Summary

A new technique and new polymer materials are applied for backing the underside of carpet. Polymer materials replace latex materials, which are used for backing carpet. There is no need anymore for moistening the top carpet layer and drying the integrated carpet after the backing process. By eliminating the drying process, a huge amount of energy can be saved.
Previously, approximate 1,000,000 m² carpet pro year had to be removed as waste material to a dumping ground. By the new process, the polymer refuse can be mixed with the virgin granulate and reused again.
The energy conservation reaches 2,458,770 Nm³ natural gas equivalent. Approximate 30% of this amount is related to the saving of electricity, utilized for powering the forced air blowers.
The economic benefits in energy saving are € 316,000 pro year. Reusing the polymer waste for backing the carpet, saves another ƒ  300,000 pro year.
The project investment is € 1,900,000 . Conclusively the pay-back period is approximately 4 years. Thanks to the subsidy grant of € 450,000 the pay-back period could be limited to 3 years, if no major contretemps occur during the remaining project period until December 2001.