Dow Flooring - Sustainable Development

ENABLING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

• Accelerates switch from solvent-based dispersions to water-based
• Enhances component recyclability
• Emits low VOCs

Sustainable Results with Dow Performance Carpet Backings
Dow's efforts in polyurethane carpet backings are designed to meet the specific needs of the commercial marketplace. Dow BIOBALANCE™ Polymers, which incorporate renewable soybean-based components, are a great example of this process in action.

BIOBALANCE Polymers are the latest of many developments at Dow for which sustainability is the cornerstone. BIOBALANCE Polymers incorporate soybean oil, a 100% renewable resource, as a replacement in a portion of the chemistry used in making polyurethane carpet backings. This technological advancement supports the agricultural community and utilizes a renewable commodity that offers a stable supply.

BIOBALANCE Polymers, which are available through Universal Textile Technologies, LLC (UTT), are incorporated into a non-cushioned product designed for high-traffic applications and a high-performance cushioned backing for improved underfoot comfort. In addition, the mechanical froth process used in manufacturing the cushion uses no CFCs,¹ only compressed air, a benefit since its inception nearly 20 years ago.

As a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, Dow is working to provide its customers with the latest environmental information and the best product options under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System^®. The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work.

Carpet systems meeting the Carpet and Rug Institute's Indoor Air Quality Test Program are eligible for one point in the LEED system, a requirement made easier through the low-VOC² characteristic that has been designed into polyurethane carpet backings made using Dow technology. Additional credit may be available for specifying carpet with backing innovations from Dow as described below. Due to the evolving nature of the LEED guidelines, utilizing the services of a LEED-certified expert is advisable.

Serving to confirm the benefits of Dow's cushioned carpet backing technology is a recently published case study. In a paper by Jeffery L. Campbell, Ph.D., chair of the Facilities Management Program in the College of Engineering and Technology at Brigham Young University (BYU), carpet backing made using Dow technology was highlighted for its ability to extend the life of carpet and reduce life-cycle costing.³ The extensive study involved analysis of four variables and approximately 3.2 million square feet of space at BYU, of which 75% included a polyurethane backing. The findings are an outstanding testimony, with annual savings of $0.15 per ft² realized through the use of a polyurethane cushioned backing, amounting to savings of over $360,000 per year. These savings are attributed to increased product life expectancy, which ultimately impacts business interruption, carpet removal, and landfill costs. Additional savings are realized through reduced maintenance costs. Equally impressive are the findings on life-cycle extension. Through the use of polyurethane carpet backing made using Dow's technology, BYU has changed its life-cycle expectations and related budgeting for carpet from 7.5 years to 11.5 years, an improvement of over 53%.