2.28.2005 ET

(CSRwire) Bentley Prince Street, known equally for its design-leading products and industry-leading sustainability practices, has developed yet another process innovation to create top-quality commercial carpet in a way that benefits the environment. Its two newest products, Scan and UPC, are the result of an engineering process that re-purposes post-production "waste" yarn to manufacture broadloom and carpet tile products with rich tones and intricate textures.

"The idea of using post-production waste to create a highly-styled, first-quality product is right in line with our commitment to environmental and economic sustainability," said Anthony Minite, president of Bentley Prince Street. "Rather than storing this material or shipping it overseas, it can immediately be revitalized into a new product. Our Scan and UPC products truly illustrate how style and function can be integrated with environmentally-friendly practices through innovative engineering techniques."

Both products are created from post-production yarn, or "tail outs," the small cone of yarn that is left over at the end of a production run varying in size from several ounces to a number of pounds. As part of its continuing commitment to sustainability, Bentley Prince Street took on the challenge of developing a manufacturing process to re-purpose this waste into a new carpet line that met the company's exacting quality, design and style standards. Given that waste from a variety of products would be used, the company needed to successfully merge yarns from different dye lots into one aesthetically beautiful product. The solution: Bentley Prince Street utilized its five most popular undyed yarns from post production runs of some of the best selling styles to create an aesthetically beautiful first quality product that shows off the unique dye affinity of the individual yarns. The thread up of these five yarns creates a luxurious pin stripe with colors that vary in rich hues and subtle tones.

The result has exceeded all expectations. Scan, a broadloom commercial carpet, and its companion carpet tile UPC, are being launched this month. Scan is the perfect pin stripe for almost any interior and uses the most sensual array of variegated tones in each colorway. UPC is the more whimsical complement and available in 18" x18" carpet tile.

"Developing new manufacturing processes to re-use and re-purpose waste is another step in our continual journey to sustainability. These new products are an excellent complement to our other lines made in part from post industrial recycled content and our Cool Carpet(TM) and ReEntry(R) programs that balance the environmental impact of a product's lifecycle on the environment," Minite continued. "As an industry leader in the movement towards sustainable commerce, we need to think beyond recycling as the only solution and continue to explore and innovate in every area of our business." All Bentley Prince Street products made with either High Performance(TM) backing or LIFESPAN* backing are included in the Environmentally Preferable Product certification by Scientific Certification Systems, an independent, third-party certifier.

Based in Los Angeles County, California, Bentley Prince Street is a leading manufacturer of commercial carpet for corporate, healthcare, hospitality, institutional, residential and retail interiors. All Bentley Prince Street brands are defined by leadership in product design, style, customer service and sustainable practices. Bentley Prince Street is continually searching for improvements to compete successfully in a more environmentally aware marketplace and to be an industry leader in the movement towards sustainable commerce. Bentley Prince Street is a part of Interface, Inc., a global provider of floorcoverings and textiles for commercial interiors. For more information, please visit www.bentleyprincestreet.com

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