The need to prioritise sustainability in architecture and design will become increasingly important as time goes on, as it will for all other sectors and industries around the world as the realities of climate change continue to make themselves felt and as the need to limit global warming as far as possible becomes ever more pressing in the future.
Sustainability in architecture and design is certainly not a new concept, with developers embracing the likes of energy efficiency, passive solar design, renewable energy sources, insulation, adaptive reuse concepts and so on since the 1970s… but all these approaches and more besides will need to be adopted increasingly now and well into the future if we are to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Material choice is absolutely paramount in this regard – and this is where brands have a pivotal role to play, ensuring that there is innovation and choice in the market to allow architects and designers to make sustainable choices with ease.
Balsan Flooring in particular has long been making waves where sustainability is concerned and has made a name for itself as an industry leader in this regard, ever since its inception some 300 years or so ago.
The Balsan legacy
Balsan is certainly a household name these days and it has built up an enviable reputation in the textile production world as one of the leading brands of the 21st century, marrying a sense of historical perspective with serious style and strong environmental responsibilities.
The company itself can trace its origins all the way back to the Manufacture Royale, which was first established during the reign of Louis XV in 18th-century France and which initially produced uniforms and carded sheets.
In 1857, the manufacturing hub was bought by Pierre Balsan and the rest, as they say, is history, with Balsan going on to become the second-oldest flooring manufacturer in the world!
Over the years, Balsan has been a champion of innovation, producing flooring solutions that combine tradition and modernity to perfection, supporting the design of beautiful spaces without compromising on environmental sustainability.
Why choose Balsan products?
There’s a reason why Balsan has continued to outperform its competitors over the last 300 years and this fact alone is testament to the quality of its product range, which always garners praise for its durability, high-quality aesthetics and diversity of application.
From carpet tiles and planks to LVT and natural flooring, Balsan has all your bases – and lots more besides!
What continues to ensure that Balsan remains the brand of choice for so many designers is its commitment to sustainable working practices, practices that extend far beyond its product line.
As well as prioritising responsible sourcing of materials and remaining compliant with evolving environmental standards, Balsan also recently published its Green Spirit Guide, allowing it to be more transparent about its sustainable business practices and publicise the inroads it’s been making towards its full ecological transition.
Ongoing work includes setting up an apiary to protect bees, promoting pollination and biodiversity, while serving as an opportunity to raise awareness of this important issue. Other pledges include reducing energy consumption by 20 per cent per metre squared produced by 2030, as well as increasing waste recycling by 50 per cent.
The brand also intends to increase its use of green energy by 50 per cent and it is now strengthening its partnership with its gas suppliers so as to benefit more immediately from changes in production methods.
One of the main pillars of its sustainability drive, however, is ecodesign and what goes into the textile flooring manufacturing process. For example, it is now using Econyl yarn in some of its products, made from abandoned fishing nets that have been recycled into polyamide/nylon fibres, preserving marine life and supporting a circular economy.
For its Dolce Vita and Colour Scale product ranges, Balsan has also been using a 100 per cent recyclable yarn, featuring 75 per cent recycled content. This drives down the need for virgin material use, while reducing CO2 emissions.
As you can see, there are many reasons why Balsan has been an enduring favourite for architects and designers over the years – and with its commitment to eco-friendly business practices and high-quality collections, it’s fair to say that the brand will be around for another 300 years… at least!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to get in touch with the CVT Direct team via our Contact Us page or give us a ring on 0345 121 1234.
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