Universal Fibers introduced solution-dyed nylon into the market in 1970 and began reusing post-industrial reclaim in 1991. In 2014, it launched a fibre made from reclaimed carpet waste using a depolymerization method. A year later, it completed its first lifecycle analysis and turned its focus to carbon reduction.

Since then, Universal Fibers has introduced Thrive, its first low-carbon product, and reduced its carbon footprint by 10% annually. Thrive® matter now has the world’s lowest carbon footprint for fibre at just 1.19kg CO₂ per kilogram.

Jennifer Roundtree, global director of marketing & brands, represented Universal Fibers at its fourth Clerkenwell Design Week, where the company supported new product launches featuring Thrive matter by Burmatex (rocklines), Milliken’s Northward Bound 2.0 and Glasshouse, and Balsan’s new Daydream collection.

‘We’re engaging with the design community, educating visitors on fibre resilience, then pointing them to where to find the products for specification,’ says Jennifer. ‘Last year was about making an impact; this year is about unlocking creativity through play. CDW is the perfect place for that.’

Their 2025 theme, Playtopia, focuses on the emotional side of design. ‘It’s not just about solving problems, it’s also about joy, inspiration, and experience.’

Playtopia included trivia, tactile games, and a playful look into the future via fortune-telling. ‘We’re showing how play uplifts mood, reduces stress, and sparks ideas,’ she adds.

Thrive matter is Universal Fibers’s leading sustainable innovation. ‘It’s the world’s first carbon-negative recycled yarn and the most environmentally responsible, solution-dyed high-performance nylon fibre available today,’ says Jennifer.

Colour is another focus. ‘From energising reds to soothing blues, Playtopia demonstrates how colour and design work together to influence wellbeing and mood.’

With the release of its Sustainability Snapshot, Universal Fibers is highlighting key issues designers consider when specifying flooring. Jennifer, who joined the company in 2007, says: ‘Combining artistry, sustainability and performance are at the core of what we do.’

The company’s EnLIST programme underpins its sustainability approach: transparency via certifications, lifecycle impact analysis, and a focus on people and community. ‘We encourage everyone in our supply chain to enlist in the same sustainability journey,’ she says.