New Process Makes Wool Carpet Greener

Otago, NZ, March 1, 2011 -- A new carpet-making process that creates a 100% natural carpet that can be recycled has been developed by Dutch company Best Wool Carpets, James and Bond Textile Research.

That process, called Erutan, initally involves a chemical-free wool-scouring process that also uses just 10% of the energy of a traditional scour, and then a new process to bind the woollen fiber to linen backing without the use of synthetic backing materials or glue.

At the end of its life, the carpet can be recycled back to the soil or reprocessed and seeded with grass to help restore land to productive use.

Best Wool Carpets has chosen Wool Partners International's Laneve wool as its principal fiber supplier.

Best Wool Carpets managing director Yvar Monasch said in a press release that the potential for Erutan was huge.

The technology would be licensed to carpet makers, who would also pay royalties to Wool Partners International.

Erutan is to be officially launched in the Netherlands next year.