Tarkett recently expanded its sustainability team with the additions of Rachel Palopoli, director of circular economy, Rachel Berkin, sustainability product manager, and Rachelle Roberts, director of design for soft surface.
As director of circular economy, Palopoli will oversee the Tarkett take-back program, ReStart, which has collected over 112,000 tons of vinyl, linoleum and carpet globally since 2010. With more than 20 years of recycling experience, Palopoli will evaluate and establish take-back pathways for each product type, as well as evaluate internal waste streams.
“We need to make sure we are leading with the end in mind, designing products that can be recycled at the end of their lives so that we protect and preserve our planet for future generations,” said Palopoli. “One of my goals is to collaborate across all divisions to ensure that we are leading with sustainability on all fronts.”
Berkin’s new role will help uphold the rigorous sustainability standards Tarkett has set throughout product conception. This includes facilitating the implementation of healthy materials, product certifications and related processes, working with both internal and external partners.
“Engaging with our sales team and clients is an imperative part of the process to ensure we are exceeding the industry’s sustainability expectations,” said Berkin. “I am proud to work with a company that is deeply committed to corporate sustainability, transparency and setting strong sustainability targets.”
In February, Omoleye Simmons, Tarkett’s vice president of design for commercial business, welcomed the addition of Rachelle Roberts as director of design for soft surface. In her role, Roberts will be responsible for directing the design development of impactful soft-surface products. Roberts will also collaborate with the entire product design team to develop coordinated flooring solutions for all market segments, focusing heavily on education, workplace and senior living environments.
Tarkett announced in September its Climate Roadmap for 2030, which includes a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent across its entire value chain by 2030—in full alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement objective to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
As an effort to provide full visibility, Tarkett has been evaluated and assessed by the independent organization Science Based Targets (SBTi) to confirm its reduction targets, which includes emissions from its own activities and its purchased energy—as well as those arising from the rest of its value chain, from suppliers to end customers.
Tarkett’s mark on the flooring industry dates back to 1994 when the company introduced the first full-scale flooring recycling program, as well as its removal of all ortho-phthalates from its products.
According to Tarkett, the company has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 38 percent through a combination of renewable electricity, closed-loop water systems and the responsible sourcing of raw materials over the last decade.
The company recently achieved an A- score by CDP, representing the second highest level of maturity a company can reach at the world’s leading climate performance platform.
