A Wigan-based flooring maufacturer celebrates an award for sustainability in its 40th birthday year
As it celebrates four decades of manufacturing flooring products, a Wigan firm has also picked up a major prize
A Wigan flooring firm got the perfect birthday present when it landed a trophy at the Borough Business Awards.
Milliken, which has been manufacturing in the UK for 40 years now, was named the winner of Sustainable Business of the Year prize.
From its European design and manufacturing headquarters in Beech Hill, Milliken produces carpet tiles for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, combining global reach with deeply rooted North West expertise.
Steve Critchley, head judge at the awards, said: “Milliken really stood out to us for the way sustainability is embedded across the business rather than being treated as a standalone initiative.
“We were impressed by the work being done around responsible manufacturing, reducing emissions, waste and pollution, alongside the continued investment in innovation.
“Combined with the international recognition Milliken has received and its 37-year commitment to providing employment here in Wigan, it demonstrated both the scale of what has been achieved and a clear commitment to continuing to improve.
“Milliken is a fantastic example of a long-established Wigan manufacturer continuing to evolve, and a very deserving winner of Sustainable Business of the Year.”
Barry Townsend, operations and purchasing manager, who was at the ceremony to receive the news and collect the award, along with fellow Wigan colleagues, said: “Milliken leads the way in manufacturing high performance floor coverings.
“Our manufacturing processes are globally benchmarked for operational excellence. Sustainability is at the core of Milliken’s philosophy.”
Over half of Milliken’s raw materials are sourced within a 60-mile radius of the Wigan factory, supporting regional supply chains, reducing environmental impact and sustaining long standing industrial partnerships.
The Wigan facility employs around 250 people, many with decades of service – a testament to a workplace culture built on purpose, pride and craftsmanship.
What’s more, Milliken says it places a huge emphasis on what happens to their products after their first life cycle.
It works with partners to reuse, where possible, or to recycle, while keeping unnecessary waste out of landfill.
The Milliken Carpet Take Back programme provides non-landfill solutions to ensure that used carpet is recovered and managed in an environmentally, socially and financially responsible way.