MOHAWK
SMARTSTRAND® INCORPORATES POLYMER
MADE FROM RENEWABLE RESOURCE
New DuPont Tate & Lyle
Plant Produces Key Ingredient for Mohawk Carpet Fiber Using Renewable
Agricultural Resources, Reducing Petroleum and Saving Energy
LOUDON, TN (June 8, 2007)
—
Mohawk Industries, Inc. enhances corporate sound environmental practices as
a new DuPont Tate & Lyle plant that is operating near the majestic
Appalachians will produce a key ingredient for DuPontÔ
SoronaŇ
polymer from renewable agricultural resources. A joint-venture of DuPont
and Tate & Lyle, the new facility substitutes petroleum with corn sugar to
create Bio-PDOÔ,
which is a key ingredient in Mohawk’s very popular SmartStrand®
made with DuPont Sorona polymer.
The highlight of the Grand Opening Celebration was the keynote address by
The Honorable Samuel W. Bodman, Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy,
marking this important milestone toward building a renewable economy. The
Loudon facility is the first in the world to manufacture this product using
state-of-the-art industrial biotechnology.
“We’re taking carpet fiber literally from the field to the floor,” said Jeff
Lorberbaum, Mohawk’s Chairman and CEO. “We’re looking forward to giving our
industry another remarkable innovation — one that will benefit our dealers,
our consumers, and the environment.”
The
Loudon plant will supply DuPont with chemistry to make DuPont™ Sorona®
renewably sourced polymer, converting corn sugars into Bio-PDO™ (1,3
propanediol), one of two key compounds used for making DuPont Sorona
polymer, found only in Mohawk carpets.
Lorberbaum said using renewably sourced PDO to make Sorona polymer results
in about 40 percent reduction in energy consumption. “Seven square yards of
40-ounce carpet featuring SmartStrand fiber made with DuPont Sorona
renewably sourced polymer will save enough energy and natural resources
equal to one gallon of gasoline,” he said.
Lorberbaum also sees the significance of this step for the carpet industry.
“The environment is becoming a more and more critical consideration for our
business,” he said. “Mohawk has made great strides in recycling and waste
reduction, and now we’re taking another leap forward with the ability to
replace petroleum with a sustainable resource. And we’re using it to make a
breakthrough product for our industry.”
Both Mohawk and DuPont stressed that the new renewable resource based
polymer has the same performance benefits as a petroleum-based product.
“Sorona is one of the few products available today that offers the fully
functioning performance of a premium fiber that can be made with renewable
resources,” said Walter Fields, Global Business Director, Bio-Based
Materials for DuPont. “What’s great is that each and every carpet retailer
and each and every consumer can contribute to improving our environment.”
SmartStrand fiber with DuPont Sorona renewably sourced polymer is being
phased into Mohawk production and will be in place throughout the company’s
product offerings this fall.
Carpets manufactured using SmartStrand fiber with DuPont Sorona renewably
sourced polymer offer stain protection that actually part of each fiber —
not a surface treatment that will wear off with use and cleaning. Tests show
that SmartStrand fiber with DuPont Sorona renewably sourced polymer offers
superior stain resistant for tough-to-remove substances including mustard,
red wine, bleach, acne medication, and others. Stains can be cleaned with
warm water and a mild detergent, such as Mohawk FloorCare Essentials carpet
cleaner.
The
fiber is also resistant to chlorine and UV light. It dries rapidly and has
inherent static protection. SmartStrand fiber with DuPont Sorona renewably
sourced polymer is also inherently soft, and provides fullness to the face
of the carpet and a pleasing “hand” feel. The unique spring-like molecular
construction of the polymer gives the fiber remarkable resilience. In fact,
two years of testing at independent labs and in Mohawk’s own facilities
shows that the polymer performed equal to — or better — than comparable
constructions of nylon carpets in durability tests.
This resilience and other characteristics of SmartStrand fiber with DuPont
Sorona renewably sourced polymer mean that it can be used in a wide variety
of carpet constructions. The fiber also dyes extremely well, producing
vivid, precise color.
Lorberbaum expects the alliance between DuPont and Mohawk will increasingly
provide strong environmental leadership along with developing products that
the consumer will purchase and the dealer will be glad to sell.
“DuPont has been a tremendous partner for us in this project,” Lorberbaum
said. “Everyone in the flooring business understands what DuPont innovations
have meant to our industry.”
Tate & Lyle uses innovative technology to transform corn, wheat and sugar
into value-added ingredients. A leader in cereal sweeteners and starches,
sugar refining, value added food and industrial ingredients, and citric
acid, Tate & Lyle is also the world number-one in industrial starches and
the sole manufacturer of SPLENDA® Sucralose.
To learn
more about Mohawk’s SmartStrand fiber with DuPont Sorona renewably sourced
polymer, see your Mohawk representative or visit the company’s websites:
www.mohawk-flooring.com (consumer) or
www.mohawk-today.com (Mohawk dealers
only). More information about Sorona can be found at
www.sorona.dupont.com.
DuPontÔ,
Bio-PDOÔ
and SoronaŇ
are trademarks or registered trademarks of DuPont and are licensed to
Mohawk.
# # #
Mohawk is a leading supplier of flooring for both residential and commercial
applications. Mohawk offers a complete selection of broadloom carpet,
ceramic tile, laminate, wood, stone, vinyl, rugs and other home products.
These products are marketed under the premier brands in the industry, which
include Mohawk, Karastan, Ralph Lauren, Lees, Bigelow, Dal-Tile, American
Olean and Quick-Step. Mohawk's unique merchandising and marketing assist our
customers in creating the consumers' dream. Mohawk provides a premium level
of service with its own trucking fleet and over 250 local distribution
locations.