Climate-Positive Future
Emissions Reduction
Mohawk’s strategy for reducing the energy and emissions intensity of our business is twofold: we improve the energy efficiency of our manufacturing and distribution processes while seeking alternative, cleaner-burning fuels to power our operations. Proven technologies, such as combined heat and power systems, along with process optimization, are helping us make efficiency improvements.
Each of our businesses are contributing to our progress. Our luxury vinyl tile (LVT) manufacturing plant in Belgium, for example, makes use of internal energy teams that are involved in energy studies and help roll out energy-saving projects. Unilin’s larger and more energy-intensive plants have joined the European Energy Efficiency Program, which ensures energy savings measures are identified and implemented, and that energy is monitored and managed daily, both saving energy and maximizing the use of renewable energy.
Fleet Emissions
Another area of focus is the efficiency of our distribution fleet, which includes hundreds of tractors and thousands of trailers used for deliveries throughout North America. We achieve near-world-class numbers of backhaul miles, meaning that our trucks rarely travel empty after making a delivery. Instead, we solicit freight from other businesses through an extensive backhaul network, ensuring that our time on the roads is always used efficiently.
Mohawk’s U.S. distribution fleet includes vehicles that each haul approximately 40,000 pounds of flooring products on a full load. Although we have run testing pilots on electric and natural gas-powered trucks, the demands for this weight cannot currently be met by these vehicles. Our present emissions-reduction efforts therefore focus on efficiency within diesel trucks and utilizing biodiesel. We have implemented auto shut-off devices in our trucks to reduce idling and cut unnecessary fuel consumption, minimizing our fleet’s environmental impact. Additionally, by using routing optimization software, we streamline delivery routes and ensure compliance with federal and state emission levels, boosting efficiency.
Alternative Energy
In addition to energy efficiency efforts, Mohawk invests in the production of low-carbon energy, proven renewable energy technologies and strategic energy purchases to power the growth of our business. Our investments have expanded the use of green energy through wind and solar energy and waste-to-energy conversion.
Mohawk also supports the green energy transition of the grid through demand management activity, which moves our electricity demand to greener, base load generation like nuclear, hydro and combined cycle natural gas, and away from oil, coal and inefficient natural gas and promotes the shift toward renewable energy in the grid system.
Distribution Generation
In Italy, Marazzi Group’s three combined heat and power (CHP) units in addition to one CHP unit in Flooring North America generate more than 280,000 MWh of low-carbon energy and eliminate more than 40,000 metric tons of CO2 each year.
Dal-Tile’s plant in Dickson, Tennessee, has a CHP unit that can achieve thermal efficiencies of well over 90% and uses the waste heat produced to avoid natural gas consumption within the powder production process.
WIND
In 2022, Unilin Insulation installed two wind turbines in Feluy, Belgium, covering 71% of the plant’s energy demand. Unilin also operates three wind turbines at its Avelgem vinyl flooring facility.
BIOMASS
Unilin has invested in two joint venture biomass power plants in Belgium, where it converts non‑recyclable waste wood into heat and energy.
In the U.S., Mohawk operates a biomass system in North Carolina to generate thermal energy.
SOLAR
Godfrey Hirst has installed a 500 kW solar panel system in Geelong, Australia, supplying nearly 30% of the site’s electricity. Another 220 solar panels are located at the Truganina site, and 216 panels at the Laverton site. In 2022, Godfrey Hirst installed 1,560 solar panels at the Auckland, New Zealand, facility and 738 panels at the Dannevirke plant, generating 30% and 45% of each plant’s electricity, respectively.
Rooftop solar panels are in place at our insulation manufacturing plants in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, U.K., and Navan, County Meath, Ireland.
Mohawk’s Flooring Rest of the World segment headquarters in Belgium uses a photovoltaic solar system to help supply electricity.