Dezeen Magazine

Recycled flooring by Swedish design brand Bolon

Bolon marks 75 years with flooring made from "68 per cent recycled material"

Promotion: Swedish design brand Bolon is celebrating 75 years of creating luxury flooring and rugs that aim to highlight the "potential in waste".

Launched in 1949 on the premise of "pushing recycling in the design industry" by turning industrial textile waste into premium rugs, all of the brand’s products now contain 68 per cent waste material.

Bolon's products contain 68 per cent waste material

"Recycling is woven into everything we do," Bolon told Dezeen. "In just a few years we have gone from 28 per cent recycled material to 68 per cent by doing what we have always done: we saw potential in waste."

The family-owned brand's manufacturing takes place in a "climate-neutral" factory in Ulricehamn, Sweden, which means that any carbon emissions produced are offset.

Rather than have a "green collection", Bolon has instead pledged to ensure all of its products are climate-neutral too.

A Bolon made to measure rug
Bolon's flooring is manufactured in Sweden

"In 2020 we set an ambitious goal to halve our climate impact and ensure that all our products contain at least 50 per cent recycled material by 2028," said the brand.

"This year, we'll surpass our goal substantially and will be able to offer 68 per cent recycled material in all our products."

Bolon
Bolon has been in business for 75 years

Some of Bolon's recent material innovations include bio-sourced PVC made from pulp and paper industry waste, recycled PVC and recycled chalk derived from marble slab production.

"In 75 years, Bolon has evolved from humble beginnings to a global leader in design-led, sustainable flooring solutions, with renowned clients across the world," said the brand.

Aesthetics are also important to the company, with prominent names such as Patricia Urquiola and Jean Nouvel all creating collections with Bolon over the years.

Bolon
Bolon has collaborated with Jean Nouvel and Patricia Urquiola

The brand says its ultimate goal is to "turn waste materials into beautiful flooring and rugs of supreme quality".

Bolon products previously featured on Dezeen include a muted made-to-measure rug collection designed for high-footfall commercial interiors and Bolon Studio, a collection of woven flooring in bold geometric prints that can be customised by users.

Bolon
Bio-sourced PVC, recycled PVC and recycled chalk are among Bolon's latest material innovations

The company, which says it is committed "to never standing still", is also considering a number of future initiatives.

"We are currently looking into developing a take-back [scheme] for used flooring and rugs," said Bolon.

"We are also going to continue our journey to replace virgin materials with recycled or bio-sourced materials."

Bolon
The brand said its products and production are climate-neutral

"We believe in creating new dimensions by challenging conventions and breaking down barriers," it added. "We are dreamers and innovators and see that in the future we will be able to offer woven design to more than just flooring and rugs."

To find out more about Bolon's sustainability pledges, visit its website.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Bolon as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.