here.
