Recognised for environmental innovation and beautiful design,inspired by the ocean
Dubai, UAE, 21 May 2014: Interface, a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of carpet tiles has won a coveted INDEX Product Design Award for its widely acclaimed Net Effect collection at a ceremony in Dubai.
The event at Atlantis Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah was attended by hundreds of interior design professionals from the Middle East celebrating manufacturers and designers for excellence and innovation in product design for the residential, hospitality, commercial, educational and healthcare industries.
Winning the top accolade in the Surfaces and Finishes category, the Net Effect carpet tile collection is inspired by both the ocean’s life-giving power and its plight; marine life and habitats that are endangered by discarded fishing nets, acidification, over-fishing, pollution and climate change. The collection provides a subtle visual reminder of the sea on its surface, with a design reminiscent of swirling currents.
Reflecting Interface’s abiding Mission Zero® promise to eliminate any negative impact it may have on the environment by 2020, Net Effect contains 100 per cent recycled content yarn made from sources including used carpet fluff harvested from Interface’s ReEntry programme, commercial fishing nets and nets from the Net-Works project in Danajon Bank area of the Philippines.
Net-Works is an innovative global business and conservation partnership, launched in 2012, between Interface, conservation charity the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and supplier Aquafil.
The initiative tackles two distinct issues: first, to address the growing environmental issue of discarded fishing nets in some of the world’s poorest coastal communities, and second, to help solve the problem of finding a viable waste stream to feed the company’s ambitious post-consumer nylon recycling goals.
Steven Pratt, Regional Director for Interface Middle East, said, “Net Effect has captured the attention and imagination of the world’s interior designers since it was launched late last year and we are thrilled to receive this acknowledgement from our peers at the INDEX awards. We are seeing increased interest in the collection, not only because of the quality and design of the product but also because of its environmental credentials.
“The Net-Works collaboration helps to clean up the ocean from discarded fishing nets, offers economic and social benefits to the fishing community in the Philippines and provides us with a unique source of recycled yarn for our carpet tiles.”
Created by David Oakey, an exclusive designer for Interface and owner of David Oakey Designs, the collection of six modular carpet tile options embraces sustainability in construction and concept.
“Aesthetically, we wanted Net Effect to capture the positivity of the Net-Works partnership and the beauty of the waters it’s so closely tied to,” said Oakey. “This collection connects people with the emotions and memories associated with the beach, but their enjoyment is its most superficial benefit. What’s beneath the surface—including the product’s ties to the good work Net-Works is doing—is what makes it extraordinary.”
Interface has been operating in the Middle East for more than 30 years through a network of distributors, including M H Baluchi & Sons in Bahrain, Business Machine Co in Kuwait, Sharikat Fanniya Omaniya in Oman, Rafco in Qatar, Riyadh House Est in Saudi Arabia and Ofis in the UAE. Its regional headquarters and showroom is based in Al Barsha, Dubai.