Carpet America Recovery Effort

Developing Market Based Solutions for the Recycling & Reuse of Post-Consumer Carpet

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New Micro and Innovation & Design Grants Support Increased Collection, Reuse and Recycling

carpet recycling research team at work in lab at Birch Biosciences

The carpet recycling team at Birch Biosciences in action.

The California Carpet Stewardship Program has awarded six new grants supporting innovative approaches to increasing carpet collection, reuse and closed loop recycling throughout California.

Cycle 4 Innovation & Design (I&D) grants were awarded to:

Birch Biosciences (Portland, OR) — $50,000
Birch Biosciences was selected to advance an innovative enzymatic recycling technology designed to convert post-consumer polyester carpet face fiber into virgin-quality raw materials suitable for manufacturing new polyester products. The project seeks to establish a true carpet-to-carpet recycling pathway for polyester carpet, while helping manufacturers meet future recycled-content requirements.

Rhea’s Factory (Berkeley, CA) — $100,000
Rhea’s Factory received funding to validate a novel enzymatic recycling process for mixed PET/PTT carpet fiber, one of the most difficult carpet materials to recycle. Using AI-designed enzymes and advanced pretreatment technologies, the project aims to recover virgin-quality monomers from PCC fiber and create a new high-value recycling pathway for materials that currently have limited recycling options.

Rheaply (California-based project) — $50,000
Rheaply was awarded funding to partner with CARE on the development of a carpet tile reuse market infrastructure model. The project will establish data standards, digital workflows, stakeholder engagement processes, and market-development tools designed to make carpet tile reuse more visible, credible, and scalable across California.

Cycle 5M Micro Grants for Collection and Reuse were awarded to:

Colusa County (Colusa County, CA) – $10,000
Colusa County was awarded funding to construct a concrete pad, allowing the County to open its only post-consumer carpet (PCC) collection site. The project will improve site safety and operational efficiency while expanding convenient access to carpet recycling for local residents and businesses.

Holly Home Carpets (San Marcos, CA) – $15,000
Holly Home Carpets received funding to install a concrete pad at its existing public collection facility. The infrastructure improvement will enhance safety, improve unloading operations, and support an anticipated 10–15% increase in carpet collection volumes at this high volume site.

Transportek Logistics (Ceres, CA) – $10,800
Transportek was awarded funding to purchase a loading ramp that will improve the safe and efficient transfer of PCC to recycling facilities. The project supports an important California transportation and recycling partnership and is expected to improve collection logistics throughout Northern California.

Cycle 5M Micro Grants for Collection and Reuse remain open for applications. Eligible organizations are encouraged to learn more and apply at CarpetRecovery.org/Grants.

While Cycle 4 Innovation & Design funding is now closed, additional grant awards may be announced in future e-news editions as CARE continues to review and finalize funding recommendations.

Grant information is regularly updated; see also CarpetRecovery.org/Grants.

CARE Testing and Innovation & Design Grants Announced

The California Carpet Stewardship Program has funded three new grants for a total of $142,000 to advance innovative recycling and reuse of post-consumer carpet (PCC). Two of the projects, undertaken by Brightworks Sustainability and Tarkett in partnership with Georgia Tech, were awarded under Cycle 3 of CARE’s Innovation & Design grants. Brightworks will lead a Circularity Optimization Study, engaging stakeholders across the supply chain to inform a new “Design for Circularity” guide. Tarkett, in partnership with Georgia Tech and Mycocycle, will test a mycelium-based bioremediation process potentially capable of breaking down 100% of PCC, including traditionally non-recyclable components like backings and adhesives, to create feedstock for new carpet manufacturing.

3d printer with final product

River AI Design uses 3D printing to incorporate PCC fibers into architectural products.

The third grant, under Cycle 6B of CARE’s Product Testing program, was awarded to River AI Design Corp for developing and certifying architectural products made from recycled PCC using large-scale 3D printing. This Los Angeles–based project will transform California-sourced carpet into durable planters, acoustic panels, and outdoor furniture. 

These three projects exemplify CARE’s commitment to fostering practical, scalable solutions that increase carpet recycling rates, expand end-market demand, and keep valuable materials in circulation. For more details on these and other initiatives, as well as information on open grant solicitations, please visit the CARE grants page  or email Grants Manager Abbie Beane.

CARE Grants Accelerate Innovation, Expand Recycling and Collection

testing grant recipients at work
Grant activity at West Virginia University

In 2024 the CARE California Carpet Stewardship Program managed 15 grants totaling $881,000 awarded to 14 entities, a significant investment that builds on the state’s carpet recycling success. Important advances were made in expanding convenient collection across the state, as well as tackling fiber identification and difficult-to-recycle post-consumer carpet (PCC) components.

The Program funded two Capital Improvement Grants to California entities, totaling $276,000, that are projected to expand recycled output by 4 million pounds annually and grow and improve collections by 600,000 pounds per year. The Program also funded approximately $100,000 in two Product Testing Grants to find higher and better uses for PCC backing (PC4)  – see photo – as well as strategies and parts for repairing carpet fiber identification technology. This ID tool is no longer being manufactured and its longevity is critical until new fiber ID technology is fully developed. Read the case study on the CARE website.

CARE’s Innovation & Design (I&D) Grants Program awarded two new grants, totaling $200,000, for projects at University of California Davis and Arizona State University to explore more sustainable applications for PET fiber and PC4 backing material. UC Davis is planning to improve the physical properties of PC4-content lightweight aggregate and conduct a lifecycle analysis comparing the environmental impacts of PC4 aggregate to traditional aggregate. The ASU grant funds research on the inclusion of PET fiber in concrete applications. I&D projects are ongoing at University of California Santa Barbara to explore recycling options for PCC tiles, and at West Virginia University, which has successfully recycled PC4 into fiber-reinforced polymer composites. These composites may be used in transportation or construction applications, such as building materials and infrastructure.

CARE oversaw seven California-based Micro Grant projects totaling $105,000 to support an additional annual 654,000 pounds in collections via private pickup service and three new public drop-off sites. Two new sites are located in rural counties and fulfill statewide convenient collection goals.

New Grant Cycles Open

CARE has launched new cycles of its capital, testing and I&D grant programs, with applications due on March 31, 2025. In addition, CARE is continuing the micro grant program in 2025 on a first-come, first-served basis. The capital and micro grant programs are open to California-based entities only. For more information and application forms, visit the CARE grants webpage.

Since 2016, CARE has paid out more than $10,300,000 in grants.

For questions about the CARE grants program, please email Abbie Beane, CARE grants manager, at ABeane@CarpetRecovery.org.

See the full list of CARE grants awardees here.

CARE Announces New Capital and Testing Grant Cycles

CARE has announced two new grant cycles for 2025:

Capital Grant Cycle 7A provides funding for capital improvements that will establish, increase, improve and enhance additional California generated post‑consumer carpet (PCC) collection, reuse, recycling and/or utilization of recycled content product manufacturing. CARE will give preference to projects that can prove project impact in the first year of operations and have a proven track record of operational growth and success. CARE has allocated $700,000 total to award to California-based projects throughout Cycle 7A (2025-2027). Individual projects may apply for up to $500,000 in Cycle 7A funds. Only California-based private entities are eligible to apply. CARE’s current priorities are to enhance PCC tile recycling and reuse, PCC collection and PCC calcium carbonate backing (PC4) recycling; develop fiber agnostic markets; and grow pelletizing and compounding infrastructure in California. Deadline for applications is March 31, 2025.

See the Capital Grant solicitation here.

Product Testing Grant Cycle 6B will provide funding for activities that will focus on product testing, research and development, and similar market development activities to improve and enhance post‑consumer carpet (PCC) recycling and utilization of recycled-content product manufacturing. CARE is particularly interested in proposals seeking to create new or reformulate existing products and applications using carpet backing material (known as post-consumer carpet calcium carbonate PC4), mixed fibers and carpet tiles.  CARE has allocated up to $100,000 total to award to projects throughout Cycle 6B in 2025. Products and applications using PC4 or focused on fiber agnostic applications and carpet tile recycling/secondary markets will be prioritized.  Applications will be accepted throughout 2025.

See the Testing Grant solicitation here. 

 

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