June, 2009
Press Release

GEO FLOORING INTRODUCES:

Tandus’ latest breakthrough, with the highly anticipated, PVC- free offering, ethos ™

Tandus has always concerned itself with raising the standard in both sustainability and durability by continually finding newer, more efficient ways of doing things, often creating award winning innovations in the process.  GEO Flooring would like to introduce the latest success story in this tradition, with ethos™  the PVC-free Powerbond® backing.

First released in 2004 by Tandus, ethos™ is a non chlorinated thermoplastic cushion backing system for Powerbond®. ethos™ contains 76% post consumer recycled content and is constructed of reclaimed PVB, the film most commonly used in laminated safety glass and car windshields. By recycling this PVB film, which historically has no commercial application at the end of its useful life, Tandus has not only rescued it from further landfill but has also provided an important breakthrough in the development of a very successful product in ethos™.

The initial inspiration for ethos™ was first conceived in 2003, when America’s largest non-profit health organization Kaiser-Permanente put forward a “request for proposal” for a flooring product that had the same performance characteristics as traditionally used Powerbond®. The catch in this instance was that the flooring product needed to be PVC-FREE. This challenge presented itself as an opportunity for Tandus to further develop the skills for which it is known, to find more efficient ways of developing their environmentally sustainable and durable flooring products; because sustainability is “just a way of life” at Tandus.

Some of the added benefits of ethos™ are:

• 76% post consumer recycled backing content
• PVC Free – without chlorine or phthalates
• 100% closed loop recyclable
• Environmentally Preferable Product EPA
• No Antimicrobials
• Impermeable to moisture
• Provides a barrier against contaminants
• Slip resistance

For more information on this product offering, contact GEO Flooring.

Information:
Yvette@geoflooring.com.au