ResiLoop, an industry-led, not-for-profit initiative, is making significant strides in diverting resilient flooring waste from landfill in the construction sector.
With a new network of registered flooring contractors now operating across greater metropolitan Melbourne, and a local recycler manufacturing new products from reclaimed material, the recovery and recycling of floorcovering waste is now a practical reality for the industry.
Each year, Melbourne alone generates around 12.5 million square metres of resilient flooring waste, with approximately 15 per cent of that figure representing unused product off-cuts from new installations that have never been walked on.
ResiLoop is targeting this relatively clean material first, collecting it for Victorian manufacturer Think Manufacturing, which processes the waste into durable garden edging products, keeping valuable resources in productive use.
ResiLoop is supported by major suppliers in the resilient flooring industry and is designed to advance a circular economy for floor coverings in Australia.
The scheme comes at a critical time, as the construction sector faces mounting pressure to reduce landfill waste and adopt sustainable, circular economy practices.
“This is a straightforward system that turns waste into resources and develops recycling options, but requires some change in approach by the industry,” said ResiLoop CEO Sophi MacMillan.
MacMillan highlighted the breadth of industry support: “We already have 17 leading product suppliers on board so there is a wide range of eligible vinyl and LVT products collectible under ResiLoop that can be specified in projects.
“In addition, we have flooring contractors who are registered with ResiLoop and able to collect the waste from commercial and residential projects.
“We keep a register on our website of these contractors so projects can confirm they are dealing with a ResiLoop partner.”
Construction projects in Victoria are being encouraged to include specific clauses in job tenders and scopes of work that require floor laying trades to remove installation waste from sites and direct it to recycling through stewardship schemes such as ResiLoop.
This approach not only helps projects meet sustainability targets and demonstrate industry leadership, but also offers cost savings on waste management.
Projects specifying large areas of resilient floor coverings can enrol directly in ResiLoop, gaining support in managing the process and measuring the volume of waste diverted from landfill.
Participation may also help with compliance to sustainable procurement policies and building rating tools by reducing landfill waste and meeting circularity targets.
Success for ResiLoop depends on industry-wide collaboration.
“We’re already seeking tens of tonnes of material every month to direct to our existing recycling partner, and are investing in research and trials to develop new end markets for the hard-to-recycle materials,” explained MacMillan.
“It’s vital to work collectively with all those involved in the specification, procurement and project management of flooring installation to access these materials before they reach landfill.
“We’re offering one scheme, one bin, many brands,” she added.
“With a system this simple and cost-effective, now is the time to get involved.”
As ResiLoop continues to expand, it offers the construction industry a practical, scalable solution to one of its most pressing environmental challenges, marking a significant step toward a more circular, sustainable future for flooring in Australia.