Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays
November 14, 2024
At Carole Fabrics, we’re committed to sustainability in our products and processes.
As a whole, window treatments create more energy-efficient and comfortable spaces. Opening and closing draperies and shades throughout the day can reduce energy loss, limiting the need to turn on heating and cooling units. At the same time, they can allow more sunlight into the room, reducing the need to turn on lights.
In addition to these environmental impacts, window coverings can add comfort by reducing noise and diffusing glare. They create beautiful, functional spaces that we’re more likely to want to spend time in because it simply feels good to be there.
But what about before the custom product arrives at your client’s home or business? We continually strive to limit our environmental footprint through facility improvements and product sourcing.
Our Facility
Visitors to our offices and workroom often comment on the clean, comfortable and bright work environment.
We’ve upgraded our HVAC system for better internal air quality. The added benefit is a 25% decrease in the number of units required to meet our air quality standards. Furthermore, propane forklifts have been replaced with electric forklifts to eliminate fumes.
Fluorescent lights throughout the building have been replaced with LED lights. The LED lights last longer and require less energy, while also reducing heat gain and generating light that is more comfortable on the eyes. We have installed a new Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) roof with two-inch insulation and a reflective top layer to reduce heat transfer. These changes add up during our hot Georgia summers!
Our Products
Over the years, we’ve offered various fabrics made from organic or recycled content. We’re excited to see more fashion-forward and affordable eco-friendly fabrics from the mills, allowing us to further expand our library of sustainable fabrics.
Our Spring 2025 Collection includes the following sample books of solids and textured solids:
- Keep It Real: More than 50 fabrics made from 100% natural fibers including linen, cotton, organic cotton, and bamboo
- Reclamation: More than 100 fabrics in a full range of drapery-weight colors constructed with 50‑100% recycled polyester yarns
We have been conducting lead testing since 2015 to ensure that all of our fabrics are lead-free. And since the introduction of the Fall 2023 Collection, all of our fabrics and packaging are free from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.” We partner with our suppliers to provide certifications including PFAS-free and OEKO-TEX.
We have made technology investments and evolved our product calculations to improve cutting accuracy. This has enabled us to reduce the amount of excess fabric generated as we create custom products. Fabric remnants and scraps are donated for upcycling or sent to a recycling facility.
Keep It Real
Reclamation
And More
We recycle paper and cardboard that comes into our facility. The corrugated cardboard that we use in our packaging is made from over 40% recycled content and is recyclable by the recipient. Salvageable parts from damaged wood pallets are used to make new ones, while the unusable pieces are ground into mulch.
We’re moving toward a paperless office by encouraging digital communication and documentation throughout the company. You may have noticed that we have reduced the amount of printed marketing material that we create. Catalogs, price lists, installation instructions and more are increasingly available after login on carolenet.com or here on carolefabrics.com. We’re excited about enhancing your digital experience by developing more engaging content such as flipbooks, interactive product training, and video presentations.
As we’ve been growing our sustainability initiatives, we have been gratified by the positive feedback and encouragement we’ve received from our customers. We are committed to continually improving the environmental impact of our products and processes, so you can feel good about creating better spaces for your clients.
To learn more, contact your local Carole Fabrics District Sales Manager or contact us directly.