ATLANTA — April 22, 2013 — Interface, Inc. (Nasdaq: TILE), the global modular carpet company that
has pioneered sustainable business practices since 1994, has just released annual data updating its
metrics portfolio to include information on progress towards environmental and social goals.
The updated data can be found at
HTTP://WWW.INTERFACEGLOBAL.COM/SUSTAINABILITY/OUR-PROGRESS.ASPX. Highlights include updated
EcoMetrics data as well as an expanded portfolio of SocioMetrics, including highlights from a
project to document sustainability engagement at Interface facilities around the world, “I Am
Mission Zero.”
“As we continue our progress towards Mission Zero®, we recognize that our biggest asset in
terms of innovation is our people. Our mission is carried out every day in factories around
the world and in local communities by people who are bringing Ray Anderson’s sustainability vision
to life, yet we didn’t have a way to track or measure that impact,” explains Erin Meezan, vice
president of sustainability for Interface. “Over the past two years we have been working to
document and celebrate our unique culture and to find ways to continually improve employee
engagement, specifically around the idea of accelerating innovation.”
Meezan’s comments refer to a documentary project called “I AM MISSION ZERO” that captures the
diverse ways in which the company’s values are manifested in its local markets, and which provided
data upon which a social engagement baseline is being developed.
In addition, Interface is updating its EcoMetrics data.
“While we have been tracking a wide variety of environmental data since 1996, we are
beginning to focus on and report material impacts that are most closely related to our product
footprint. We know our EcoMetrics data tells us how efficient we are, but our footprint tells us
how effective we are,” said Meezan.
Highlights from the most recent data include:
- The carbon footprint of the average Interface product is down 19 percent since 2008. This
reduction was achieved primarily by increasing the use of recycled raw materials in products and by
improving process efficiency to cut required raw materials and waste. About 70 percent of the
carbon footprint of carpet tile is in the raw materials and manufacturing stage. The remaining 30
percent is associated with the carpet tile’s delivery and installation, maintenance, and end of
life. - 49 percent of the total raw materials used by the company in 2012 were recycled or bio-based,
including 36% of yarn and 51% of carpet backing. - In 2012, Interface’s ReEntry® 2.0 recycling program diverted 15 million pounds of carpet and
carpet scraps from the landfill, bringing the 18-year total for ReEntry 2.0 to 268 million pounds
diverted. - Energy use per unit of production is down 39 percent since 1996. Renewable sources provide 36
percent of the energy Interface uses. - Greenhouse gas emissions per unit of production from manufacturing facilities are down 41
percent since 1996. Direct use of green electricity in Europe, improved efficiency and process
changes have contributed to this reduction. - Water intake per unit of production is down 81 percent since 1996.
- Interface made significant progress toward its pledge to provide EPDs (Environmental Product
Declarations that detail the entire life cycle impact of a product) on all its standard
products. Currently there are 48 registered EPDs for its products made in Europe, US,
Australia and Thailand.
The above data and additional detail can be found on the company’s website at:
HTTP://WWW.INTERFACEGLOBAL.COM/SUSTAINABILITY/OUR-PROGRESS.ASPX.
Posted on April 23, 2013
Source: Interface Inc.
