For this year’s edition of Domotex, sustainability was the overarching theme. A curated collection of sustainability innovation was hosted in The Green Collection space by a variety of exhibitors. Companies like Tuftco showcased its new sustainable creel tubing; Amorim highlighted its cork underlayment that utilizes leftover EVA foam from Nike shoes; i4F displayed its Be-Lite technology that reduces raw material usage therefore reducing one’s carbon footprint; and Välinge demonstrated its new 5G locking system that reduces installation time and tools needed. 

Välinge demonstrated its new 5G locking system at Domotex 2023. Photo: Floor Trends.

Other innovations included solving the acoustics issue for hard surface flooring, specifically resilient. Within the innovations on display, sustainability was still at the forefront. I4F and CFL partnered on the patent for the Be-Lite technology. An unforeseen attribute, according to John Rietveldt, CEO, i4F, is that the waffle shape design of the finished product offers acoustic properties. CFL’s new SPC flooring with sustainable backing significantly reduces sound when walking across a finished floor or when heavy objects are dropped.

CFL showcased a myriad of innovations at Domotex 2023. Photo: Floor Trends. 
Color was front and center in the hand-made rugs. Vibrant purples, reds, blues and yellows caught your eye as you strolled through the mountains of rugs on display. Again, sustainability found itself intertwined with the rug production process. For 2023, Domotex added a sustainability category to its Carpet Design Awards competition. The winning rug must be made with a low carbon footprint and/or produced via ethical practices.

After Domotex 2024, the exhibition will shift to a biennial schedule. Sonia Wedell-Castellano, global director, Domotex, discusses highlights from Domotex 2023 and provides more information on the future of Domotex exhibitions.