Every year, approximately 1,7000,000 m² (~1,200 tons) of textile flooring is installed in Belgium. After an average lifespan of around 10 years, the discarded carpet usually ends up in the garbage heap or incinerator (170 million m2!) , resulting in a major environmental impact and loss of valuable resources.

The Living Lab Carpet addresses this problem by developing circular solutions, including reuse, recovery and eco-design.

In collaboration with textile designer Leda Devoldere, product and interior designer Cas Moore and the partner Material Mastery various routes are being investigated for the reuse of various forms of carpet. Both (post-) production waste, such as cutting residues, production errors, surpluses and post-consumer material, are thoroughly investigated to give a new circular destination. The different streams that are being viewed range from carpet tiles, wall-to-wall carpets to carpets, bath mats...

Design and innovation organization Material Mastery developed the awareness presentation for the KIOSK. The organization brings together extensive experience and specialized expertise from various sectors, academic research and education and focuses on the role of materials in a circular economy.

The presentation in the KIOSK shows the literal size of the various residual flows. Within the project, a solution is sought for each cycle that textile travels: vFrom residual yarn at the beginning of the life cycle to unfinished carpet that is transformed into an acoustic panel consumer carpet. The installation shows the effective flow and size of the respective cycle.

The actual results of the project will be presented in October at WONDER Creativity Festival in Kortrijk in an impressive presentation.

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Living Lab Carpet is a project by Designregio Kortrijk in collaboration with Material Mastery, Centexbel, Fedustria, Cobot, Weerwerk, Belysse, Balta and with the support of Vlaio and Flanders Circular.

source: Design Regio Kortrijk