With the theme of 'Carpets - Resources for the circular economy', the 2014 CRUK Conference in Birmingham will report on and celebrate new developments in a sector now embedded across the carpet waste supply chain.

For the first time an awards ceremony at the one-day event will recognise those individuals and organisations that have made important contributions to the sector.

Viewing carpet as a resource rather than a waste material will be brought to the fore in a circular economy session with contributions including: A textiles perspective from Maurice Golden of the Zero Waste Scotland Circular Economy Team; the redesign of products and systems from Sophie Thomas of RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) and applied business benefits with Mike Walters of John Lewis outlining the department store's offcuts recycling scheme, now being rolled out nationally.
The international speaker line-up includes Bob Peoples, Executive Director of Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE). In addition, the packed conference programme features sessions covering good practice to encourage reuse and recycling of carpet, manufacturers' sustainability achievements and recycler successes, all of which will appeal to delegates from across Local Authority, commercial and manufacturing sectors.

A networking dinner on 23rd June will precede the Conference at the Institute of Engineering and Technology, sponsored for the third year running by Invista, manufacturers of ANTRON® Carpet Fibres. Laurance Bird, CRUK Director comments: "As a valuable forum for sharing ideas, innovation and successes, our conference has become a must-attend event for the carpet industry."
Download the full conference programme here. Bookings are now being taken online for evening dinner, exhibition and conference here.