Quick-Step pioneers fully recyclable laminate flooring

Laminate flooring has long been valued for its durability, affordability and ability to reproduce the appearance of natural wood. 

However, recycling it at the end of its useful life has remained a significant challenge for the flooring industry.

Quick-Step says it has now become the first flooring manufacturer to develop technology capable of fully recycling laminate flooring. 

The new process allows material from old floors to be recovered and used in the manufacture of new ones, helping to establish a more circular approach to flooring production.

At the heart of most laminate flooring is high-density fibreboard, commonly known as HDF. Quick-Step’s recycling process makes it possible to recover this material from discarded flooring and transform it into new HDF panels. These panels can then be used as the core of future laminate floors.

This floor-to-floor recycling system could help reduce the amount of laminate sent for disposal while also lowering demand for new raw materials. Quick-Step aims to include up to 20% recycled content in its laminate flooring by 2030.

Recycling is only part of the company’s approach. Extending the working life of flooring is equally important, as a product which remains in use for decades does not need to be replaced as frequently.

Quick-Step’s new Impressive and Impressive Designs collections have therefore been engineered for longevity. They feature a highly resistant wear layer, waterproof construction and a lifetime warranty, allowing homeowners to enjoy their flooring for longer before recycling becomes necessary.

The company also uses recovered wood in its manufacturing. The HDF core in every Quick-Step laminate floor is made using wood obtained from sources including sawmill by-products, forest management and roadside maintenance. Around 80% of each laminate plank is wood, giving material which might otherwise be discarded another useful purpose.

Repairability can further extend the lifespan of a floor. Quick-Step’s patented Uniclic and Unizip installation systems allow individual damaged planks to be removed and replaced without requiring the entire floor to be lifted. This can help homeowners repair a particular area rather than replace a complete room.

No manufactured product is entirely without an environmental impact, but designing flooring to last, making it repairable and recovering its materials at the end of its life are valuable steps towards reducing waste.

If the technology can be adopted successfully on a large scale, Quick-Step’s innovation could set an important new standard for the wider flooring industry.

https://www.quick-step.co.uk

Take the Plunge for Wildlife at Abseil for Animals 2026

Individuals and businesses are being invited to step outside their comfort zones and descend one of Sussex’s most striking natural landmarks while raising vital funds for animals in need.

International Animal Rescue’s Abseil for Animals 2026 will take place at Peacehaven Cliffs on Saturday 26 September, shortly before World Animal Day in October.

Under the supervision of professional instructors, participants will abseil 115 feet down Peacehaven’s iconic chalk cliffs. The exhilarating challenge is open to individuals as well as companies searching for an unusual and worthwhile team-building experience.

For workplace teams, the event offers an opportunity to leave everyday pressures behind, build trust and support colleagues as they face the challenge together. International Animal Rescue can allocate time slots to corporate groups, allowing colleagues to complete their descents together and cheer one another on.

Companies can enter a single team or invite employees from across the organisation to participate. They may also match the money raised by staff, establish a company-wide target or encourage some friendly competition between departments.

International Animal Rescue President Alan Knight OBE told That's Green: “Nobody sets off to climb a 115ft cliff feeling confident! Having your colleagues next to you, cheering you on and taking on the same challenge really brings you together. It’s about trust, support and celebrating your achievements together.

“It’s a fantastic way to invest in your people, bring colleagues closer together and show your customers you care about animals worldwide.”

Phily Day from International Animal Rescue, who has previously completed the abseil, described the experience as beneficial to her mental health and wellbeing.

“It was nerve-wracking standing over the edge of that liff, but once I went, I knew I could do it,” she said. “When I reached the bottom, I felt such a sense of achievement. It was a nice reminder that we can achieve far more than we think, especially when we have other people encouraging us.”

Registration costs £15, and every participant is asked to raise at least £125 in sponsorship. Everyone taking part will receive an official International Animal Rescue T-shirt, while members of the charity’s team will be at Peacehaven to offer encouragement throughout the day.

Money raised will support International Animal Rescue’s work with community projects around the world. This includes rescuing animals from suffering, providing veterinary treatment and rehabilitation, and helping to protect endangered wildlife and threatened habitats.

To learn more or register for the challenge, visit International Animal Rescue’s adrenaline challenges page https://www.internationalanimalrescue.org

New global database maps more than 800 businesses helping to make reuse mainstream

REUSE Foundation has launched REUSE.IQ, a free global database featuring more than 800 reuse and circular economy businesses helping reduce single-use plastic waste worldwide.

Could reuse, rather than recycling alone, provide one of the most practical answers to the world's growing plastic waste problem?

UK-registered charity REUSE Foundation is hoping to make the organisations working on that solution much easier to discover with the launch of REUSE.IQ, a free, publicly searchable database covering more than 800 reuse and circular-economy businesses around the world.

The database brings together reuse operators, consumer goods innovators and businesses developing alternatives to the familiar "use it once and throw it away" model.

That includes refillable packaging, reusable containers, rental services and take-back schemes – all approaches designed to prevent plastic becoming waste in the first place.

The need for alternatives is clear. According to the OECD, only around 9% of plastic waste was ultimately recycled globally in 2019. With worldwide plastic production continuing to increase, recycling by itself is unlikely to provide the complete answer.

REUSE Foundation argues that greater emphasis needs to be placed on reuse and the circular economy.

REUSE.IQ has therefore been developed to provide researchers, businesses, policymakers, funders and consumers with a clearer picture of what is already happening.

Each database entry includes information such as an organisation's location, business model, main category, year founded and ownership status. Information is drawn from public sources and cross-checked by the Foundation's research team.

Users can search and filter the information, switch between card and table views and explore a map showing where reuse initiatives are operating around the world.

Greg Hewitt, Chair of Action on Plastic UK, believes the database could become particularly useful as Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) develop.

He said it could help businesses find solutions that allow them to reduce their dependence on single-use plastic and embrace circular-economy principles.

Importantly, REUSE.IQ isn't being presented as a finished project.

It has launched in public beta as a living, community-verified resource. Businesses and members of the public can suggest organisations that should be included, report errors or corrections and express an interest in contributing more detailed case studies.

Roger Sharp, Trustee of REUSE Foundation, told That's Green "until now anyone attempting to understand the global reuse movement has effectively had to piece it together from scratch".

By bringing hundreds of initiatives into one searchable resource, REUSE.IQ could help demonstrate just how much innovation is already taking place.

For those of us who want to see less single-use plastic, that's encouraging. Recycling remains important, but perhaps the greener question increasingly needs to be: why throw something away at all when it could be reused?

REUSE.IQ is free to search at the REUSE Foundation website.

https://www.reusefoundation.org

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Beaver Babies Are Back! Glen Affric Welcomes Its First Kits in 400 Years

There's exciting news from the Scottish Highlands, and it's enough to make even the grumpiest nature lover crack a smile. 

For the first time in around 400 years, baby beavers have been born in the spectacular Glen Affric, proving that sometimes the best comeback stories are written by nature itself.

At least two healthy beaver kits have been spotted at Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin, happily exploring the world outside their lodge after being born earlier this spring. 

Wildlife cameras have even captured one of the little adventurers paddling alongside its mum, the sort of family outing that's considerably cuter than a trip to the supermarket!

Because beavers are famously shy and mostly active after dark, seeing them is no easy feat. That made the moment even more special for Trees for Life's Beaver Management Officer, Tobias Leask, who described to That's Green that watching the youngsters as witnessing history in the making.

And he has a point. These aren't just adorable bundles of brown fur. They're the first generation of beavers that will help reshape Glen Affric for decades to come.

Beavers are often called nature's engineers, and with good reason. They instinctively build dams and wetlands that provide homes for countless birds, insects, amphibians and fish. Those same wetlands also help improve water quality, reduce downstream flooding and even make landscapes more resilient during periods of drought. Not bad for an animal armed with nothing more than impressive teeth and an outstanding work ethic!

The kits are the latest chapter in a carefully managed reintroduction programme led by Trees for Life, Forestry and Land Scotland, and Beaver Trust. Eleven beavers were relocated to Glen Affric over the past year after extensive consultation with local communities and land managers, ensuring the return of these remarkable animals benefits both wildlife and people.

Of course, beavers don't always make perfect neighbours. Occasionally they can flood tracks or nibble trees that humans would rather they left alone. That's why the project includes ongoing monitoring, volunteer support and practical measures to resolve any issues quickly if they arise.

The return of beavers is another encouraging reminder that nature can recover when given the opportunity. Glen Affric is already one of Scotland's most breathtaking landscapes, home to precious remnants of the ancient Caledonian Forest. Now, thanks to a few busy new residents, it's becoming even richer in wildlife.

Here's hoping these little kits are just the beginning of a thriving beaver population. After waiting four centuries, Scotland has certainly earned a few happy squeaks from its newest woodland engineers.

https://www.treesforlife.org.uk

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