The Carpet Foundation the lead body for the British Carpet Industry is not at all surprised by the revelation in the Mail on Sunday that the recent anti carpet campaign promoted by the so called " Healthy Flooring Network" is actually funded by Pergo a Swedish laminate flooring producer. Carpet Foundation Chief Executive Michael Hardiman has been dealing with a stream of anti carpet propaganda over the past 12 months: "We have always been suspicious about the source of funding for the Healthy Flooring Network and we have repeatedly challenged them about the possibility that they might be funded by a wood flooring company. They have always denied publicly any connection with Swedish wood concerns, but then they would wouldn't they, as such an omission would totally discredit their pro wood, anti carpet messages. We are delighted that the Mail investigative journalists have been able to discover this commercial link". Whilst masquerading as an independent body the Healthy Flooring Network have advised the public to switch to wood floors "in the interests of health" How many people would have taken any notice of their advice if they had known that Pergo, a laminate flooring company was funding their campaign through the intermediary New Harbour AB a small Swedish Environmental Consultancy. Asthma sufferers too have been misled by their "independent" advice to remove carpet and install wood floors. It is appalling that the jobs of 50,000 people employed in the manufacturing and distribution of carpet in the UK should have their jobs put at risk by a blatantly biased anti carpet campaign funded by Pergo, the laminate producer who clearly stood to gain from influencing consumers away from carpet. Chairman of the Carpet Foundation, Mike Mills MD of Ulster Carpets was furious about the Mail's revelations: "We are familiar with aggressive marketing from competitors however, the Pergo campaign, hiding behind a body which misled consumers into thinking it was independent, smacks of dirty tricks. Also, it is disturbing that so many well-meaning individuals with good intentions have been duped into supporting a grossly misleading commercially sponsored campaign. Carpet is the undisputed favourite floorcovering in the UK and is used in 97% of British homes. Consumers who acted upon misleading advice to remove their carpet to solve an asthma problem are probably right to consider legal redress and to seek compensation". For Further information contact: The Carpet Foundation Tel 01562 755568 MICHAEL HARDIMAN Chief Executive mobile 07798 653939 RUPERT ANTON Marketing Director mobile 07721 557193 MIKE MILLS Managing Director Ulster Carpets & Chairman The Carpet Foundation mobile 07710 882442