The Japan Recycle Carpet Association, based in Tokyo, Japan, has formed a consortium with stakeholders across the recycling value chain to promote the widespread adoption of recycled carpets. The endeavor consists of the collection of used carpet tiles, production of recycled materials, production and use of recycled carpets, and collection of end-of-life products. 

JRCA said it aims to establish quality standards for recycled carpets and promotion of standardization, grant a certification mark to recycled carpets that meet the quality standards set by JRCA, and hold events and distribute information to promote the use of recycled carpet. 

The Japan Recycle Carpet Association (JRCA) reports that the Japanese government has committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 46% by 2030, compared to the levels in 2013. Public procurement has begun to require the purchase of only products that indicate the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from raw material procurement to disposal. Carpet tiles are now included in this initiative, and activities toward decarbonization are accelerating. By fostering this network and expanding the circular value chain, JRCA aspires to not only contribute to waste minimization but also to GHG reduction. With the vision of increasing the current market share of recycled carpet tiles from 20% to 50% by the year 2025, JRCA said it is committed to reaching the ultimate milestone of 100% recycling.

The journey towards carpet sustainability and recycling dates to the early 2000s, initiated by carpet manufacturers and recycling pioneers to achieve carpet-to-carpet horizontal circular recycling. Horizontal circular recycling of carpets is achieved by separating the front and back surfaces of carpet tiles into their constituent materials using innovative layer-by-layer separation technology, enabling carpet tiles to undergo repeated recycling. Over time, the network for collecting used carpet tiles has expanded, increasing the volume of carpet-to-carpet horizontal circular recycling, thus significantly mitigating the environmental impact.