Architect and Builder January/February 2016 | Page 12

underlay, Sportec Color rubber flooring and Grimebuster walkoff mats. The bestselling Berber Point 920 carpet and other
needlepunch ranges are made with a blend of polypropylene
and recycled Eco Fibre. This Eco-fibre is manufactured using
post production waste, which is re-pelletised (utilising the
Erema recycling machinery). The input of this recycled
content in the production process considerably lowers the
embodied energy associated with virgin raw material use.
Nexbac Eco modular tile backing contains up to 70% postindustrial waste (fly-ash) used as a filler in the backing.

1,386 tons per annum. A further 5% reduction is anticipated
with the possibility of another 1MW solar plant in future.
Water Conservation
The company’s Rainwater Harvesting Initiative uses
rainwater stored from the company’s roofs in non-critical
applications and achieved considerable reductions in
water consumption. Future targets for water usage are set
at 45% less. Not only does this protect a scarce resource
increasingly pressurised by severe drought conditions (with
projections of a deepening crisis), this project reduced
operational costs due to decreased purchases from the
municipality. This also allows certain production processes
to continue during unexpected leakages or breakdowns in
the municipal supply.
Many other water saving initiatives such as converting
to 100% solution dyed yarn production have resulted in
significant water, chemical and energy savings.
Waste Management
Waste minimisation programmes form part of the company’s
EMS (ISO14001). Waste is monitored and measured
continuously to ensure progress targets are met.
In line with the well-known 3R’s of waste management
– Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - Belgotex seek to reduce
inputs (for energy/resources), reuse materials and recycle
wa