Repurposed
Stark Carpet may have come up with the ultimate in recycling. The firm is producing carpets composed of hand-knotted fragments from vintage Oriental rugs. Made of 100-percent wool, the Oriental Turkish Patchwork collection comes in a variety of colorways, including this red-based scheme. Sizes range from 6 feet by 9 feet to 12 feet by 18 feet, and custom sizes are available.







 




These soft-to-the-touch swatches are made of durable Sensuede®. The faux suede material, used for covering pillows, chairs, sofas and more, is available at Calico Corners. The product is made from post-consumer-use plastic (PET) soda and water bottles and polyester fibers from fabrics. Sensuede sources state that no harmful solvents are used in the manufacturing process. Choose from 130 colors.

PET Project
The sweater you’re wearing, your sofa’s upholstery, and the rug beneath your feet may once have been plastic water or soda bottles.

Sound crazy? Not so.

Made of PET, a type of plastic that softens when exposed to heat, the recycled bottles are being turned into “yarn” to produce textiles for clothing, carpets and more.

Some environmentalists hail this phenomenon as a way to prevent plastic bottles—which are not biodegradable—from clogging landfills indefinitely. But others note that too few bottles are being recycled to make much of a difference. The American Chemistry Council reports that while 54 percent of recycled PET ends up being converted into fiber, only two of every 10 plastic water bottles sold wind up at recycling centers.

Within the textile industry itself there is some concern as to whether the repurposing of plastic bottles can significantly help the environment. That is because it requires a great amount of energy to create strands of fiber from the recycled plastic, according to Bob Miller, senior vice president of National Spinning Co. Inc. The firm is a major producer of polyester yarn made from recycled plastic drink bottles. “At the end of the day,” he suggests, “you’ve kept bottles out of the landfill, but you may have used more fuel.”