Testing carpet for toxics

The report found hazardous substances, including PFASs and phthalates, in most of the 12 US carpets tested, including those marketed as environmentally friendly. It argues that these toxics hinder closed-loop recycling and that current US regulations and industry certifications are insufficient to protect consumers.

• Hazardous compounds, including carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and reproductive toxicants, were identified in almost all carpets tested, including those containing recycled content.
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) or total fluorine were detected in half of the tested samples (6 out of 12). Specific PFASs identified include PFOA, PFOS, PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFBS, and 6:2FTS.
• Phthalates, specifically DEHP, DNOP, and DIBP, were found in five of the tested carpets. DNOP was detected at a 20% level in a product sold by J+J Flooring.
• The report identifies a significant gap in US regulation, noting that chemicals restricted in children's toys are not regulated in carpets, despite similar exposure pathways for infants.
• Industry certifications such as CRI Green Label Plus and Cradle to Cradle (C2C) are described as having loopholes or narrow scopes that allow toxic substances to remain in 'certified' products.
• The presence of toxic chemicals is a primary barrier to a circular economy because they contaminate recyclate, making it unsuitable for high-value closed-loop recycling.
• A comparison with the European market suggests that healthier carpets are possible, as three out of 15 EU carpets tested contained no indicators of toxic chemicals, and PFASs were far less common.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2018). Testing carpet for toxics. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FINAL-Testing-Carpet-for-Toxics.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. Testing carpet for toxics. 2018. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FINAL-Testing-Carpet-for-Toxics.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=Testing carpet for toxics |date=December 2018 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FINAL-Testing-Carpet-for-Toxics.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundation2018testing, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{Testing carpet for toxics}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2018}, month = dec, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FINAL-Testing-Carpet-for-Toxics.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }