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Meeting both sustainability and quality objectives - DEFRA chooses Interface

7 May 2005, United Kingdom
Sustainability was a key issue for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) when selecting products for the refurbishment of Nobel House, its London headquarters. This and other factors, such as product quality, value for money and aesthetics, resulted in Interface being awarded the flooring contract.

The two-year refurbishment of Nobel House was preceded by an in-depth analysis of the sustainability and whole life cost credentials of all materials in the refurbishment using a point-scoring matrix. Interface is strongly committed to the environment in all aspects of its business and scored highly. Therefore, as part of the DEFRA project, the existing carpet tiles were uplifted through the Interface Re-Entry scheme ready for refurbishment by Pennine Magpie, a non-profit company that Interface works with, ready for a useful second life.

Within Nobel house much of the old cellular style office accommodation has been converted to open plan areas so Atkins Consultants, the company responsible for the interior design, has employed a combination of Interface products to delineate the ‘areas’ and ‘work spaces’.

Employing a minimum of 87% recycled yarn, the Interface product Chenille Warp serves as the predominant floorcovering and its colours, which are also used as accents painted on the walls, tie in with the DEFRA branding. However it is punctuated with vibrant, random “spots” of Palette 2000 product in Thistle and Oxide and Heuga Emoyeni in Lime Green. These cut circles indicate the corridors and, as well as being aesthetically striking, the stark contrast helps guide those who may be visually impaired.

Colin Graham, project liaison manager at main contractors Overbury, comments: “Cost and environmental issues were major concerns and we were very impressed with Interface. The company has incredible vision; we visited the factory and the only thing that comes out is carpet tiles, not pollutants.”

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