Interface Inc. Raises Sustainability Bar - Zero Environmental Impact by 2020
Environmental Product Declarations for All InterfaceFLORProducts Globally by 2012. U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Joins Interface’s Celebration of Mission Zero
Milestones
Washington, D.C., - Interface Inc.
has announced that, as part of its “Mission Zero” commitment to
eliminate negative environmental impact by 2020, the company
pledges to obtain third-party validated environmental product
declarations (EPDs) on all InterfaceFLOR products globally by
2012.
A leader in design, production and sales of environmentally
responsible modular carpets, Interface has also
unveiled an interactive report, “
target=”_blank”>2010 Mission Zero Milestones,” sharing 16
years of progress and previewing the challenges ahead in the next
decade. Finally, Interface issued a call to action for other
companies, large and small, to set bold goals in the pursuit of
sustainability.
“With the multitude of environmental labels in the marketplace,
adoption of EPDs is the right thing to do and Interface’s way
forward,” said Dan Hendrix, president and CEO of Interface.
“Environmental Product Declarations require full transparency,
create new standards of accountability, and will ultimately
spur new levels of innovation as customers begin to understand the
impacts of their purchasing decisions and demand more from business
and industry.”
Interface Founder and Chairman Ray Anderson said, “Our EPDs will
be based on the most rigorous, third-party verified life cycle
assessments (LCAs) used anywhere on Earth, measuring and disclosing
environmental impacts throughout our supply chain, from well-head
and mine to end of life reclamation and recycling.”
Joining Interface in its announcement, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) stressed the importance of full transparency. Paul
Anastas, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and
Development remarked, “Transparency is a hallmark of protection of
human health and the environment.”
Interface also introduced “Mission Zero Milestones,” a new
interactive report detailing the company’s 16-plus year
environmental journey and the road ahead to 2020. The report
provides an interactive look at how Interface is simultaneously
pursuing three paths to sustainability:
1. Innovative solutions for reducing
the company’s footprint. For example, since 1996, the company has
reduced net greenhouse gas em ssions by 94 percent. Interface has
also achieved $433 million in avoided waste cost since 1995.
2. Transformational redesign of products and processes to “close
the loop.” Interface has diverted over 100,000 tons of material
from landfills through its ReEntry program, pioneering the process
of turning old carpet into new.
3. An enlightened and engaged company culture is cited by Interface
as one of the most important aspects of the its progress to date
and its future ability to meet the challenges on the road
ahead.
Anderson added, “We are taking stock of our achievements and an
honest look at the challenges ahead. This we know: openness,
honesty, and collaboration are key to environmental progress - not
only for Interface but for any business. We are calling on our
fellow industrialists everywhere to make the same commitment to
transparency and to the business model: ‘doing well by doing good,’
a better way to a bigger, more honest and authentic profit.”
Interface’s breakthrough approach has prompted other business
leaders to seek counsel from the company for help transforming
their operations. In 2006 Interface launched InterfaceRAISE, a
consulting group that works with clients to help make their
businesses more sustainable.
Individuals, businesses and organizations can learn more about
Interface and how to lessen environmental impact and seek greater
transparency by visiting the Mission Zero Milestones site.
The Interface journey toward sustainability has also been
chronicled in two books by company founder Ray Anderson,
Confessions of a Radical Industrialist and Mid-Course Correction
and a new documentary, So Right So Smart.
Established in 1973, Interface, Inc. (IFSIA) is the worldwide
leader in design, production and sales of environmentally
responsible modular carpet, manufactured for the commercial and
institutional markets under the InterfaceFLOR brand, and for
residential markets as FLOR. The company is also a leading designer
and manufacturer of commercial broadloom under the Bentley Prince
Street brand.
Interface Flooring Systems Canada was the
winner of a
target=”_blank”>GLOBE Award for Environmental Excellence in
2006.
Source: vocuspr.vocus.com
