{"id":3712,"date":"2022-10-03T12:51:21","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T19:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/living-future.org\/?post_type=case-studies&p=3712"},"modified":"2024-12-05T01:24:17","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T09:24:17","slug":"carnegie-fabrics-bio-xorel-fabric","status":"publish","type":"case-studies","link":"https:\/\/living-future.org\/case-studies\/carnegie-fabrics-bio-xorel-fabric\/","title":{"rendered":"CARNEGIE FABRICS BIO XOREL FABRIC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since its creation in 1981, Xorel\u2019s simplicity has been integral to its environmental impact. Its extruded, solution dyed yarn was the critical element in creating a material that was high on performance and light on the planet. Since that moment 35 years ago, Carnegie has strived to improve its environmental footprint achieving some major industry firsts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carnegie\u2019s commitment to quality and innovation is inseparable from its commitment to sustainability. Research and development of sustainable textiles is one of our major business principles, which led to us becoming the first PVC-free textile and wallcovering company. The more we learned about the potential for the release of dioxin during the PVC manufacturing process, plasticizers during use, and dioxin during disposal if PVC is burned, we were convinced that we did not want PVC in our products.  We are dedicated to finding high-performance alternatives for walls, windows, and furniture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2013 Carnegie introduced Biobased Xorel, a plant-based product with a significantly reduced carbon footprint; offering the exact same beauty and performance the renowned Xorel brand has delivered for 35 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute awarded Biobased Xorel its rare Gold Certification<\/a>, as did SCS Indoor Advantage<\/a>. It also received the new FACTS<\/a> Certification, and the USDA<\/a> certified its biobased content between 60-85% depending on the pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LPC offers a framework creating Living Products that are \u201cHealthy and free of toxins; socially responsible and respects the rights of workers; Net Positive and benefit both people and the environment.\u201d <\/em>We felt that LPC would offer us a great opportunity to have our signature collection vetted against a very comprehensive standard.  Sustainability is at the very core of our business model and has been since the inception of our company some 60 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our strategy was to seek Imperative level and review the findings to see if there is a clear pathway to Petal and ultimately Full Living Product Certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top Hurdles to Certification<\/strong><\/th>Description of Solution\/Changes Implemented<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Working with global partners to gather the required documentation<\/td>Regular conference calls and communication<\/td><\/tr>
Ensuring documentation had the necessary information required for certification review<\/td>Packaging purchase orders will reference FSC Certified packaging moving forward<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3-YEAR PLAN<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We will review the results of this assessment process and connect with the appropriate partners to achieve this goal through solid documentation and practices. Xorel manufacturing process uses little to no water, nor does it produce any effluence or harmful by-products.  With the LPC process, we are well on our way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3-Year Plan Impact Area<\/strong><\/th>Offset Required Per Unit of Product<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Water<\/strong><\/td>117,000 kg water<\/td><\/tr>
Carbon<\/strong><\/td>0.63 kg CO2 eq<\/td><\/tr>
Energy<\/strong><\/td>1.83 MJ<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

PLACE PETAL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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01. RESPONSIBLE PLACE AND HABITAT IMPACTS IMPERATIVE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Xorel fabrics are woven in the region described by Wildfinder as \u201cAtlantic Mixed Forests Ecoregion includes coastal vegetation formations of dunes and heathlands with vegetation that thrives in salty soil. Sand dune systems occur along the southwestern coast of France, the region known as Les Landes, covered by both natural and planted forests of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster). They are rich in plant life, and home to a number of endemics. Bird diversity is particularly high \u2014 over 440 species have been recorded in The Netherlands alone. Most of the ecoregion\u2019s mammals are widespread in other parts of Europe. Several are listed on the IUCN Red List, including otter, European mink, and several species of bat (IUCN 2000). Only fragments of natural vegetation remain in this ecoregion, as most of the area was converted long ago into intensive agriculture or pasture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no endangered Northern Right Whales near our weaving facility. The North Sea shore is 40+ miles away from our facility. Our facility is not located near any endangered species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This area has a great history of weaving difficult fabric because people used to process flax<\/a> before they processed it in one of the many flax factories in Wevelgem. That is also the reason De Leie got the nickname The Golden River, referring to the color of the flax. Because one could earn lots of money with flax, many people came to Wevelgem and stayed there for many generations. Today, the cultivation of flax is not so important, but there are still some factories that process flax, and other mills that process woven fabrics like Xorel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WATER PETAL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Water Petal was not achieved, but Carnegie Fabrics has shared its approach to the intent of the Petal.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xorel product does not use water. Xorel is a solution dyed thermoplastic product; as such there is no wet process or water-related dyeing. There are not finishes applied to Xorel, there is no wet processing or related effluence. For effluents of product site their exist a lot of rules and verdicts from Federal State Government, Regional Government, Water Pollution Control Association and so on. About 40 parameters have to be controlled and reported in different time intervals (continuous, daily, weekly, monthly).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water usage is limited to ancillary usage in employee sinks, bathrooms and water fountains and their purity is maintained as required by the laws in Belgium.  Our weaving mill also uses recycled rainwater that is captured in cisterns that are installed on the roof or the waving facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the position of the government, the potential impact of Belgium\u2019s water footprint depends entirely on where, in what quantity, when, and how water is abstracted. A significant water footprint in a region where water is in abundant supply is unlikely to have a negative effect on the local society or environment, but the same water footprint in a region where there is a shortage of water can give rise to serious problems, such as the drying up of rivers, the destruction of habitats and means of subsistence, and the extinction of species, as well as having an impact on agricultural prices, basic services, and local economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What water sustainability basically implies is effective collective action by those who use water and depend on it for the supplies they need. Xorel production fits into this important area of action for the government. It plays a major role here in devising the rules for water use and developing a legal framework or methodology, as it is able to adopt an overall approach to water-related questions, notably through the goods that we import, which account for a major part of the water footprint of a country like Belgium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The details of the water footprint promoted by the government take freshwater resources into account in economic development, and in aid to developing countries. Such aid could, for example, include a component of sustainable water management in the countries concerned. The question of water is also closely linked to that of climate, and questions to do with rainfall, the amount of water abstracted and the timing of its abstraction are among the challenges faced in the battle against climate change. It is therefore essential for companies and the government to understand the issues to do with water in its totality, and for the debate on water management to relate to both its domestic and international aspects. Fortunately, Xorel does not use water in any significant for its production, but our workforce is still impacted by the government\u2019s policies, therefore, we will remain vigilant in our water conservation efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the large life cycle water impact of this product, the Water Petal was not pursued as the scale of the Handprint solution was not feasible at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LCA FUNCTIONAL UNIT: <\/strong>1 square meter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LCA RESULTS FOR WATER: <\/strong>117,000 kg water<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Identify Water Hotspots<\/strong><\/th>Description<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Raw Materials<\/strong><\/td>Due to the bio-based nature of the product, the upstream water usage is quite large, relative to other stages of the life cycle.<\/td><\/tr>
Other<\/strong><\/td>All other life cycle stages represent less than 1% of the total life cycle water impact.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

HEALTH + HAPPINESS PETAL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Carnegie\u2019s core competency revolves around creativity. Our New York City studio houses a homegrown design team that develops original products in textiles with a commitment to transparency, innovation, quality, and sustainability. We readily share that vision with our design clients who visit with us and experience that process firsthand. Aligning ourselves with Be Original Americas is simply a natural extension of this belief system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proliferation of knockoffs is a true threat not only to textile design-driven companies like Carnegie but also to the value of creativity, problem solving and innovation. Supporting original design is both a corporate and social responsibility. It is a commitment to authenticity and to maintaining honest relationships with our clients. Be Original Americas gives honest companies a venue for their voices to be heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employee work\/life balance is an important part of our success Carnegie works relentlessly to create a positive personalized experience for our clients in the spirit of employee fulfillment. By clearly stating our core values, we can explain our expectations to all Carnegie employees and manifest these characteristics to our client base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

05. TRANSPARENT MATERIAL HEALTH IMPERATIVE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Years ago, Carnegie began looking at the chemicals contained in its products from the perspective of human and environmental health.  As part of that process, it worked towards Cradle to Cradle certification, ultimately leading Carnegie to achieve Cradle to Cradle Gold Certification on its Biobased Xorel Product, meeting the requirements of this Imperative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MATERIALS PETAL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

07. RED LIST IMPERATIVE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As part of the Cradle to Cradle process, Carnegie has to collect all of the ingredient information from its suppliers, ultimately leading to an assessment of the material and environmental health of the substances.  This information was readily available to then be screened for Red List chemicals, and none were discovered to be in the product above the 100ppm threshold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

09. RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRY IMPERATIVE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Carnegie has elected to utilize FSC Certified wood and paper packaging for all of its Xorel products to show its commitment to sustainable resource extraction.  Furthermore, Carnegie has received a Third Party Verified Declare label, a requirement of the Living Product Challenge, to prove the disclosure to the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DECLARE ID: <\/strong>CNF-5001<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. PRODUCT FIT TO USE IMPERATIVE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The following is an excerpt from Carnegie Fabrics\u2019 product testing protocol.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have an extensive product development process for our materials. The following process is to ensure that all development testing is completed, and all issues are resolved prior to the launching of new products.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Creative team creates and shares Tracking Chart with relevant product information along with any relevant testing supplied by the mill.\u00a0\u00a0Upon receipt:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n