Cannes Festival red carpet upcycled

Many stars, including Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, and Hale Berry, have walked the red carpet at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

At the end of each day of the festival, a new carpet was installed. After the festival ended on May 24th, 2025, 1.5 tonnes of used red carpet were donated to La Reserve des Arts, a non-profit organisation that works with the cultural sector to promote a circular economy. The organisation recovers materials used by the cultural sector and upcycles them for reuse.

The Cannes carpets were taken to a La Reserve des Arts warehouse in Marseille, where they are to be sorted and cleaned ready for re-use. As each carpet was used for only a day, they are in good condition, apart from small holes caused by stiletto heels and minor scuffs.

The coordinator of La Reserve des Arts Jeanne Re said:

"By reconditioning them, we're helping to reduce the environmental impact of the event – something the festival is aware of.”

The Cannes Film Festival over the past few years has made efforts to improve the carbon footprint of the event by reducing waste.

When installing new carpets in residential or commercial properties in the UK, many carpet recycling initiatives collect old worn carpets. Many worn carpets are not like the Cannes red carpet suitable for reuse, but materials can be extracted from them for use in new products. When buying a carpet from a flooring company in Chester and North Wales, be sure ask about what happens to the old carpets they replace.