UTT News...

Universal Textile Technologies Launches New Ad Campaign
March 2009

Universal Textile Technologies (UTT), manufacturers of BioCel™ and EnviroCel™ carpet backing, has launched new marketing efforts to further enforce the benefits and distinct qualities each backing brings to carpet. UTT’s new campaign plays on the concept of support. These backings support a carpet’s longevity, appearance, and durability. Highly resistant to wear and water damage, carpets backed with EnviroCel™ and BioCel™ have excellent tuft binds that reduce snagging and edge ravel and withstand repeated wet cleanings. Click here to read more of this article.

BioCel™ and EnviroCel™ Qualify Under Expanded USDA Preferred Providers Program
June 2008

Recent rulings from the United States Department of Agriculture qualify high-performance BioCel™ and EnviroCel™ polyurethane carpet backing systems for Federal purchasing preference as designated biobased items under the USDA's BioPreferred^SM program. Click here to read more of this article.

BioCel^® Outlines LEED Certification Qualifiers
May 2008

In recent years, demand has grown rapidly for building materials that fulfill the requirements of LEED, the benchmark certification program for green building projects sponsored by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and buildings that carry its seal of approval are demonstrating advantages not only in public relations appeal, but studies show that energy-efficient LEED buildings cost less to operate, have higher occupancy rates, enhance occupant health and well-being and increase investment returns compared to their non-LEED counterparts. Though desirable, the LEED certification process, with its complex formulas and calculations, takes considerable commitment and planning on the part of architects and designers. Understandably, green product manufacturers strive to provide accurate and concise information to the building community about their products' LEED-worthy attributes. Click here to read more of this article.

Three years after introducing BioCel®, the award-winning environmentally responsible carpetbacking for high-traffic commercial applications, Universal Textile Technologies is once again making history with the introduction of EnviroCel™, the first high-performance, environmentally green polyurethane carpet backing system designed specifically for the various installation and performance requirements of hospitality and high-end residential use. Click here to read more of this article.

The United Soybean Board (USB) today released the findings of a landmark public opinion study that shows while American consumers' knowledge of biobased products is weak, their interest is strong. The nationwide research conducted by NuStats for USB also found that the public looks to the federal government to educate consumers, promote biobased products through education and funding as well as lead by example as a purchaser of these products. Click here to read more of this article.

With petroleum prices historically unstable, industry leaders are continually working to find new ways to replace petroleum in their products with renewable resources. One use for domestically grown soybeans brings soy from the field to the floor. Universal Textile Technologies (UTT) has developed BioCel®, a soy-based carpet backing which is in use around the world. Click here to read more of this article.

BioCel™, the award-winning, environmentally-sensitive polyurethane backing for carpets and artificial turf, continues to win accolades from the sustainable design community and market acceptance from manufacturers. Developed by Dalton, Georgia-based Universal Textile Technologies, BioCel replaces a portion of the petroleum-based polymers in polyurethane with recycled and sustainable components, resulting in a backing that is third-party certified to be approximately 70% green by weight based on the backing system selected. Click here to read more of this article.

UTT continues on the cutting edge of green technology

Two and a half years ago, Universal Textile Technologies (UTT) and Dow Chemical collaborated to create BioBalance™, a backing with cutting edge green technology. The technology allowed UTT to replace a portion of the polyurethane precoat with an American-made soy based polyol. Last year, UTT went several steps further, putting soy based polyurethane in both the precoat and the foam and replacing calcium carbonate with Celeram® to create a backing system for carpet or artificial turf that's 55% to 63% recycled or bio-based content by weight. The very back of the carpet also has a fleece layer made of 100% post consumer PET (recycled plastic bottles). The new product, BioCel™, was awarded the Grand Prize for Environmental Initiative by Buildings Magazine at NeoCon. BioCel™ Technology improves product performance without increasing cost, helping to establish models for the green revolution. As technologies develop and reclamation infrastructures are created, UTT will continue to develop new technology. UTT's environmental commitment to lessen our footprints on earth while improving production quality and maintaining costing efficiencies will continue as we move forward in our R&D efforts. Click here to read more of this article.


UTT announces Celceram®

Universal Textile Technologies (UTT) announces the availability of Celceram® with BIOBALANCE™ polymers for use in the carpet industry. This exciting green technology will complement Universal’s existing soybean-based technology. Celceram®, a highly-refined recovered mineral compound endorsed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is carefully selected and processed for its component and performance characteristics. It is then combined with BIOBALANCE™ polymers containing soybean oil, a 100-percent renewable resource, to replace a portion of the system used to make polyurethane carpet backing. Celceram® with BIOBALANCE™ polymers was developed in response to market demand for a sustainable resource for the production of high-performance backings. This ecologically sound process reduces dependency on petroleum-based products and supports both the American agribusiness community and the EPA’s initiatives for high performance, sustainable products in industry. Click here to read more of this article.


New Innovations

BioCel™ high performance polyurethane backing for carpets and artificial turf. BioCel™ advances the use of both recycled and sustainable components in floor covering products by adding Celceram® to Universal's earlier soybean-based backing technology. Celceram®, a highly-refined recovered mineral compound endorsed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is carefully selected and processed for its component and performance characteristics. It is then combined with BIOBALANCE™ polymers, a polyol derived from soybean oil, a 100-percent renewable resource, to replace a portion of the system used to make polyurethane carpet backing. BioCel™ was developed in response to market demand for a sustainable resource in the production of high-performance backings. This ecologically sound process reduces dependency on petroleum-based products and supports the American agribusiness community and the EPA's initiatives for high performance, sustainable products in industry.


Award Winning

BioCel™ FROM UNIVERSAL TEXTILE TECHNOLOGIES WINS ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD AT NEOCON
BioCel™, a new, environmentally-sensitive high performance polyurethane backing for carpet and synthetic turf developed by Universal Textile Technologies (UTT) was awarded the Grand Prize for Environmental Initiatives presented by Buildings Magazine at NeoCon in Chicago in June. BioCel™ uses BioBalance™ polymers, which are made from U.S. soybean oil to replace some of the petroleum-based polymers in polyurethane, and Celceram®, a highly refined, recovered form of the mineral lignite, In addition, Celceram® adds to product strength and stability without increasing costs. The result of this combination of technologies: BioCel™, a high-performance product that is 55-65% green by weight. The Environmental Initiatives Award is one of seven award categories presented in Buildings Magazine's 2004 Innovations Awards. The magazine has sponsored the competition at NeoCon since 1995. One of three "Citations of Excellence" finalists, BioCel™ was chosen for top honors because it satisfied multiple environmental objectives.

Linda Monroe, editorial director for Buildings Magazine comments that, "BioCel™ is an all-around environmental winner. Not only does it combine renewable and recycled resources in its creation, it also increases carpet life. Green products that are also performance driven represent the direction in which building owners and facilities managers need to go to embrace their sustainability objectives." Doug Giles, UTT, stated this exciting breakthrough continues with our objective of change with out change. The same high performance polyurethane the industry has come to depend on is equal to or better and the cost of the product has not increased. This technology is available at you favorite carpet manufacturer. We are committed to providing products for the industry that can make an environmental and performance improvement. We are honored in receiving this award from one of the industries premier publications.