Status Quo Analysis - Textile Sector

4.5. System Map Analysis for Carpets: Closed-Loop Potential and Persistent Barriers

The carpet industry presents a slightly different picture, with a more defined end-of-life process due to established recycling practices in some regions. The system map for carpets showcases several distinct characteristics: 

1. End-of-Life Recycling Systems: Unlike textiles, carpets usually have a longer lifespan and are more likely to enter structured recycling streams. However, this potential for closed-loop systems faces significant challenges due to the presence of harmful chemicals in carpets, including flame retardants (PBDEs), phthalates, heavy metals, and PFAS. These substances can persist through the recycling process and remain in the recycled materials, creating risks for human health and the environment. The lack of transparency and information about chemical content in carpets further complicates recycling efforts, particularly when the recycled materials are repurposed into products like insulation or padding. Despite these challenges, the carpet industry presents opportunities for material recovery and reuse within closed-loop systems (Fischer and Pascucci, 2017).

2. Corporate Sustainability Initiatives: Larger carpet manufacturers are embedding chemical traceability into their broader ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies, using it as a tool to gain consumer trust and meet regulatory requirements. These initiatives involve proprietary recycling technologies that allow for the recovery of valuable materials such as nylon (Spadea et al., 2015).

3. Barriers for SMEs: Similar to the textile sector, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the carpet industry face significant barriers to adopting chemical traceability systems, including cost constraints and limited access to technology.

On a positive note, the carpet industry has established traceability solutions, particularly for European manufacturers. The GUT-PRODIS system, developed in 2007 from the original GUT label, provides a comprehensive traceability framework through its three-pillar approach: chemical testing through the GUT system, standardized FCSS symbols for performance characteristics, and unique product identification via ID numbers and QR codes. Since 2020, this system has evolved into a complete Product Passport accessible online, demonstrating the industry's capability to implement sophisticated traceability solutions. However, challenges remain in achieving comprehensive chemical traceability across the carpet market. While European producers have access to the GUT-PRODIS system through ECRA, not all carpet products in the European market are covered by this traceability scheme. Some carpet products, particularly imports, may lack equivalent transparent chemical information.