Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Tarkett Features in New Report on the Future of Construction Published by the World Economic Forum

Tarkett, a global leader in innovative and sustainable solutions for flooring and sports surfaces, is one of the contributors to a new report published today by the World Economic Forum, exploring the future potential of the global engineering and construction industry, 'Shaping the Future of Construction: A Breakthrough in Mindset and Technology'. The report was prepared in collaboration with The Boston Consulting Group.

'Shaping the Future of Construction' is part of the Forum's Industry Agenda project in which business leaders explore how the engineering and construction sector can drive sustainable business growth. The study has developed an 'industry transformation framework' to point to specific and practical developments and actions under several broad areas such as technology, materials and tools and cross-industry collaboration.

The report notes the impact the industry already has on commerce, society and the environment. With an annual revenue of $10 trillion it represents 6% of global GDP, accounts for 25-40% of global carbon emissions and consumes vast quantities of natural resources such as 50% of world steel production every year. The new study explores ways in which digital technology, lean management, circular economics and cross-industry collaboration can unleash new revenue and societal and environmental benefits.

The study also underlines that the materials that make up the built environment have a profound effect on the health and wellbeing of its occupants, citing the fact that in the US, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are two to five times higher indoors than outside. Linked to this, the report refers to various examples of Advanced Building Materials (ABMs) including Tarkett's 100% recyclable vinyl flooring, iQ Natural, which uses bio-based plasticizers and has Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) 100 times below the strictest standards.

The report further refers to the challenges of urbanization and the growth of an ageing population and discusses the potential impact of the circular economy in this sector, where resources would be used more effectively and materials and product design would take fully into account the importance of health and wellbeing in the built environment, where people spend around 90% of their time.

The case on Tarkett's circular economy transition highlights the development of its closed-loop circular design system. It refers to Tarkett's selection of 'good' materials, ensuring a positive impact on health and wellbeing and the environment as well as its efforts to improve energy and water efficiencies. The report also stresses the importance of collaboration, including the example of Desso - a Tarkett company - working closely with one of its yarns suppliers to turn post-consumer carpet fibers into new yarn.

'The WEF project on the Future of Construction is showing how innovative thinking and practice can unlock great new potential to deliver powerful economic growth whilst paying attention to our shared responsibilities to society and the environment,' says Remco Teulings, President EMEA, Tarkett Group, and Steering Committee member of the Future of Construction.

The World Economic Forum brings together the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas at international summits. Tarkett joined WEF as a Partner Company in January 2016, contributing to the forum's discussions through a dual membership, engaging in both the Global Challenge initiative on the 'Environment and Natural Resource Security' and as an Industry Partner for 'Infrastructure and Urban Development'.

For further information on the project visit online: https://www.weforum.org/reports/shaping-the-future-of-construction-a-breakthrough-in-mindset-and-technology

About Tarkett:

With net sales of 2.7 billion euros in 2015, Tarkett is a global leader in innovative and sustainable solutions for flooring and sports surfaces. Offering a wide range of products including vinyl, linoleum, carpet, rubber, wood & laminate, synthetic turf and athletic tracks, the Group serves customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. With 12,000 employees and 34 industrial sites, Tarkett sells 1.3 million square meters of flooring every day, for hospitals, schools, housing, hotels, offices, stores and sports fields. Committed to sustainable development, the Group has implemented an eco‐innovation strategy and promotes circular economy. Tarkett is listed on Euronext Paris (compartment A, ticker TKTT, ISIN: FR0004188670). http://www.tarkett.com .

SOURCE Tarkett