We wanted to visualise where these three key topics impact our business most throughout the value chain, so that we could set our goals and plan our actions. So we’ve mapped out the journey of a FLOOR_STORY rug, and the sustainability considerations at each stage, from beginning to end. Our material topics are relevant at every single stage - which is both hugely challenging and exciting.

We truly believe that together we are more powerful and over the last 12 months we have hosted three roundtable conversations in our showroom to educate ourselves and our peers through the sharing of knowledge, and discussing ideas of how we can work together to solve the biggest problems in our industry.

Since partnering with Label STEP in August 2023 we have been working hard to ensure that all our supplier partners are adhering to stringent human rights standards and these audits are well underway.

The hand knotted rugs in our Verso collection are woven by female entrepreneurs in Afghanistan as part of a partnership with the Turquoise Mountain Trust, a charity which was established in 2006 with the purpose of reviving heritage craft.

With the aim of eliminating our pre-consumer waste, we’ve partnered with Renée Materials to turn discarded materials into useful resources that lengthen the life cycle of the things that we simply can't keep. Renée Materials catalogue and distribute our rug samples to their community of creative people seeking materials for projects and workshops.

As a business that was built from the ground up in Hackney, we know how important it is to feel supported within the creative industry. This is why we started our Designer Spotlight initiative in 2023, where we offer space both in our showroom and on our online platforms to really big up emerging designers.

In February 2024, we were thrilled to join a community of over 2,000 other companies in the UK that are committed to using Business as a Force for Good, and became a certified B Corp.

We take our making incredibly seriously, working with only the most ethical weaving centres to create rugs of exquisite quality. Using only the finest , the weavers tuft, hand-knot and hand-weave rugs with a meticulous attention-to-detail only possible because of their experience and understanding of rug craft.

Each manufacturer that we work directly with, is recognised by Label STEP for being a fair trade carpet maker. The non-profit organisation is committed to assurance of working standards and the wellbeing of weavers and all factory workers. Label STEP works across seven countries which covers all of the main hubs of handmade carpet production. Both FLOOR_STORY and Label STEP are committed to on the ground work to ensure fair trade compliance. Find out more about the 10 STEP Standards here or watch this video.

Most of our hand knotted rugs are made in Nepal, and most tufted and flat woven rugs are made in India although there are some exceptions. Director Simon Goff has worked with these manufacturers for years and makes regular visits himself in addition to the audits carried out by Label STEP.

Take a look at these steps on what to do with an old rug to avoid sending to landfill.