Embodied carbon
Embodied carbon is the carbon footprint of a material – the sum of all the carbon dioxide resulting from the mining, harvesting, processing, manufacturing, transportation and installation of building materials. It can be measured from "cradle to gate" or "cradle to site." Reducing embodied carbon is the most critical component of the carbon life cycle at Interface, as it’s the part that we can control as we construct our flooring products.
Since 1996, we’ve reduced the embodied carbon footprint of our carpet tile product by 74% by changing how we design and make our products through the use of recycled materials, dematerialisation and improved manufacturing efficiencies. Then, through our Carbon Neutral Floors programme, compensating for what we still can't avoid with carbon offsets from renewable energy, fuel switching and reforestation projects.