Carpenter Co. Improves Its Product Offering and Reduces Its Environmental Footprint With EnviroStep™ Carpet Cushion Technologies Featuring DuPont Renewably Sourced Materials

Richmond, Va./Wilmington, Del. – Carpenter Co. is shifting to moisture barrier films made with renewably sourced (RS) polymers from DuPont, as a key element of its EnviroStep™ carpet cushion technology. Films made with DuPont Renewably Sourced Materials contain a minimum of 20 percent renewably sourced content by weight, and replace existing moisture barrier films that are entirely petroleum-based.

The moisture barrier, which is laminated to the top surface of the cushion, prevents spills or pet accidents from soaking into the cushion like a giant sponge. This makes it possible to pull spills back to the surface preventing the cushion from harboring permanent odors, eliminating damage to the sub-floor and preventing reoccurring stains caused when a spill wicks back to the surface of the carpet.
Cushion without a moisture barrier (left) allows liquids to penetrate into its sponge-like structure. At right, DuPont moisture barrier film used by Carpenter Co. prevents liquid penetration of the cushioning, allowing it to be blotted up from the carpet.

----------------------
See Image: http://www.ides.com/images/news/2008/0818-dupont.jpg

Cushion without a moisture barrier (left) allows liquids to penetrate into its sponge-like structure. At right, DuPont moisture barrier film used by Carpenter Co. prevents liquid penetration of the cushioning, allowing it to be blotted up from the carpet.
----------------------

Carpenter is incorporating two DuPont Renewably Sourced Materials into its cushioning products. Carpenter’s Spillguard® and Odor-Eaters™ cushioning are available now with DuPont™ Active Layer RS (renewably sourced) moisture barrier film. In the near future, Carpenter intends to replace their DuPont™ Hytrel® “breathable” moisture barrier film used in the Stainmaster® carpet cushioning with DuPont™ Hytrel® RS (renewably sourced), “breathable” moisture barrier film. The breathable feature provides an escape route for moisture trapped beneath the cushion. To build consumer awareness and acceptance, Carpenter’s point-of-purchase materials will provide both explanation and identification of the EnviroStep™ carpet cushion technologies, and they will include a DuPont Renewably Sourced mark, DuPont’s symbol for products containing a minimum of 20 percent renewable content by weight, in conjunction with the DuPont™ Active Layer RS and DuPont™ Hytrel® RS brands.

“As a leading manufacturer of carpet cushion, we at Carpenter Co. make it a priority not only to provide the highest quality products but also to make technological advancements to help safeguard consumers’ homes and the environment,” said Ken Thompsen, vice president – sales and marketing at Carpenter Co. “Our EnviroStep™ technology is the latest embodiment of that effort, and we are pleased indeed to have the valuable support of DuPont in our shift to films made with DuPont Renewably Sourced Materials.”

All EnviroStep™ products are made from 100 percent “pre-consumer” recycled polyurethane trim, which is a by-product from the manufacture of virgin polyurethane used in furniture, bedding, and packaging. In turn, the carpet cushion products are themselves 100 percent recyclable, according to Thompsen. Over 1 billion pounds of urethane trim that would otherwise find its way to landfill is utilized annually to produce bonded carpet cushion, according to industry estimates cited by Thompsen.

Carpenter goes a step further in environmental stewardship by incorporating bio-based materials into the polyol used to bind together recycled urethane trim in making carpet cushion. This bio-based material replaces a portion of petroleum-based material in polyol.

Thompsen also reports that EnviroStep™ products use no chlorofluorocarbons in their manufacture and are hypoallergenic. All have been tested by the Carpet and Rug Institute and have received that body’s Green label certification for Air Quality Standards.

In business since 1948 Carpenter Co. is the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning. With manufacturing facilities located throughout the world, Carpenter produces products for use in bedding, furniture, packaging, automotive, and flooring as well as other industries. For more information about Carpenter Co. or any of its products, go to www.carpenter.com.