About TNO

TNO is an independent research organization. We connect people and knowledge to create innovations that boost the sustainable competitive strength of industry and well-being of society. The Circular economy team, part of the Climate, Air & Sustainability group within TNO has vast and recognized experience with performing sustainability assessments, including life cycle assessments on novelty production & recycling technologies and products. The type of projects ranges from methodological developments (e.g., external costing, shadow prices), value chain analysis and data-based dynamic modelling (e.g., for innovative processes).

Integrated assessments by TNO in CISUFLO

In the CISUFLO project we TNO, as the leader in the environmental life cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic assessment, social impact assessment, and circularity assessment can support the development of circular flooring value chains. We strongly believe such integrated assessments, highlighting the environmental, economic, circularity and social impacts, are crucial to demonstrate where and how the flooring sector can become more sustainable and circular. We are glad to be working closely together with the key players in the flooring sector in Europe.

  • Environmental life cycle assessments: For each of the flooring types, textile, vinyl and laminate, a detailed LCA of the entire value chains, including the recycling routes will be carried out translating the data available for low TRL levels (TRL 5) to higher TRL levels (TRL 9).
  • Social life cycle assessment: a social assessment will be performed to better understand the impact of the 3 flooring value chains on workers, local communities, and possibly entrepreneurs in the specific value chains’ geography.
  • Techno-economic assessment: For techno-economic assessments, material and cost inventory data (OPEX & CAPEX) of the different recycling technologies and routes will be prepared, as broadly as possible and in alignment with the environmental and social assessments.
  • Circularity assessment: Circularity impact assessment per value chain will be carried out to maintain materials into applications with high performance requirements and to prevent material downgrading into applications with low quality requirements.

The objective of the assessments is to support the development of the novel value chains for the laminate, vinyl, and textile flooring products (Pilots 4-cLaminate, 5- cVinyl, and 6-cTextile) that have improved environmental, economic, and social performance across the entire value chain. This will be done by providing input for optimization of the recycling routes and technologies (e.g., design, materials, manufacturing) and information for policy makers for the definition of new policies to support the improvements in the floor coverings sector.