Those of you working in the furniture and interior design industries have probably heard of Xorel. For those that haven't, it's a high-performance textile typically used as wallcovering, paneling or upholstery. It's also manufactured by Carnegie, an early proponent of environmentally-friendly, PVC-free fabrics; since its launch in the '80s, Xorel has been a popular choice for its safety, durability and for how easy it is to clean. And now it's getting an environmental makeover that renders it even more earth-friendly.

Yesterday, Carnegie launched Biobased Xorel, the world's first biobased high-end interior textile. Seven years of research culminated in a polyethylene yarn that is produced from 60 to 85 percent bio content, namely, sugar cane (rather than fossil fuels).

Sugar cane has much lower carbon emission rates compared with most other biobased materials, like corn-based materials. In fact, for each ton of sugar cane used to produce this new form of Xorel, 2.5 tons of carbon is captured and sequestered. Additionally, the product can be returned to Carnegie when it is not longer needed and is recycled or put through a waste-to-energy conversion.

Biobased Xorel is available in six designs that can come in a range of 91 colorways. And for those seeking LEED certification, you'll score points in the renewable materials and indoor air quality categories.