Brumark, an Atlanta, Georgia-based trade show flooring solutions provider, announced it has successfully diverted over one million square feet of carpet, turf, vinyl, and padding from landfills within just six months through partnerships across the tradeshow and event industry.

The sustainability milestone is part of Brumark's zero-landfill initiative, which focuses on creating a closed-loop manufacturing process that rethinks the entire product lifecycle. Rather than traditional recycling methods that may still result in landfill waste, the company has developed an innovative recovery program that converts reclaimed flooring materials into high-efficiency alternative fuels for cement kilns.

"While others may recycle or downcycle, we asked ourselves—then what?" said Brandie Townsend, senior consultant and waste management expert at Brumark. "If the process ends in a landfill, it's not truly circular. We knew we had to take it further."

The waste-to-fuel conversion process offers dual environmental benefits: the alternative fuels replace coal in cement production, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 15%, while generating zero landfill waste since all resulting ash is reincorporated into the cement manufacturing process.

Beyond material recovery, Brumark has implemented sustainable design practices in its production methods. The company manufactures carpet rolls in 10-foot widths, eliminating nearly two feet of standard manufacturing waste per roll. Rug manufacturers repurpose off-cuts, while recycled vinyl flooring is transformed into products like landscape hoses and piping, extending material life by over 50 years.

"This achievement is the result of hard work, collaboration, and a shared commitment from every member of our team," said James Zacharias, Brumark's divisional president. "We've always believed in doing things the right way, and reaching this milestone proves that sustainable solutions and top-tier service can go hand in hand."

Matt Kelly, CEO of Exploring, Brumark's parent company, emphasized the broader industry impact: "Reaching the milestone of one million square feet of flooring diverted from landfill is a testament to the dedication of our team and our partners across the industry who are helping to move sustainability forward. It's a meaningful step, not just for us, but for the future of trade shows and events."

More information about the program is available at brumark.com/flooring-recovery-program.