Environmental Product Declaration

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with

EcoSolution Q Face Fiber
COMMERCIAL CARPET TILE
AVERAGE FACE WEIGHT - 21.3 OZ/SQUARE YARD

Shaw Contract Group defines

design not only by great appearance
but also performance and
sustainability. The result is longlasting carpet with vibrant colors,
distinctive patterns, and minimal
environmental impact. As a brand
of Shaw Industries, Shaw Contract
Group combines the expertise
of the worlds largest carpet
manufacturer with the financial
stability of a Berkshire Hathaway
subsidiary.
For more information, visit
shawcontractgroup.com

EcoWorx Tile: The industrys first fully recylcable, non-PVC carpet tile
backing. It is 100% PVC-free with Silver Cradle to Cradle Certification
from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute ensuring safety
for human health and the environment.

Page 2 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

According to ISO 14025

This declaration is an environmental product declaration (EPD) in accordance with ISO 14025. EPDs rely
on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to provide information on a number of environmental impacts of products
over their life cycle. Exclusions: EPDs do not indicate that any environmental or social performance
benchmarks are met, and there may be impacts that they do not encompass. LCAs do not typically
address the site-specific environmental impacts of raw material extraction, nor are they meant to assess human health
toxicity. EPDs can complement but cannot replace tools and certifications that are designed to address these impacts
and/or set performance thresholds e.g. Type 1 certifications, health assessments and declarations, environmental
impact assessments, etc. Accuracy of Results: EPDs regularly rely on estimations of impacts, and the level of
accuracy in estimation of effect differs for any particular product line and reported impact. Comparability: EPDs are not
comparative assertions and are either not comparable or have limited comparability when they cover different life cycle
stages, are based on different product category rules or are missing relevant environmental impacts. EPDs from
different programs may not be comparable.
PROGRAM OPERATOR

UL Environment ONLY UL

DECLARATION HOLDER
DECLARATION NUMBER
DECLARED PRODUCT
REFERENCE PCR

Shaw Industry Groups Inc.

DATE OF ISSUE

November 29, 2012UL ONLY

PERIOD OF VALIDITY

5 years UL ONLY

CONTENTS OF THE
DECLARATION

12CA54711.101.2
Commerical Carpet Tile NLY
NSF PCR for Flooring (Carpet, Resilient, Laminate, Ceramic, and Wood)UL ONLY

Product definition and information about building physics

Information about basic material and the materials origin
Description of the products manufacture
Indication of product processing
Information about the in-use conditions
Life cycle assessment results
Testing results and verifications

THE PCR REVIEW WAS CONDUCTED BY:

NSF International
Accepted by PCR Review Panel
ncss@nsf.org

THIS DECLARATION WAS INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH

ISO 14025 BY UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES
INTERNAL
EXTERNAL
THIS LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT WAS INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ISO 14044 AND THE REFERENCE PCR BY:

Paul Firth
UL O

NLY
Tom Gloria

Page 3 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

Product Definition
Product Classification & Description

EcoWorx is the flooring industrys first fully recyclable, non-PVC

carpet tile backing and the worlds first Cradle to Cradle Silver
Certified commercial carpet tile.

EcoWorx contains 44% recycled content by weight, including 33%

pre-consumer recycled content and 11% post-consumer recycled
content.

The EcoWorx product line consists of hundreds of styles made

using the EcoWorx PVC-free polyolefin composite backing and a

Nylon 6 face fiber. This product group was assessed for an average
face weight of 21.3 ounces per square yard (osy) with a maximum of
42 osy and a minimum of 14 osy yarn weights.

All EcoWorx products come with a global Environmental Guarantee,

which guarantees that when it reaches the end of its useful life, Shaw

will collect and recycle the EcoWorx into new EcoWorx .

EcoWorx products also come with a lifetime commercial warranty

against edge ravel, zippering, delamination, and moisture
degradation.
The recycled content in EcoWorx tile is calculated using system
allocation for the EcoSolution Q face fiber and mass balance
calculations for the EcoWorx backing. Note: the recycled content
values for EcoWorx tile are validated annually as part of the
ANSI/NSF 140 Platinum certification process; the actual recycled
content in each product will likely vary.

Shaw Contract Group, a brand of Shaw Industries Group, Inc., strives

to adhere to all applicable laws regarding labor, discrimination and
harassment, wages and benefits, health and safety, diversity, and equal opportunity.
For more information, visit ShawContractGroup.com.

According to ISO 14025

Page 4 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

According to ISO 14025

Range of Applications

EcoWorx carpet tiles are intended for high performance environments requiring modular flooring, such as commercial
building installations with heavy foot traffic.

Product Standards & Approvals

Pill Test (CPSC FF1-70)

PASS

Flooring Radiant Panel (ASTM E-648)

Class I

NBS Smoke Density (ASTM E-662)

450

Electrostatic Propensity (AATCC-134)

< 3.5 kV

CRI Green Label Plus

ID 9968

California Section 01350

Meets Criteria

Colorfastness to Light (AATCC-16E)

4.0 @ 60 AFUs

Delamination Strength (ASTM D-3936)

No Delamination

Tuft Bind (ASTM D-1335)

8 pounds

Dimensional Stability (ASTM 7570)

< 0.150% change

Surface Appearance Change (ASTM D5252/7330)

2.0, depending on style

Product Characteristics
Nylon 6

Face Fiber Composition

Primary Backing
Secondary Backing
Recycled Content
Installation Options

Polyester / Nylon 6 composite

Polyolefin Composite
44% total recycled content by weight: 33% pre-consumer; 11% post-consumer according to system
allocation.

Full spread Shaw Sureset N5000 releasable

adhesive
selftable
contentsEcoWorx ES, Shaws environmental

adhesive system, or LokDots installation system for EcoWorx

Product Size Availability

(inches)

24x24 or 18x36
Average

Minimum

Maximum

Face Weight

21.3 oz/sy
(0.722 kg/m2)

14 oz/sy
(0.475 kg/m2)

42 oz/sy
(1.42 kg/m2)

Total Product Weight

93.6 oz/sy
(3.17 kg/m2)

86.3 oz/sy
(2.93 kg/m2)

114.3 oz/sy
(3.88 kg/m2)

Visit ShawContractGroup.com to download details on specifications and warranties online.

The recycled content in EcoWorx tile is calculated using system allocation for the EcoSolution Q face fiber and mass
balance calculations for the EcoWorx backing. Note: the recycled content values for EcoWorx tile are validated

Page 5 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

According to ISO 14025

annually as part of the ANSI/NSF 140 Platinum certification process; the actual recycled content in each product will
likely vary.
Material Content

Component

Face Yarn
Primary Backing
Precoat

Secondary Backing
Stabilization Layer

Material
Nylon 6
Post-industrial Nylon 6
Post-consumer Nylon 6
Nylon 6
Polyester
Latex
Calcium Carbonate
Aluminum Trihydrate
Polyolefin Composite
Elutriated Heavies
Coal Fly Ash or Glass Cullet
Fiberglass

Mass %

23
4
18

53
2

Availability
Non-renewable
Recycled
Recycled
Non-renewable
Non-renewable
Non-renewable
Non-renewable
Non-renewable
Non-renewable
Recycled
Recycled
Non-renewable

Fossil Limited
Limited
Limited
Fossil Limited
Fossil Limited
Fossil Limited
Mineral Abundant
Mineral Abundant
Fossil Limited
Limited
Fossil Limited
Mineral Abundant

Origin
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States

Page 6 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

According to ISO 14025

Product Manufacture
Production of Main Materials
Nylon 6 is a polymer of caprolactam formed by ring opening
polymerization. The post-consumer nylon 6 fiber used by
Shaw is created using caprolactam recovered from the
depolymerization process of used nylon 6 at the Shaw
Evergreen facility in Augusta, GA, and then re-polymerizing it
back into virgin fiber.
Polyester is a category of polymers produced from an ester
functional group. In the flooring industry, polyester most
commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a
thermoplastic polymer resin.
Latex is a synthetic copolymer used as a precoat to bind the
face fiber to the primary backing.
Calcium Carbonate (limestone) is a common substance
mined and used as filler for many products.
Aluminum trihydrate (aluminum hydroxide) is a mineral
found in the aluminum ore bauxite, and is commonly used as a fire retardant.
Polyolefins are extremely inert polymers produced from a simple olefin as a monomer.

Elutriated Heavies are shreddings from the backing of returned EcoWorx tiles which are then added to the virgin
compounds during the backing extrusion.
Coal Fly Ash is a by-product generated during the combustion of coal used in electricity generation.
Glass Cullet is crushed glass, which is added to the backing for dimensional stability.
Fiberglass is created by extruding melted glass into fibers and adding these fibers to a thermoplastic resin matrix. The
final fiberglass sheet adds dimensional stability to the final tile product.

Production of the EcoWorx Tile

EcoWorx carpet tile is made with Shaws Eco Solution Q Nylon 6 face fiber.

Nylon 6 face fiber is produced internally at Shaw through polymerization from caprolactam. The EcoSolution Q Nylon 6
fiber is turned into yarn through a variety of processes depending up on the desired look of the finished product.

Page 7 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

According to ISO 14025

The yarn is tufted into the primary backing layer, after which a performance precoat is applied to ensure maximum tuft

bind. A first layer of the EcoWorx thermoplastic polyolefin compound is then applied, followed by the application of a

fiberglass reinforcement layer for unmatched stability. A final layer of EcoWorx backing is then for added stability. The
tiles are then die-cut and packaged for distribution.
Environmental Health & Safety of Production

EcoWorx is manufactured in the US in an ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 certified facility or equivalent.
Shaw strives to adhere to all applicable laws regarding labor, discrimination and harassment, wages and benefits,
health and safety, diversity, and equal opportunity. Through associate engagement, structured safety processes, and a
commitment to responsible materials sourcing, Shaw works to improve standards for personal and organizational
safety every day. Our programs include:

Shaw Behavior Based Safety Program to ensure continuous training, awareness, education and safety of all
Shaw associates and visitors to Shaw facilities.
Supply chain, raw materials and waste management programs
ANSI/NSF 140 compliance
Shaw Management System (SMS) - Based on ISO 9001 and 14001, and OSHAS 18001 standards, SMS
brings together Shaws Quality, Total Productive Manufacturing (TPM), Environmental, Health and Safety
systems under one umbrella, providing associates with a one stop shop for helping ensure all job steps are
followed the same way every time.

Shaws full Safety, Health and Environmental Policy is available at ShawGreenEdge.com/SHEP.

Production Waste & Waste Management
More than 75 percent of Shaws manufacturing waste is recycled or reused through Shaws Material Resources
Management (MRM) system. Designed to revolutionize the way Shaw defines and manages manufacturing waste,
MRM measures and categorizes material previously considered waste across all Shaw manufacturing facilities. The
system then uses a centralized reporting system to channel that material into new cycles of recycling and reuse
through Shaws own reclamation and manufacturing systems, or for use in the manufacture of other products.

Delivery and Installation

Delivery
For life cycle assessment purposes, the distance traveled for delivery of the product was calculated using a weighted
average of total sales.

Page 8 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

According to ISO 14025

Packaging Materials

Domestically, EcoWorx is packaged using a combination of cardboard corners and stretch wrap, and then stacked on

pallets. When shipping EcoWorx internationally, the tiles are loaded into cardboard boxes and stacked on pallets.
Installation

EcoWorx can be installed using full spread Shaw Sureset N5000 releasable adhesive, EcoWorx ES (Shaws

environmental self-adhesive system), or LokDots installation system for EcoWorx .

LokDots uses a system of adhesive dots and a lightweight handheld applicator to install EcoWorx carpet tile even in
some of the most challenging conditions. The pressure-sensitive system uses as much as 97% less material

(compared to wet adhesive) and allows for virtually immediate occupancy. LokDots odorless, non-toxic adhesive

makes it easy to use in occupied spaces, and LokDots are also ideal for high moisture environments with up to 12pH,
10 pounds per 100 square feet moisture transmission, and 95% relative humidity in the concrete slab. For more

information about LokDots , visit LokDots.com.

A full installation guide for EcoWorx tile is available at:

http://www.shawcontractgroup.com/Content/LiteraturePDFs/Installation_pdf/ModularInstallation.pdf.Packaging

All Shaw packaging materials are fully recyclable. While Shaw has significantly dematerialized the packaging used for

EcoWorx , some packaging material is necessary for the delivery of the product. Shaw recommends the recycling of
these packaging materials whenever possible.

Page 9 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

According to ISO 14025

Health, Safety & Environmental Impacts During Installation

Shaw commercial floor coverings are tested and certified to the Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label
Plus (GLP) standard for VOC emissions. Shaw adhesives are also certified to the Green Label
adhesive emissions criteria; they also comply with the VOC content requirements of the South Coast

Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1168. Full EcoWorx specifications are available at
http://www.shawcontractgroup.com/Content/LiteraturePDFs/Backings_pdf/EcoWorx_spec.pdf.

Use Stage
The use stage of the life cycle assessment takes into account the regular and irregular maintenance of the carpet. For

the life cycle assessment, it is assumed that EcoWorx carpet tile lasts 15 years, assuming proper installation, care,
and maintenance.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning and maintenance can vary greatly with use conditions. Therefore, the life cycle assessment includes the
average of all Shaw recommended cleaning and care schedules according to the following table:
http://www.shawcontractgroup.com/Html/PerformanceMaintenance

Cleaning Process

Frequency

Energy and Resources Used

Vacuuming

4 times a week

Electricity

Hot Water Extraction

2 times a year

Electricity, Water, Cleaner

End-of-Life
Recycling
Recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency for innovation in carpet recycling, Shaw leads the industry in
carpet reclamation, collecting more than 100 million pounds of post-consumer carpet annually and recycling it through
our various recycling programs, including Shaws Evergreen Nylon 6 recycling facility.

Shaw also provides a Global Environmental Guarantee for all EcoWorx products, which guarantees Shaw will collect

EcoWorx at the end of its useful life and recycle it into new EcoWorx again and again.

For more information on recycling EcoWorx , visit

http://www.shawcontractgroup.com/Html/EnvironmentalReclamationRecycling.

Page 10 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

According to ISO 14025

The Elutriation Process: making carpet from carpet

Disposal

The EcoWorx Global Environmental Guarantee makes it easy to

recycle EcoWorx at the end of its useful life. However, in

circumstances where recycling is not feasible, the material may be
disposed of via landfill or commercial incineration. For life cycle
assessment purposes, all disposal options are assumed (recycling,
landfill, incineration).

Page 11 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

According to ISO 14025

Life Cycle Assessment Results

A cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was completed on EcoWorx tile according to ISO 14040/44.
Description of the Declared or Functional Unit
The functional unit of the study is one square meter of floor covering in a commercial building over a time period of 60 years.
The 60-year study shows the impact of 4 iterations of carpet tile, each lasting 15 years.
Cut-off Criteria
Mass and energy flows less than 1% of the total mass or energy, respectively, may be excluded from the study, provided
they do not total more than 5% of the total mass or energy, respectively, and provided they do not contribute more than 1%
to the environmental impacts of the study.
Impact Allocation
As multiple products are created at each of Shaw's manufacturing facilities, allocation is used to determine how much
of the total facility energy and water use is caused by the product in question. For all manufacturing facilities, mass
allocation of the final products is used. The only exception is the Evergreen nylon 6 recycling facility, where economic
allocation is used due to the valuable nature of the desired product, and the lower economic value of the coproduct.
Background Data
All upstream data have been taken from the GaBi 6 LCI database, excluding the caprolactam from the Shaw Evergreen
facility, which is taken from a prior LCA study performed for Shaw. All manufacturing data has been collected from Shaw
facilities.
Data Quality
All background data used is considered to be of high quality. Primary data is collected from Shaw facilities in the United
States and is an average over 2012, using up-to-date technologies. Secondary data is taken from the GaBi 6 LCI database.
System Boundaries
The LCA study performed is considered a full cradle-to-grave study. It includes raw material sourcing/extraction,
manufacturing, installation and delivery, use, and end-of-life.
Results of the Assessment
The LCIA categories are based on the CML 2001 methodology, updated in 2010, and the TRACI 2.1 results are also
shown. The LCA results are split into the following life cycle stages: sourcing/extraction, manufacturing, delivery and
installation, use, and end of life.

Page 12 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

According to ISO 14025

Life Cycle Inventory

The table below shows the primary energy, material resources, and waste flows for the 60 year study.
Life Cycle Inventory
Column Heading
Primary Energy
Heading
table contents Resources 1,333 MJ
Non-Renewable
23% Crude Column
Oil
27%
Hard Coal
Column 33%
Heading
table contents
Renewable
Resources
70 MJ
5% Geothermal
Hydro
table contents
Secondary
Fuels
0 MJ
Non-Renewable Material Resources (>1% of total)
Inert Rock
80.4 kg
Limestone
1.9 kg
table contents
Bauxite
1.8 kg
table contents
Waste
Flows
table contents
Non-Hazardous
14.6 kg
Hazardous
0.01 kg

2% Lignite
16% Wind

37% Natural Gas

46% Solar

11% Nuclear

Life Cycle Impact Assessment

The results shown in the following LCIA tables contain a 60 year study, including 4 iterations of EcoWorx tile each
lasting 15 years, and a one year study, including one iteration of the EcoWorx tile. An average face weight was used
to create the following results.
Table A: LCIA Results for 1 Year Study

The Flooring: Carpet, Resilient, Laminate, Ceramic, Wood PCR is currently under expert review. It is expected that
this review will conclude that Table A: Life Cycle Impacts for a One Year Use Stage will no longer be necessary in
future EPDs. The absence of Table A in this EPD is recognized by NSF and UL Environment as an appropriate
deviation from the PCR.
Table B: LCIA Results for 60 Year Study
CML 2001, Updated Nov, 2010
Impact Category
Total
Global Warming
Acidification
Ozone Depletion
Smog
Eutrophication
Abiotic Depletion
TRACI 2.0
Impact Category
Global Warming
Acidification
Ozone Depletion
Smog
Eutrophication

76.8 kg CO2 eq
0.27 kg SO2 eq
2.8E-08 kg R11 eq
0.022 kg C2H4 eq
0.019 kg phosphate eq
6.5E-05 kg Sb eq

Delivery &
Installation
2.3%
0.8%
0.3%
2.4%
1.4%
0.4%

Use

End-of-Life

33.8%
45.4%
41.5%
31.4%
30.3%
4.3%

1.0%
0.4%
0.5%
1.4%
0.9%
0.1%

Manufacturing Delivery &

Installation
6.9%
2.1%
6.7%
0.8%
7.1%
0.3%
5.3%
1.2%
1.4%
0.3%

Use
33.9%
43.9%
41.1%
33.0%
6.4%

End-of-Life
1.0%
0.5%
0.5%
0.9%
0.2%

Sourcing & Extraction Manufacturing

56.0%
46.5%
50.5%
58.7%
62.0%
93.7%

Total
Sourcing/Extraction
76.6 kg CO2 eq
56.0%
0.26 kg SO2 eq
48.1%
3.0E-08 kg CFC-11 eq
51.0%
2.9 kg O3 eq
59.6%
5.3E-02 kg N eq
91.7%

6.9%
6.8%
7.2%
6.2%
5.4%
1.4%

Page 13 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

TRACI 2.1 LCIA Results

According to ISO 14025

CML LCIA Results

Interpretation
The results show the top two contributors to the environmental impact of EcoWorx tile are the materials themselves, as
well as the use of the carpet (cleaning).
References
Product Category Rule for Environmental Product Declarations, Flooring: Carpet, Resilient, Laminate, Ceramic, Wood,
NSF International, National Center for Sustainability Standards, valid through May 22, 2017, ncss@nsf.org
ISO 14025:2006, the International Organization for Standardization, Environmental Labels and Declarations - Type III
Environmental Declarations - Principals and Procedures, Edition 1
http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=38131
ISO 14040:2006, the International Standard of the International Standardization Organization, Environmental
Management Life Cycle Assessment - Principles and Framework, Edition 2
http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=37456
ISO 14044:2006, the International Standard of the International Standardization Organization, Environmental
Management Life Cycle Assessment Requirements and guidelines, Edition 1, Section 6.1.
http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=38498
ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA, 19428-2959 USA
http://www.astm.org/Standard/index.shtml
16 CFR Ch. 11 (1-1-00 Edition) Part 1630, Document FF 1-70 Surface Flammability of Carpets and Rugs
American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), Research Triangle Park, NC., USA, Test Methods
and Evaluation Procedures http://www.aatcc.org/testing/methods/index.htm
Carpet and Rug Institute, Green Label Plus Program, Carpet and Adhesives, http://www.carpetrug.org/commercialcustomers/green-building-and-the-environment/green-label-plus/carpet-and-adhesive.cfm

Page 14 of 14

EcoWorx Carpet Tile with EcoSolution Q Face Fiber

Commercial Carpet Tile

According to ISO 14025

Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions From Indoor Sources Using
Environmental Chambers 1.1, Indoor Air Quality Section, Environmental Health Laboratory Branch, Division of
Environmental and Occupational Disease Control, California Department of Public Health February 2010 (also known
as California Specification 01350) http://www.cal-iaq.org/phocadownload/cdphiaq_standardmethod_v1_1_2010%20new1110.pdf
South Coast Air Quality Management District, Rule 1168, Adhesives and Sealant Applications;
http://www.aqmd.gov/rules/reg/reg11/r1168.pdf
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO 14001:2004(E), Second Edition, Environmental Management
Systems Requirements with Guidance for Use http://www.iso.org/iso/home.html
Cradle to Cradle, http://www.c2ccertified.org
BRE Global Certification, http://www.bre.co.uk
NSF/ANSI 140 Sustainability Assessment for Carpet, NSF International, http://www.nsf.org
Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS), member of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN)
http://www.greenlabel.sg/
GaBi 6 software, PE INTERNATIONAL, http://www.gabi-software.com
U.S. EPA, Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and Other Environmental Impacts (TRACI), version 2.1
http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/std/sab/traci/.
University of Leiden Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Life Cycle Impact Assessment Methodology, 2001
version. http://cml.leiden.edu/software/data-cmlia.html.