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. The worldwide leader in design, production and sales of environmentally responsible modular carpet has also unveiled an interactive report, “2010 Mission Zero Milestones,” (http://www.interfaceglobal.com/sustainability.aspx) 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.”
2010 Mission Zero Milestones
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 emissions by 94 percent. Interface has also achieved $433 million in avoided waste cost since 1995.
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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 its progress to date and its future ability to meet the challenges on the road ahead.
Ray 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. Additionally, today’s news conference held at the National Press Club can be viewed at http://www.interfaceglobal.com/Newsroom.aspx.
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.
About Interface, Inc.
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.