Japan Recycle Carpet Association Holds Second Green Check Committee Meeting

The Japan Recycle Carpet Association (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Tadachika Kondo) conducted a 'Green Check' on March 17, 2026, as one of the certification criteria for its Recycled Carpet Certification System, which began in July 2024. The Green Check Committee was established within the association, comprising independent experts, to address greenwashing concerns and ensure customers can confidently choose environmentally friendly products. The second committee meeting evaluated the eligibility of certified products based on data such as production volume and the amount of post-consumer recycled (PCR) material used. Products deemed eligible continue to be certified as 'Recycled Carpet Certified' products. This evaluation covered all products certified from the system's launch until December 2025. The committee consists of 3 external members and 1 association secretariat member, totaling 4 individuals. Certified products include: Kawashima Selkon Textiles (52 patterns, 224 items), Sangetsu (13 patterns, 66 items), Suminoe Interior Products (52 patterns, 399 items), and Tajima Roofing (7 patterns, 35 items), totaling 124 patterns and 724 items. External committee members are: Kozo Ito (Distinguished Professor, The University of Tokyo / Fellow, National Institute for Materials Science), Masanori Toyoizumi (Partner, Certified Public Accountant, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC), Kazuhiro Yoshii (Partner, Attorney-at-Law, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune). The Green Check covered certified products from July 2024 to the end of December 2025. The Japan Recycle Carpet Association was established on November 1, 2023, to promote carpet recycling. Tile carpet recycling has been ongoing for approximately 20 years, with about 60 million square meters (300,000 tons) circularly utilized by member companies. Currently, about 5 million square meters, equivalent to approximately 20% of Japan's tile carpet market, are horizontally recycled annually. This initiative is realized through cooperation among users, collectors, recyclers, and manufacturers, and the association was established as an organization where these four parties transcend industry boundaries to collaborate.