Tarkett announces the deployment of phthalate-free technology

Tarkett, worldwide leader in innovative flooring and sports surface solutions, announces its decision to use phthalate-free plasticizers in its vinyl flooring production in Europe in 2014.

As part of Tarkett’s commitment to greater sustainability and eco-innovation, these new phthalate-free products have been designed to improve indoor environment and air quality.

The phthalate-free plasticizers selected by Tarkett are approved for food contact containers and can be used for toys intended to be placed in the mouth by children.

“Our eco-innovation program and commitment to sustainability are built around providing our customers with the very best products. Our aim is to offer more comfortable, healthy and people-friendly indoor spaces, without compromising performance and design experience,” explains Anne-Christine Ayed, Executive Vice President Research, Innovation & Environment for Tarkett Group.

“The launch of this new generation of resilient flooring products sets another milestone on Tarkett journey towards environmental sustainability and will encourage the industry to follow in the coming years.”

In the past few years, Tarkett pro-actively started deploying the new phthalate-free technology in its North American and Swedish production sites. The Group will now progressively roll it out within all remaining production sites in Europe in 2014 and around the rest of the world in the coming years. In 2009, the Group launched its first phthalate-free vinyl flooring range (iQ Natural) made with renewable plasticizers.

Tarkett has also set the highest industry standards by eco-designing all its products to have low or extremely low VOC emissions, thus contributing to better indoor air quality.

“This eco-innovation shows that Tarkett continues to be leading the resilient flooring industry, setting high market standards to answer consumers’ increasing demand for products that combine health, environment, performance and aesthetics,” explains Remco Teulings, President EMEA Division of Tarkett Group.

Tarkett innovative flooring solutions not only conform to all regulations worldwide but also go far beyond them. Tarkett is committed to re-thinking its products, manufacturing processes and business models according to the ‘Cradle to Cradle’ and circular economy principles which stress the need for a positive contribution to people, the environment, as well as the economic development.