Life in plastic, it’s [not] fantastic: eco underlay finds new uses for old plastic bottles

In a bid to give plastic bottles and other single-use plastics a new lease of life, an environmentally-friendly luxury carpet underlay has launched, which could see the average homeowner doing their bit for the environment with 900 recycled bottles sitting pretty under their carpets.

With 85% of the underlay made from recycled PET plastics bottles and other single use plastics, British manufacturer Texfelt is trying to combat the eight million tonnes that fill our oceans every year while improving household air pollution at the same time, offering a cleaner living environment with its Springbond underlay.

As well as being green, clean and durable, with a depth of 11mm it offers superb under-foot comfort. The thickness of the underlay means it’s not just comfortable but insulating both in terms of heat and noise acoustics. It has industry-leading sound-proofing properties, minimising the transfer of noise between floors – ideal for those who live in an apartment and for households who value peace and quiet.

Unlike most carpet underlays it is fully recyclable at the end of its useable life and, because it contains no PU foam, there are no harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) meaning better air quality throughout the home.

James Taylor, Managing Director at Texfelt, which manufactures Springbond, said: “With the world currently producing more than 300 million tonnes of plastic each year, and half of that being used just once, sometimes for a few seconds, before it’s thrown away, people are looking for green alternatives to everyday items.”

“The world needs to reduce its consumption of plastic and, while this is happening, we need to find ways of upcycling the waste product that’s building up. World Environment Day gives us the perfect opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the green agenda and let people know that they can do their bit in more ways than they think!”

Other benefits of Springbond include –

• Its use of virtual spring technology – the eco-engineered Z-shaped structure creates natural bounce back
• It’s fantastic for sound proofing and has industry leading acoustic properties up to 57db
• It has excellent thermal insulation up to 2.3 tog, keeping homes and buildings warm
• It is incredibly breathable meaning mould and mildew don’t have a chance to develop

Springbond is designed and manufactured in Yorkshire and offers maximum performance with minimal environmental impact. It is a partner of non-profit organisation Plastic Oceans, which addresses plastic pollution. For stockists please visit www.springbond.co.uk.

*Each role of Springbond uses 180 recycled bottles. The average home would use approx. five rolls of underlay for carpeted areas