Los Angeles—The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) has named Bentley its 2025 Recycler of the Year. The organization recognized Bentley for incorporating post-consumer calcium carbonate (PC4) from reclaimed carpet into its manufacturing process.
PC4 is a recycled mineral filler recovered from used carpet. By finding a new application for the material, Bentley is helping reduce waste and support a circular economy within the flooring industry.
“Utilizing PC4 into the manufacturing process has not been easy and there are still challenges,” said Sandy Eppard, senior director of sustainability and technical at Bentley.
Overcoming recycling challenges
PC4 can contain contaminants, including residual carpet fibers and latex. These impurities can clog equipment, disrupt material flow and create processing difficulties during manufacturing.
To address these challenges, Bentley worked closely with its supplier to remove contaminants and test for legacy chemicals. The company also installed additional filtration equipment to incorporate recycled content while maintaining its performance standards.
“The team remained committed to finding solutions because they saw the positive environmental impacts of the project, so they stayed focused on making it work,” said Ines Ware, sustainability director at Bentley.
CARE recognized these efforts when it selected Bentley for the award. CARE CEO and Executive Director Bob Peoples has described carpet recycling as a “heavy lift.” He emphasized the collaboration between recyclers and manufacturers needed to create new markets for recovered carpet.
For Bentley, the recognition reflects years of work to incorporate recycled carpet materials into its manufacturing process.
The company continues to address challenges associated with PC4 while exploring additional opportunities to advance sustainability and carpet recycling.