Online Environmental Impact Calculator and Reclamation Calculator Important Tools on www.antron.invista.com
Tools Set Benchmark in the Measurement of Environmental Impact Reductions
November 9, 2004
ATLANTA (Nov. 9, 2004) - Two free tools provided by ANTRON®, a leading carpet fiber brand in the INVISTA family of brands, allows carpet specifiers to quantify the benefits of specifying carpet constructed of ANTRON® nylon, an Environmentally Preferable Product.
The Environmental Impact Calculator will allow architects, designers and facility managers to define their success in selecting materials that have a reduced effect on the environment and set a benchmark for industry standards. The ANTRON® Carpet Reclamation Calculator quantifies the environmental benefits of the INVISTA Carpet Reclamation Program. Both tools are available at www.antron.invista.com.
"These tools demonstrate the environmental savings of using ANTRON® carpet fibers in new installations and recycling used carpet taken up during remodeling," said Mark Ryan, ANTRON® carpet environmental initiatives manager. "You go on-line, plug in the square yards of new ANTRON® carpet or carpet to be reclaimed, and the tool calculates the environmental benefits in common sense, recognizable terms. For instance, you see how many trees it would take to absorb the climate change emissions you've averted. This visualization makes it easier to promote the use of environmentally preferable products such as ANTRON® carpet fiber."
The Environmental Impact Calculator is based on ANTRON® carpet fiber's proprietary Total Environmental Index (TEI), which measures a broader range of factors than traditional industrial measurements of wastes and emissions. The tool takes into account:
* global waste and emissions, including climate change, land and other air emissions and water use
* use of depleteable raw materials and energy
* injuries, illness and manufacturing and transportation incidences that affect employees and contractors
* the safety and health of individuals installing, maintaining and using the product
* value recovery, such as reclamation and recycling
The TEI Index of ANTRON® carpet fiber was calculated by comparing current data against several external and internal life cycle studies conducted since 1990. Based on this assessment, the TEI of ANTRON® carpet fiber is 30 percent below what is typical of the industry. As a result, ANTRON® carpet fiber was the first and only commercial carpet fiber certified and re-certified as an Environmentally Preferable Product by Scientific Certification Systems, an independent third-party.
The ANTRON® Carpet Reclamation Calculator demonstrates the environmental benefit of reclaiming and recycling used carpet back into feedstock for resins used in automobiles and other engineered nylon products. The calculator measures cubic yards of landfill saved, the number of BTUs of energy saved and gallons of water saved by recycling carpet.
Carpet reclamation is a viable alternative to placement in a landfill. By measuring the environmental effectiveness, end-users can easily understand how recycling fits into an overall plan for life-cycle sustainability of products for commercial interiors.
In its continuing effort to reduce environmental impact, INVISTA recently launched the most aggressive and comprehensive ISO compliant Life-Cycle assessment study (LCA) the company has ever attempted. INVISTA sponsored its first LCA study on nylon carpet fibers in 1990 and followed that with studies in 1998 and 2001. "We are excited to learn what this new study will tell us," says Ryan. "We think we've made great progress since 2001. In the last few years we have completed projects to recycle our hazardous waste, dramatically reduced Nitrous Oxide (N2O) emissions, installed efficient cogeneration energy equipment, and reduced overall energy needs by almost 10 percent. We're eager to see how these efforts show up as reductions in the overall impact of our product."
ANTRON® carpet fiber is the most recognized brand of commercial carpet fiber. In addition to its advanced soil resistance, stain resistance and exclusive fiber technology, ANTRON® carpet face fiber is third-party certified as an Environmentally Preferable Product based on guidelines from Executive Order 13101. For more information on ANTRON®, please call 1-877-5-ANTRON or visit antron.invista.com.
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