The Innovation Carpets have been waiting for

AI Quick Summary

Composil revolutionizes carpet waste management with a sustainable, circular approach. Our innovative solution breathes new life into worn or damaged carpets, ensuring responsible treatment and revalorization. • What challenge in the circular building and construction industry does your idea address?Composil offers a unique solution to enusre that carpets no longer end up incinerated but Reused or Recycled• What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem? Composil's vision for solving the challenge of carpet waste management is innovative in its focus on sustainability and circularity. Our approach involves two key strategies:1. Refurbishment: Specialists carefully sort and refurbish suitable carpet tiles, reintroducing them to the market through our catalog. This extends the life of existing materials, reducing the need for new production.2. Recycling: For carpets that cannot be refurbished, we employ optimal recycling techniques to create new raw materials. This process closes the loop on carpet waste, turning what would be discarded into valuable resources.This dual approach is innovative because it maximizes the value extracted from used carpets, minimizing waste and reducing the environmental impact of carpet production and disposal.Beneficiaries of this solution include:- Environment: Reduced landfill waste and lower demand for new raw materials- Consumers: Access to refurbished, cost-effective carpet options- Businesses: Opportunity to dispose of carpets responsibly, enhancing their sustainability profile- Manufacturing industry: Access to recycled raw materials, reducing reliance on virgin resourcesBy addressing the entire lifecycle of carpets, Composil's approach contributes to a more sustainable and circular economy in the flooring industry.• How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future? Composil's carpet reuse and recycling program could significantly impact the planet, people, and economy in the future:1. Environmental benefits: Reducing landfill waste and CO₂ emissions by diverting carpets from incineration.2. Circular economy: Extending carpet lifespans and creating a closed-loop system for flooring materials.3. Economic advantages: Offering cost savings for businesses and creating new job opportunities in the recycling sector.4. Resource conservation: Minimizing the need for virgin materials in carpet production.5. Sustainable construction: Supporting green building practices.• What assumptions or ideas do you want to test? What do you plan to work on during the booster program, and what is your goal to deliver at the end?During the booster program, we plan to focus on the following key areas:1. Testing desirability: - Conduct market research to gauge interest in recycled carpet products - Engage with potential customers in construction and manufacturing industries2. Environmental impact assessment: - Quantify the carbon footprint reduction of our recycling process compared to landfilling or incineration - Analyze the potential for closed-loop recycling of carpet materialsOur goal is to deliver: - A comprehensive feasibility report including technical, economic, and environmental analyses - Initial market feedback on the desirability of our recycled productsWe aim to demonstrate that our innovative approach can significantly increase carpet recycling rates while creating valuable materials for a circular economy.• Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested?Yes, Composil's carpet reuse and recycling idea has been tested and implemented with promising results:Previous Testing and Results- Composil has successfully reused and recycled 250,000 square meters of carpets in Belgium and abroad within a year and a half.- We developed a circular solution where reusable carpet tiles are refurbished and added to their stock, while worn or damaged tiles are sent for recycling.- Composil collaborates with Tarkett, a flooring manufacturer, to recycle carpets. A machine separates the fibers from the backing, both of which can be recycled into new carpet tiles.- The reused carpet tiles are sold at half the price of new tiles, motivating customers to choose sustainable options.Remaining Areas for Testing- Expanding the recycling capacity: While Composil has shown success, there's potential to increase the volume of carpets recycled and reused.- Developing new applications: Research into innovative uses for recycled carpet materials could open up new markets and increase the value of recycled content.- Optimizing logistics: Testing more efficient collection and transportation methods could reduce costs and environmental impact.- Enhancing cleaning and refurbishment techniques: Continued testing of cleaning methods could improve the quality and appeal of reused carpet tiles.By addressing these areas, we can further refine our circular economy model and increase our impact on sustainability in the carpet industry.• Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring? Composil's team consists of experienced professionals dedicated to carpet maintenance, refurbishment, and recycling. The key members include:Leadership- Jean Minne: CEO, providing overall vision and leadership - Pierrick Martin: COO, overseeing operations- Geoffroy Uyttenhove: Managing Partner, overseeing Sales and Marketing- Steve Lamarra: Managing Director Switzerland Expertise Areas- Carpet Maintenance: Specialists in cleaning and preserving carpet quality- Refurbishment: Experts in reconditioning used carpet tiles for reuse- Recycling: Professionals skilled in transforming worn-out carpets into raw materials- Sustainability: Team members focused on circular economy solutions and reducing environmental impactAdditional Team Composition- Research and Development: Collaborators working with specialized laboratories to develop exclusive, certified cleaning productsThe team's expertise spans across technical carpet care, sustainable practices, business development, and operational management, aligning with Composil's mission to provide comprehensive carpet lifecycle solutions while promoting sustainability in the construction and real estate sectors.How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required? To secure the 10% third-party funding required, we plan to focus on Swiss-specific opportunities:1. Apply for grants from the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), which supports innovative environmental projects.2. Explore partnerships with Swiss carpet manufacturers like Tisca Tischhauser AG, who may be interested in supporting recycling initiatives.3. Pursue corporate sponsorships from Swiss companies with strong sustainability goals, who might be interested in supporting circular economy initiatives.4. Investigate funding options from cantonal economic development agencies, which often support local innovative businesses.

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: The Innovation Carpets have been waiting for
• Date: 1/16/2025 2:01:43 PM
• Administrators:
  • STEVE LAMARRA

Project Idea Description

• What challenge in the circular building and construction industry does your idea address?

Composil offers a unique solution to enusre that carpets no longer end up incinerated but Reused or Recycled

• What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem?

Composil's vision for solving the challenge of carpet waste management is innovative in its focus on sustainability and circularity. Our approach involves two key strategies:

1. Refurbishment: Specialists carefully sort and refurbish suitable carpet tiles, reintroducing them to the market through our catalog. This extends the life of existing materials, reducing the need for new production.

2. Recycling: For carpets that cannot be refurbished, we employ optimal recycling techniques to create new raw materials. This process closes the loop on carpet waste, turning what would be discarded into valuable resources.

This dual approach is innovative because it maximizes the value extracted from used carpets, minimizing waste and reducing the environmental impact of carpet production and disposal.

Beneficiaries of this solution include:

- Environment: Reduced landfill waste and lower demand for new raw materials

- Consumers: Access to refurbished, cost-effective carpet options

- Businesses: Opportunity to dispose of carpets responsibly, enhancing their sustainability profile

- Manufacturing industry: Access to recycled raw materials, reducing reliance on virgin resources

By addressing the entire lifecycle of carpets, Composil's approach contributes to a more sustainable and circular economy in the flooring industry.

• How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future?

Composil's carpet reuse and recycling program could significantly impact the planet, people, and economy in the future:

1. Environmental benefits: Reducing landfill waste and CO₂ emissions by diverting carpets from incineration.

2. Circular economy: Extending carpet lifespans and creating a closed-loop system for flooring materials.

3. Economic advantages: Offering cost savings for businesses and creating new job opportunities in the recycling sector.

4. Resource conservation: Minimizing the need for virgin materials in carpet production.

5. Sustainable construction: Supporting green building practices.

• What assumptions or ideas do you want to test? What do you plan to work on during the booster program, and what is your goal to deliver at

the end?

During the booster program, we plan to focus on the following key areas:

1. Testing desirability:

- Conduct market research to gauge interest in recycled carpet products

- Engage with potential customers in construction and manufacturing industries

2. Environmental impact assessment:

- Quantify the carbon footprint reduction of our recycling process compared to landfilling or incineration

- Analyze the potential for closed-loop recycling of carpet materials

Our goal is to deliver:

- A comprehensive feasibility report including technical, economic, and environmental analyses

- Initial market feedback on the desirability of our recycled products

We aim to demonstrate that our innovative approach can significantly increase carpet recycling rates while creating valuable materials for a circular economy.

• Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested?

Yes, Composil's carpet reuse and recycling idea has been tested and implemented with promising results:

Previous Testing and Results

- Composil has successfully reused and recycled 250,000 square meters of carpets in Belgium and abroad within a year and a half.

- We developed a circular solution where reusable carpet tiles are refurbished and added to their stock, while worn or damaged tiles are sent for recycling.

- Composil collaborates with Tarkett, a flooring manufacturer, to recycle carpets. A machine separates the fibers from the backing, both of which can be recycled into new carpet tiles.

- The reused carpet tiles are sold at half the price of new tiles, motivating customers to choose sustainable options.

Remaining Areas for Testing

- Expanding the recycling capacity: While Composil has shown success, there's potential to increase the volume of carpets recycled and reused.

- Developing new applications: Research into innovative uses for recycled carpet materials could open up new markets and increase the value of recycled content.

- Optimizing logistics: Testing more efficient collection and transportation methods could reduce costs and environmental impact.

- Enhancing cleaning and refurbishment techniques: Continued testing of cleaning methods could improve the quality and appeal of reused carpet tiles.

By addressing these areas, we can further refine our circular economy model and increase our impact on sustainability in the carpet industry.

• Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring?

Composil's team consists of experienced professionals dedicated to carpet maintenance, refurbishment, and recycling. The key members include:

Leadership

- Jean Minne: CEO, providing overall vision and leadership

- Pierrick Martin: COO, overseeing operations

- Geoffroy Uyttenhove: Managing Partner, overseeing Sales and Marketing

- Steve Lamarra: Managing Director Switzerland

Expertise Areas

- Carpet Maintenance: Specialists in cleaning and preserving carpet quality

- Refurbishment: Experts in reconditioning used carpet tiles for reuse

- Recycling: Professionals skilled in transforming worn-out carpets into raw materials

- Sustainability: Team members focused on circular economy solutions and reducing environmental impact

Additional Team Composition

- Research and Development:

Collaborators working with specialized laboratories to develop exclusive, certified cleaning products

The team's expertise spans across technical carpet care, sustainable practices, business development, and operational management, aligning with Composil's mission to provide comprehensive carpet lifecycle solutions while promoting sustainability in the construction and real estate sectors.

How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required?

To secure the 10% third-party funding required, we plan to focus on Swiss-specific opportunities:

1. Apply for grants from the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), which supports innovative environmental projects.

2. Explore partnerships with Swiss carpet manufacturers like Tisca Tischhauser AG, who may be interested in supporting recycling initiatives.

3. Pursue corporate sponsorships from Swiss companies with strong sustainability goals, who might be interested in supporting circular economy initiatives.

4. Investigate funding options from cantonal economic development agencies, which often support local innovative businesses.

Composil revolutionizes carpet waste management with a sustainable, circular approach. Our innovative solution breathes new life into worn or damaged carpets, ensuring responsible treatment and revalorization.