UKSFA

22/10/2026

We haven't really talked about the link between health, wellbeing and sustainability - but some time ago, we were contacted by University of York regarding their indoor air quality research project INTERIORS. The university were asking for support to floor these research buildings and I am pleased to say that UK Sustainable Flooring Alliance member Forbo Flooring Systems were able to provide all the flooring for the project houses. Most people are aware that we are exposed to air pollution outdoors but exposure to air pollutants indoors receives far less attention. Given that in developed countries like the UK, we spend most of our time indoors (two thirds in our homes), most of our exposure to air pollution happens indoors. This project aims to further understand indoor air quality and we will be very interested in the results!

Of course - it must be remembered that it is not just the products inside buildings that affect air quality, but just as importantly, is the occupier behaviour! Ventilation by opening windows is good for the building and good for the occupants, even for a short time, especially in colder months. As much as ensuring fresh air and removal of potential toxins, regular ventilation removes moisture buildup and dry air is easier and cheaper to heat than damp air. Counter-intuitive for some, but so important.

19/10/2026

We are getting more and more enquiries from all sorts of businesses and individuals looking to recycle their flooring - or more importantly, for recycled or reconditioned flooring for new project! The latest has been from a leading global facilities management company wanting to refurbish two floors of a building in France!

The trend for reuse of flooring is on the rise and rightly so, particularly in commercial spaces for modular flooring like LVT and carpet tiles. It's a no-brainer and we are here to support this activity through our enquiry helpline and TakeMyFlooring® portal. Can you help reuse more flooring?

📧 [email protected]

16/10/2026

Good morning! Friday again??
Yesterday, UK Sustainable Flooring Alliance held its first face-to-face meeting with it's new, expanded Board that were elected in July this year. Online is great, but you can't beat being in the same room! Thanks to everyone for a great meeting and particularly those that travelled large distances to be there. We had a full day of valuable debate, questions, solutions and agreements. So much energy in the room with representation across the flooring supply chain. Lots of actions to be getting on with!

14/10/2026

One of our three key strategies as a membership organisation is ENGAGEMENT. We are the 'dot-joiners' for the flooring industry on sustainability, and it is through engagement that we facilitate effective communication and collaboration.

A very important part of this is to engage with government departments and other important third party stakeholders so that we can understand upcoming changes to legislation and policy or new initiatives, to identify any areas of support - financial or otherwise - and to collaborate with government on relevant future policy where we can.

We do this directly if appropriate, but usually through our membership of the British Furniture Confederation and the Construction Products Association and later today, we will be having a meeting with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. Should you be benefitting from this information? Want to find out more about UK Sustainable Flooring Alliance membership?

14/10/2026

Our Wednesday Webinars are back! On Wednesday 28th October, we are delighted to welcome Dr Stephen Snaith of the British Coatings Federation
who will be talking to us about their PaintCare scheme. PaintCare is a voluntary, industry-led and funded scheme to recycle and reuse leftover decorative paint and packaging in the UK.

It's always good to hear and learn from other industries who are working to solve their own waste challenges without waiting for governments, legislation and regulation to kick in (which it will...). Open to members and non-members, the webinar will take place on the 28th of October at 2pm BST. https://uk-sfa.com/uksfa-wednesday-webinars-are-back/ . If you are a non-member, then please email [email protected] to find out more. All UKSFA members should have already received an invite.

12/10/2026

Last week, when in conversation with an industry stakeholder, they said "ESG is not really a thing anymore is it...?". I replied that I had attended an interesting presentation on finance and sustainability recently, and the usage of the term 'ESG' may be in decline, but financial institutions were very much interested in a companies sustainability status.

UK SRS S1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DISCLOSURE OF SUSTAINABILITY-RELATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION. This Standard was released in Feb 2026 by the UK government and will initially become a voluntary reporting requirement in 2027 for in-scope. Yet another example of why all companies should be examining their data and getting prepared for this and other (digital product passports) regulation requirements. Essentially, "the SRS S1 requires an entity to disclose information about all sustainability-related risks and opportunities that could reasonably be expected to affect the entity’s cash flows, its access to finance or cost of capital over the short, medium or long term. For the purposes of this Standard, these risks and opportunities are collectively referred to as ‘sustainability-related risks and opportunities that could reasonably be expected to affect the entity’s prospects’". On the 30th Sept 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority published "finalised rules requiring listed companies to report against UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS), on a 'comply or explain' basis....". Their rules "apply a comply-or-explain approach across the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) framework-(starting Jan 2027), promoting international alignment and comparability while allowing companies to explain how their circumstances affect their reporting."

A clear indication that financial institutions are requiring information on the sustainable impact of a business to allow them to decide whether to fund that business. https://lnkd.in/eepMas59

In addition, HSBC (and other banks?) have a 'Sustainability Improvement Loan'. Their SIL applies a simple variable pricing adjustment based on a third-party ESG rating issued by an HSBC recognised external ratings provider (such as EcoVadis, CDP, or Inrate, subject to market availability). The score is reviewed annually and loan costs may vary depending on sustainability performance.

What clearer message is there that sustainability matters where money is concerned? Sustainability is no longer a 'nice to have' which can be cut if the going gets tough. It is an essential part of a businesses' operations and has moved from marketing to compliance. Get ahead of the game. It doesn't necessarily mean massive changes, but sustainability needs to be a core part of every business decision.
https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/policy-statements/ps26-19-aligning-listed-issuers-sustainability-disclosures-international-standards

We have finalised rules requiring listed companies to report against UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS), on a comply or explain basis.

07/10/2026

Here at the UKSFA, we often highlight the fact that clients are perhaps the main drivers of sustainability in business and industry leaders will respond to this pressure proactively to retain business, rather than waiting for legislation to drive change.

So, it was interesting to read the summary of a new survey from Deloitte out today that highlights just this - major clients are driving business decisions on sustainability, which are starting to make financial sense to industries who respond to the challenge...

https://www.esgtoday.com/over-three-quarters-of-companies-increased-investment-in-sustainability-over-past-year-citing-higher-roi-deloitte-survey/

A significant majority of companies continued to increase their investments in sustainability initiatives over the past year, with investments in sustainability becoming more focused and financially driven, according to a new survey released by global professional services firm Deloitte. The increas...

05/10/2026

Today, our CEO Cathie Clarke is the guest editor for Futurebuild. Does anything in the article or links resonate with you? Want to find out more about the work we are doing with industry to address sustainability challenges, flooring reuse and recycling? Then don't hesitate to get in touch!

Today, our CEO Cathie Clarke is the guest editor for Futurebuild. Does anything in the article or links resonate with you? Want to find out more about the work we are doing with industry to address sustainability challenges, flooring reuse and recycling? Then don't hesitate to get in touch! ...

30/09/2026

Thanks to CONTRACT FLOORING ASSOCIATION for inviting me to speak at their Manufacturer Committee meeting this morning. It's always good to engage with colleagues across the flooring sector to highlight our shared challenges around flooring waste and how UK Sustainable Flooring Alliance is facilitating the sector to address them. If you want to find out more about how you can get involved too - then please reach out. Collaboration is the only way forward...BTW, good job the meeting was online, as I've got a nasty cold and I'm sure no-one would have wanted to be in the same room - there is sharing and there's sharing! 🤧