Interface unveils world’s first carbon-negative rubber flooring prototype

This latest innovation comes directly from Interface's recent commitment to invest in product development and manufacturing efforts that promote carbon reduction and storage, without offsetting.

Interface will present the carbon negative rubber floor prototype at BAU, the world's largest trade fair for architecture, materials and systems, which will take place from January 13 to 17, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

The nora by Interface rubber flooring prototype is carbon negative when measured from cradle to gate, storing more carbon than it emits from raw material extraction to manufacturing and packaging. In 2020, Interface launched Embodied BeautyTM, the industry’s first carbon negative carpet tile collection, marking a major milestone in the company’s 30-year sustainability innovation journey. Building on the learnings from this carpet tile innovation, Interface sourced and incorporated bio-based raw materials, storing carbon in its rubber manufacturing, to create a prototype that is completely new to the industry.

For Mario Kröger, head of research and development for the nora brand: “Bio-based materials like natural rubber have been an integral part of our nora rubber flooring for decades as we seek to reduce the carbon footprint of our products. Our experienced research and development team has made incredible progress in finding the right combination of design and material innovations to achieve a negative carbon footprint – an important milestone in our journey to become carbon neutral by 2040. We measured the carbon footprint of the prototype from cradle to gate and successfully achieved carbon negativity, with no offsets. This is an exciting achievement that demonstrates our commitment to reducing environmental impacts across our entire product portfolio to meet our ambitious climate goals.”

Interface acquired nora systems in 2018, and since then the company has been working hard to bring its expertise in low-carbon design and manufacturing to the rubber flooring category. Through manufacturing innovation, Interface has successfully reduced the carbon intensity of its rubber portfolio by 26% since 2019. Today, the new prototype incorporates more recycled and bio-based materials to achieve a negative carbon footprint, a natural next step in Interface’s mission to minimize the impact of its rubber products.

Interface will showcase the carbon negative rubber prototype at BAU alongside 36 carbon negative carpet tile designs, demonstrating the commercial viability of carbon negative flooring in this important building product category.

For Liz Minne, Head of Global Sustainability Strategy at Interface: “This prototype reaffirms our commitment to reallocating past offset investments to innovation projects that result in direct carbon reductions in our operations and across our supply chain. More than ever, rubber is emerging as a priority flooring solution for commercial interiors, particularly in healthcare, education, transportation and other industrial segments. By offering our customers a carbon-negative rubber solution in the future, we can help them achieve their sustainability goals without compromising design or performance benefits.”

Interface aims to commercialize the carbon negative rubber product by the end of 2025. This proof-of-concept prototype will be refined and prepared for commercialization over the coming months, ensuring that it meets the highest levels of design, quality and performance required of all Interface products.

For more information on this industry-leading innovation:
https://www.nora.com/france/fr/durabilite/notre-engagement.