For Kate Burnett, director of product and strategy development at Milliken, the future of flooring depends on creating practical circular economy solutions that work not just for manufacturers and clients, but for contractors too.
Having joined Milliken as a graduate during the decline of the UK textiles industry in the ‘90s, Kate has now spent almost 30 years in the sector. Passionate about sustainability, wellbeing and collaboration, she believes contractors have a vital role to play in ensuring flooring materials remain in a reuse and recycling loop rather than being lost to landfill.
‘Relationships still underpin the flooring industry,’ said Kate. ‘Over many years we’ve built those relationships as a brand people can trust.’
A key part of Milliken’s approach is designing products specifically to support reuse and second-life applications.
‘We’re showcasing our commitment to the circular economy by demonstrating how our products are designed to maintain their appearance and cushion properties over long life cycles,’ Kate explained. ‘We’re actively challenging perceptions around reused flooring products.’
One of the company’s latest demonstrations highlights carpet tiles that have been refurbished and cleaned through Milliken’s reuse partnership with Paris-based specialist ORAK. Visitors to Milliken’s showroom during Clerkenwell Design Week were invited to identify the difference between reused and brand new tiles.
‘People can still have a high quality product across a 15-year life cycle,’ Kate said. ‘The key thing is making sure those products are recovered properly at end of life so they can be reused or reprocessed instead of disposed of.’
That is where contractors become central to the process.
‘Contractors are often the people closest to the point of uplift,’ she explained. ‘They are in the ideal position to help divert material away from landfill and into reuse or recycling routes.’
Milliken’s N/XT Life take-back programme has been developed specifically to support contractors and clients looking for an alternative to traditional disposal routes.
‘We want to make it straightforward,’ Kate said. ‘Contractors already have enough pressures on-site, so our role is to connect them with the right solution and ensure material reaches the most appropriate reuse or recycling outlet through Milliken’s network of partners. Welltek is our leading partner in the UK, who can provide end-to-end support including site audits, uplift, palletisation and collection services, tailored to specific project needs.’
For Kate, however, one of the biggest opportunities for improving circularity lies in adhesive-free installation.
‘We see adhesive-free installation as a key driver of reuse because it allows products to be uplifted cleanly without damaging either the carpet tile or the subfloor,’ she said.
Milliken’s TractionBack friction coating system is factory applied and enables carpet tiles to be installed without adhesive, helping contractors achieve faster and cleaner installations while supporting future reuse.
‘It provides a cleaner, faster installation method for contractors, especially where programmes are tight,’ Kate explained. ‘At the same time, it eliminates adhesive waste and removes VOCs associated with traditional adhesive systems.’
She believes the wider market is gradually shifting towards these approaches.
‘There will come a tipping point,’ she said. ‘In some markets overseas, adhesive is barely considered anymore because the benefits are so clear.’
Those benefits extend beyond sustainability alone. Kate pointed out that adhesive-free systems can reduce subfloor preparation requirements, speed up installation and make future reconfiguration significantly easier for building owners.
‘It’s an investment for the future because the flooring can be uplifted, reused and reconfigured as spaces change,’ she said. ‘For contractors working on square metre rates rather than hourly rates, there should also be good economics in being able to complete installations more efficiently.’
Labour shortages across construction and flooring make that efficiency increasingly important.
‘There’s a genuine concern across the industry around labour availability,’ Kate noted. ‘Anything that helps contractors complete projects more quickly, without compromising quality, has real value.’
Milliken’s most recent flooring launches, Quiet Statement and Open Studio, reflect the company’s wider sustainability strategy. Manufactured at its Wigan facility, now celebrating 40 years of operation, the collections incorporate up to 70% recycled content, including ECONYL yarn.
According to Kate, the ranges combine strong acoustic performance and comfort underfoot with long-term durability and ease of reuse.
‘They provide a broadloom-style aesthetic but with all the benefits of modular flooring,’ she said. ‘Ease of installation, uplift and significantly reduced waste are all part of that proposition.’
Milliken recently showcased many of these ideas at Clerkenwell Design Week, where the company focused heavily on reuse, sustainability and neurodiversity in workplace design.
‘CDW gives us a fantastic opportunity to engage directly with the architecture and design community on topics we know matter to them,’ Kate said.
The company’s interactive reuse display proved particularly popular, encouraging visitors to distinguish between reused and new carpet tiles.
‘It’s incredibly thought-provoking because it genuinely changes perceptions around product longevity and second-life suitability,’ she added.
The event also featured appearances from retail expert and broadcaster Mary Portas, whose advocacy around reuse and circularity resonated strongly with Kate.
‘Mary Portas has done a huge amount to champion reuse within fashion and retail,’ she said. ‘It was inspiring to hear how those same principles can now influence interiors and construction.’
For Kate, though, the message ultimately comes back to practical collaboration across the supply chain.
‘I’m passionate about the difference design can make to wellbeing,’ she said. ‘But sustainability only works when manufacturers, contractors, designers and clients all work together. That’s how meaningful change actually happens.’
www.milliken.com
