Carnegie was founded with the goal of creating PVC alternative products for the commercial industry. Over time, this mission led us to become the first, and still the only, 100% PVC-free textile and solutions company in the industry. Let's talk about what led us to this bold commitment.
During the ‘80s and early ‘90s, Carnegie studied the most ubiquitous wallcovering material used in commercial buildings: PVC (polymerizing vinyl chloride) or vinyl. PVC is a common component found in furniture, textiles and wallcoverings. Due to its rigidity, PVC requires plasticizers to soften it or make it more flexible for use. These plasticizers can be released through a process called off-gassing during manufacturing, as well as throughout the product's lifecycle.
As we learned about the potential release of dioxin (a group of highly toxic chemical compounds) during the PVC manufacturing and disposal process, we made the decision that we did not want PVC in our products, so Carnegie commited from the very beginning to find a substitute.
Xorel Was the First Step
Our commitment to sustainability was a natural foundation for the development of Xorel in the late 1970s and 80s. Xorel is made from polyethylene, the simplest and most ubiquitous of all plastics—a synthetic thermoplastic with a wide range of positive characteristics: it has great tensile strength, clarity, flexibility, and resistance to caustic compounds, offering high performance that can match PVC and act as a viable alternative. Just as critical is what's not in it—polyethylene contains absolutely no harmful additives, making it safe and clean.
Xorel taught us to think more holistically about source materials, manufacturing processes, and life cycle analyses. The imperative was clearly there, and the development of Xorel proved that we had found an alternative to vinyl - a beautiful, durable, high performance product that was sourced, manufactured, and delivered sustainably. We embraced our responsibility to our employees, our clients, and the planet. Beyond design, color, and technical specifications, Carnegie became equally focused on sustainable material sourcing, life cycle impact, and disposal issues.