The major IFF events are played on sport flooring provided by its official provider Gerflor. The company has been following a carefully developed sustainability strategy over the years. As a result, the latest Taraflex® floorings have become increasingly sustainable products.
Taraflex® is made for all users and usages, from low impact activities to elite and performance sports. Shock absorption properties minimise the force of impact on the body and reduce long term injury risk. Taraflex® technologies ensure long-lasting high performance throughout the product’s lifetime with a warranty of 15 years.
Gerflor’s new Taraflex® is an eco-designed flooring solution that reduces carbon emissions without compromising performance. Made from 81% bio-sourced, mineral, and recycled raw materials, it takes sustainability to the next level by incorporating soya waste discarded by the animal feed industry, significantly reducing the environmental impact of its production. The result? Thanks to its high natural and recycled content and comprehensive eco-design, Taraflex® achieves an exemplary 43% smaller carbon footprint than the previous version: a good choice for decarbonising projects.
All Gerflor floorings are 100% recyclable and eligible to Gerflor Second Life collection and recycling programme. Free collection of installation waste is available in 10 countries. With low VOC* emissions and allergen-free properties, Taraflex® fosters a healthy indoor environment. It is designed to support the well-being of everyone, from athletes to spectators, contributing to cleaner air quality and improved safety.
(*volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects)
– We welcome the next generation Taraflex floors which apart from providing best possible circumstances for athletes and referees also meet the high requirements of sustainability. The shared values between Gerflor and IFF create a strong foundation for the partnership and a vision for a better future, says Mr John Liljelund, Secretary General, IFF.
– Since the start of the WFC 2024 project, the local organising committee made a strong commitment to sustainability and created a Sustainability Policy for the event. It’s delightful to see that such a key element like the sport flooring also can meet the high expectations set for the tournament, says Magnus Nilsson, Event Director WFC 2024. Soon the stage is set and in the spirit of the World Floorball Championships 2024 slogan, we can literally state for the the teams “The floor is yours”, he concludes with a smile.
Gerflor sustainability commitments as a company:
- First commitment for 2025, they want to drastically reduce their carbon footprint: 20% reduction in kg of CO2 per m2 of product (calculated on scopes 1 & 2 defined in the greenhouse gas protocol). This objective is in line with the reduction of their carbon emissions: between 2016 and 2019 their emissions have already reduced by 16%.
- Their bio-based product range includes DLW linoleum (98% natural), Saga tiles with cork backing or homogeneous Mipolam Symbioz flooring made from plasticizers derived from cereal residues. They want to expand this product range to reach 10% of their business by 2025.
- On average, their flooring currently contains 25% recycled materials. By 2025 they hope to reach 30%. The recycled material comes from industrial waste, installation off-cuts or end-of-life products, mainly collected through their Second Life program.
- They believe that non-adhesive installation represents the future of floor coverings. In addition to offering better indoor air quality, it enables easier and faster installation (saving time and money). On the environmental side, it saves CO2 from the glue and facilitates recycling at the end of life, avoiding glue residues and patching. Loose-lay products now account for 25% of Gerflor’s sales. Their ambition is to reach 35% by 2025.
- By 2025 they want to recycle 60,000 tonnes of materials per year, compared to 50,000 in 2020.
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