Shaw Floors' ClearTouch BCF PET has earned 25 percent post-consumer recycled content designation from UL Environment. UL Environment aims to support sustainable products, services and organizations in the global marketplace through standards development, educational services, and independent third party assessment and certification. ClearTouch is a continuous filament fiber that offers the inherent stain resistance attributes of polyester as well as exceptional performance characteristics and recycled content, according to Shaw.

Millions of pounds of soft drink and water bottles are used to manufacture ClearTouch carpets. “This patent-pending innovation is unique to the standard manufacturing processes for PET BCF fibers and unlike other processes used in the manufacture of staple yarn systems from PET bottles,” said Dennis McGavis, Shaw’s product stewardship and regulatory affairs director. “The 25 percent recycled content validation from UL Environment solidifies the environmental benefits of ClearTouch, and contributes to Shaw’s broader sustainability journey.”

“The Environmental Claims Validation program is part of our effort to recognize companies and products that strive for environmental excellence,” added Steve Wenc, president of UL Environment, Inc. “We are thrilled to validate ClearTouch, an important innovation toward more sustainable carpeting.”

In April 2009, Shaw and DAK Americas announced the creation of a new joint venture company, Clear Path Recycling, LLC. The facility will produce Recycled PET (RPET) from post-consumer PET bottles and will recycle over 280 million pounds annually of PET bottles, or about 5 billion bottles. This venture contributes to the company’s 25 percent energy intensity reduction pledge announced in 2008 and is currently under construction, and has allowed Shaw to expand ClearTouch product offerings.

ClearTouch carpets feature Shaw's patented R2x Stain and Soil Resistance System for enhanced protection against spills and tracked-in dirt. For more information, visit shawfloors.com.