A good rug in more than one way

A rug can transform almost any space into an inviting place. But, many rugs are made of fossil-based materials. That is something IKEA wants to change, so one of our development teams decided to find a more sustainable solution.

“At IKEA we want to use sustainable materials as often as possible,” says Luis Gomez Barquin, one of the members in the development team behind TIPHEDE. There are many materials to do rugs from, but finding one that combines sustainability with durability and a low price can be difficult. “Take lyocell for example. It’s cellulose-based, but if we were to use it in TIPHEDE, it would cost as much as a wool rug,” explains Luis. So, he and the team decided to go with cotton. One of our most loved everyday materials, but quite unusual in rugs.

Affect the home, not the environment

Cotton is a natural fibre. It’s good for the environment since it’s circular. Like all cotton IKEA uses, the cotton in TIPHEDE comes from more sustainable sources. It means that it’s either recycled, or grown with less water, fertilisers and pesticides. “We like it when we can be thrifty with resources, so for this rug we’re using 100% recycled cotton from our own production. It’s good for both the environment and the price,” explains Luis.

Easy to wash and move around

Another good thing with the cotton in TIPHEDE, is that it makes the rug easy to clean. And since it’s a flat-woven rug, it’s smoother to put it in the washing machine compared to thicker pile rugs. “Being able to wash your rug is one of those small things that makes the everyday simpler,” says Luis. “TIPHEDE fits almost anywhere. You can put it under the dining table, in the living room, the kitchen or next to the bed – wherever you want a natural feeling without affecting your wallet or the environment too much.”