In a recent exclusive interview with MENA Covering, Mr. Geert Vandamme, Head of Sales and Marketing at VEBE flooring, shed light on the company’s evolving sustainability strategy and its groundbreaking investment in TIDE – a transformative plastic recycling initiative with global impact.
“Sustainability is extremely important to us,” Vandamme emphasized. “In the past, we thought going green meant higher costs and lower profits. But now, it’s clear: if we don’t invest in sustainable materials, we’ll lose the market—and the long-term race.”
Condor Group has taken concrete action. Every new facility the company builds is BRIAN-certified, complying with top-tier ecological labels across Germany, the Netherlands, France, Europe, and even CRI standards in the U.S. Sustainability is no longer a side project — it’s embedded in the company’s DNA.
But what sets Condor apart is its early investment in TIDE, an innovative material recovery initiative focused on recycled polyester. Unlike ECONYL®, which is derived from ocean fishnets and used widely in flooring, TIDE recovers plastic waste from rivers before it reaches the sea—particularly in regions like India, where monsoon rains flush unmanaged waste into major waterways.
“We’re not just buying yarn — we’ve invested in the organization,” Vandamme stated. “We’re creating jobs for local communities, offering not only wages but also clothing and long-term motivation. These people are not laborers; they are part of our extended team.”
Using TIDE-sourced polyester, Condor produces tufted and needle-punched carpets, with significant applications in both residential flooring and automotive sectors. The company is already a key supplier to BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, and other premium automotive brands, all of which are demanding certified green materials.
But Condor’s approach is grounded in authenticity.
“We’re not interested in greenwashing or marketing hype. For us, if we label something as ‘TIDE,’ it means at least 25% of the raw material is genuinely TIDE-derived,” Vandamme added.
As sustainability becomes a non-negotiable standard across industries, Condor Group is not only meeting expectations — it is setting them. The TIDE initiative represents a new phase in the company’s long-term strategy, balancing profitability, volume, and environmental responsibility.
