Desso, a Tarkett company,  is the leading carpet tiles and carpets company, being active in more than 100 countries. Tarkett is a global leader in innovative and sustainable solutions for flooring and sports surfaces. Its motive is to develop products that are unique and provide an improved indoor environment and assist in increasing the health and well-being of people. The Company works on three pillars – Creativity, Functionality and Cradle to Cradle (C2C) design which is a shift from the linear economy to the regenerative circular economy.

As a part of Tarkett since 2015, Desso works in accordance with the strategy and vision as defined by Tarkett which is committed to addressing societal and environmental challenges. Tarkett has a commitment to shaping its company model in collaboration with a circular economy where good materials are used to design the products and the products are brought back and recycled in closed-loop systems which is beneficial for the environment. Tarkett works in the direction of reconciling the People, Planet and Profit drivers to achieve profits and sustained growth which is shared among employees, business partners, customers and shareholders.

Desso is the first carpet manufacturer in Europe, Middle East and Africa to adopt the Cradle to Cradle® design in signing an agreement of partnership with the Hamburg-based Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA).  According to the principles of Cradle to Cradle, products are made from positively defined components that are easy to disassemble, by which new products in both the biological and technical cycles can be created. Being one of the pioneers of the circular economy, Desso has been providing case material for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and other related organizations.

Desso, as a member of the Project Mainstream, was one of the sources of information and guidance for the New Plastic Economy report. The New Plastics Economy – Rethinking the future of plastics was launched in January 2016 by the World Economic Forum and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in Davos which was the first of its kind providing the vision of a global economy where plastics are never a waste. 

Under the LIFE program of the European Union which works for implementing, updating and developing environmental and climate policy of the European Union, Desso has been awarded a subsidy to develop products based on Cradle to Cradle® principles.

Desso has also participated in the debates and discussions at World Economic Forum summits in Davis, China and other places in the capacity of being a long-running member of Project Mainstream and other similar discussions about the circular economy. Tarkett has become a full member of the World Economic Forum at the partner level since January 2016 making its leaders a party in discussions around the circular economy, clean energy, future of construction and other related areas.

Desso has been the recipient of many prestigious awards for its role in shifting to a circular economy and considering the Sustainable Development Goals, such as Mixology North Environmental Award, Red Dot Award, IWA Resource Recovery Award, Guardian Sustainable Business Award for Waste and Recycling, Big Tick Award for Sustainability from Business in the Community (BITC), etc.