Headlam Group plc, a major UK flooring distributor, is expanding its carpet and underlay take-back programme to York following strong results from a 2024 pilot scheme in Northampton.
The initiative, aimed at reducing landfill waste and supporting circular economy efforts, allows customers to return used flooring materials for recycling. In 2025, the scheme has achieved a 67.99% recycling rate for carpet—an increase from 58.7% in 2024—and a 265% rate for underlay, indicating that more material was recycled than sold, partly from older stock re-entering the system.
The expansion supports Headlam’s broader environmental targets. According to its latest Sustainability Report, the company has cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46% since 2019 and is progressing toward Net Zero by 2040. Energy use has dropped due to increased solar capacity and reduced gas consumption.
Headlam is also working with suppliers through Carpet Recycling UK to develop more sustainable products and integrate circular design principles into its operations.
