In a candid and forward-thinking interview with MENA Covering, Mr. Geert Vandamme, Head of Sales and Marketing at VEBE flooring, addressed one of the most urgent and often overlooked topics in sustainable manufacturing: logistics and consumer responsibility in circular flooring systems.
“As manufacturers, we’ve taken the first steps — using regenerated and recycled raw materials wherever we can. But to close the loop fully, logistics must catch up. That’s where the real challenge begins,” Vandamme stated.
Condor Group, which exports to over 85 countries, has made significant progress in using 100% recycled materials in some product lines, especially within its automotive flooring division. However, according to Vandamme, true circularity is impossible without infrastructure that allows for collection, sorting, and responsible reuse or recycling at the end of a product’s life.
“We can create 100% recycled products, but who will collect them after use? We can’t retrieve carpets from 90 countries. There are no effective systems in place yet,” he emphasized.
Vandamme noted that while manufacturers are willing to share the cost of collection and recycling, the current lack of reverse logistics systems means most used carpets are either burned or landfilled — undermining sustainability claims across the industry.
“If we talk about recycling, it has to be real — not just picking up the product and incinerating it somewhere. That’s not sustainability,” he said.
Another major obstacle lies in the composition of carpets. Many floor coverings consist of different raw material families — for example, one for the surface, another for the backing — which complicates recycling unless the product is designed from a single material family.
Beyond industry action, Vandamme believes consumer engagement will be critical for any recycling initiative to succeed.
“The end consumer must be part of the system. Right now, no one wants to pay to have their old carpet recycled. You’ll need to build that cost into the sales price — or even better, offer them an incentive to return it. Points, money, whatever it takes. But we must encourage participation,” he urged.
Condor Group’s call to action is clear: for real circularity, governments, recyclers, manufacturers, and consumers must collaborate. The company sees this not only as a challenge — but as a market opportunity.
“There’s a global gap in logistics infrastructure for post-consumer carpets. Whoever fills it first will be doing a great service — and likely build a great business.”
