Tarkett, a global leader in innovative and sustainable flooring solutions, brought its worldwide workforce together for the company’s Sustainability Week. Anchored by World Environment Day on June 5, the week included a series of activities and events designed to deepen employee engagement with the company’s sustainability strategy and demonstrate how environmental responsibility is embedded across every role in the organization. Tarkett North America celebrated with a community-minded effort close to home: Paws for the Planet, a pet supply donation drive honoring the connection between animal welfare and environmental stewardship.
“When it comes to protecting our planet’s life-sustaining resources, every step counts—even those taken on four feet,” said Jay Henry, senior director of innovation and sustainability for Tarkett North America. “Paws for the Planet reflects how we think about sustainability: it’s not just about the floors we make, it’s about the communities and ecosystems we’re all a part of.”
Healthier, well-supported animal populations reduce strain on wildlife and contribute to a more balanced, sustainable local environment. Through Paws for the Planet, Tarkett employees were empowered to play a meaningful role in protecting biodiversity and strengthening the connection between community care and planetary health.
Employees at Tarkett’s locations in Ohio, Alabama and Georgia were invited to donate food, toys, blankets, towels, harnesses, leashes, beds, paper towels, cleaning supplies and more to on-site collection boxes throughout the week. All donations were delivered directly to local animal shelters—Rescue Village in the greater Cleveland area, Lauderdale Animal Shelter in Florence, Alabama, and Whitfield Animal Shelter in Dalton, Georgia— helping create cleaner, safer and more durable environments for animals in need. In total, Tarkett employees donated more than 2,000 pounds of supplies to the shelters.
Employees were also encouraged to take small actions at home to support the cause, including volunteering at other local shelters, using biodegradable pet waste bags, keeping cats indoors to protect local bird populations, purchasing pet products in bulk and in recyclable packaging and more—reinforcing that sustainability starts with everyday choices.
The North America initiative was one of many activities taking place across Tarkett’s international network during Sustainability Week. At the global level, Tarkett hosted a sustainability webinar, “Why Planetary Boundaries Matter—Why and How We Must Adapt,” featuring Arnaud Marquis, Tarkett Group chief sustainability and safety officer; Aude Thomaz, Tarkett EMEA purchasing director; and guest speaker Caroline Nowacki, climate expert at Carbone 4. The session connected more than 700 attendees worldwide in a shared conversation about the science of planetary boundaries and what each one can do to make positive change in the industry.
Sustainability Week underscored Tarkett’s ongoing commitment to embedding environmental responsibility across every level of the organization. To learn more about Tarkett’s sustainability initiatives, visit commercial.tarkett.com/sustainability.
About Caroline Nowacki
Caroline Nowacki is a recognized expert who leads climate scenario development at Carbone 4’s IF initiative, helping companies align their strategies with planetary boundaries (climate, resources, biodiversity). A Stanford-trained engineer and researcher, she advised start-ups and large companies for over a decade across France, the United States, and Asia on sustainable products and business models. She also contributed to research and academia, publishing extensively on sustainable cities, finance and innovation while teaching courses at Stanford.
About Tarkett
With a history of more than 140 years, Tarkett is a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions, generating net sales of 3.3 billion euros in 2025. The Group has close to 12,000 employees, 25 R&D centers, 8 recycling centers and 33 production sites. Tarkett creates and manufactures solutions for hospitals, schools, housing, hotels, offices, stores and sports fields, serving customers in over 100 countries. To build “The Way to Better Floors,” the Group is committed to circular economy and sustainability, in line with its Tarkett Human-Conscious Design® approach. www.tarkett-group.com
Every Step Matters
For years, Tarkett has raised the sustainability standards of the flooring industry. The company designs floors with transparency you can trust as it creates healthy impacts on indoor spaces and protects our air, water, soil, and every living thing. Tarkett’s ReStart® take-back and recycling program will either repurpose or recycle every type of flooring from any manufacturer. Its near-term science-based carbon emissions reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and are fully aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement objective to limit global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius. For more information, visit commercial.tarkett.com/sustainability.