Since 1996, Interface reports it has reduced its total carbon dioxide emissions by 56
percent by improving energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewable energy resources and
offsetting carbon dioxide emissions through the use of landfill gas from the LaGrange, Ga.,
municipal landfill, near one of its manufacturing plants. The company also operates five facilities
solely using renewable energy such as solar, wind and biomass; and has begun purchasing renewable
energy at two additional facilities. In all, renewable energy comprises 28 percent of the company’s
total energy consumption, compared with global renewable energy usage at 13 percent of total usage.

“The industrialized world creates more harmful emissions than solid waste,” said Anderson,
who served as chair of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development during President Bill
Clinton’s second term. “The Clinton Foundation and CGI provide a platform for companies like
Interface to demonstrate a better way; a better way to what we believe will ultimately be a bigger
profit, for us and for mankind. Eliminating or offsetting greenhouse gas emissions is essential to
our effort to reduce our carbon footprint,” he continued, inviting other industrial enterprises to
join in the initiative.

Unlike today’s artificial turf systems, which contain separate fiber, backing, infill and
sub-base components, the new system — which is based on TenCate products and has yet to be
developed — will be integrated and will not require infill to ensure shock absorbency. TenCate
reports the cooperation’s objectives include enhancing speed to market through joint research and
development initiatives, and lowering the total system cost.

According to Loek de Vries, CEO, TenCate, the partnership and patent acquisition will
enhance the company’s competitive position. “This cooperation represents a major step in the
implementation of our strategic concept,” which includes end-user marketing of the company’s
components through top-quality partners, he added. TenCate is seeking other strategic or commercial
partners, which endorse the strategic concept, for the new system.

Other elements of the company’s strategic concept include: making available a wide range of
cost-effective artificial grass systems with specific end-uses in mind; procuring partnerships
throughout the supply chain; excluding any raw materials that are harmful to the environment or
users; systematic development of safe artificial turf sports fields with consistent quality
throughout their economic lifespan; and end-user marketing, either directly or through commercial
partners.

In related news, TenCate recently announced it would expand production capacity of Thiolon®
Infill Pro, an environmentally friendly infill.

“We are making significant improvements to the Hanesbrands supply chain in order to maximize
execution, service levels, value creation, consistency and speed to market,” said Gerald Evans,
executive vice president and chief global supply chain officer. “We regret that employees at these
locations will lose jobs, but we must design and continually update our network to take advantage
of lower-cost, more-effective production opportunities in order to remain competitive and generate
growth that allows our overall organization to thrive.”

The company’s plant in Monclova, Mexico, has approximately 1,700 employees who sew outerwear
T-shirts, and fleece sweatshirts and pants. Production at that plant will be phased out through
December 2006 and moved to other plants in the Caribbean basin and Central America. The transfer
also will result in the elimination of some 80 jobs at Hanesbrands’ fabric-cutting operation in
Rosita, Mexico.

The company will cease outerwear T-shirt and sport-shirt fabric production at its Lumberton,
N.C., plant by the end of November 2006 and move that production to Central American facilities and
its plant in Forest City, N.C. Approximately 260 employees in Lumberton will lose their jobs.

The Marion, S.C., sheer hosiery production plant, which employs some 145 people, will close
by the end of February 2007. That production will be shifted to the company’s hosiery plant in
Clarksville, Ark. According to Matt Hall, Hanesbrands’ vice president, external communications, 60
positions will be added in Clarksville to handle the additional production there.

BASF’s Intermediates division now offers ionic liquids under the Basionic™ brand for use
with its Basil™ cellulose-processing technology.

According to BASF, cellulose is renewed in nature at the rate of 40 billion tons per year,
while only 100 million tons currently are used as feedstock for further processing. The new
technology is expected to increase the potential for processing the raw material. The company notes
that the traditional viscose process for extracting cellulose requires more than two metric tons of
chemical additives and a substantial amount of water for each metric ton of fiber produced, and
therefore generates waste water that must be treated. When ionic liquids are used, no filtration is
required, fewer additives are needed, and the liquids can be almost completely recycled. In
addition, water needed for fiber spinning also can be recycled.

“By combining our knowledge of innovative ionic liquids with the specific expertise the
University of Alabama possesses in the field of cellulose products, we are progressing into a
fascinating area,” said Stefan Marcinowski, Ph.D., executive director, research, BASF. “The
intelligent use of ionic liquids in this field can lead to the sustainable long-term conservation
of resources.”

BASF also has been working with the Germany-based Denkendorf Institute for Textile Chemistry
and Chemical Fibers (ITCF) to develop cellulose-processing technologies using ionic liquids. “We
have teamed up with ITCF, [which has] extensive fiber manufacturing experience, to develop this new
technology and practical processes for fiber manufacturers,” said Eric Uerdingen, Ph.D., new
business development, BASF Intermediates. “To design processes that respond to practical
requirements, we now seek to cooperate closely with fiber manufacturers.”

Since 1997, Innovative Textiles has incorporated Spectra, featuring one of the highest
strength-to-weight ratios of any man-made fiber, into its small-diameter, low-stretch PowerPro “
superlines,” using its proprietary braiding technology. The Spectra addition ensures smooth casting
and ease of use, the company reports.

“This partnership will assure our ability to continue to serve our current market segments
and reach out to new markets in fishing over the next several years,” said Konrad Krauland,
president, Innovative Textiles. “Spectra fiber is clearly the best material for fishing lines, and
results in a more durable and abrasion-resistant product than lines made from many other
polyethylene fibers.”

“[Spectra] has a long history of standing up to the extreme challenges of rope, cordage,
fishing line, and other maritime and deep-water applications due to its strength, durability, and
lightweight properties,” added Carleton Rowsey, Spectra fishing line marketing manager, Honeywell.

The company projects nylon polymerization will grow by approximately 1.8 percent annually,
with stronger growth in nylon 6 compared with nylon 6,6. Asia will be the primary downstream market
for nylon fibers and resin, CMAI forecasts.

The nylon resin and engineering thermoplastics markets are forecast to grow by approximately
2.3 percent per year. Strongest growth is projected in the automotive sector, although improvements
in competing materials and high nylon feedstock prices are expected to dampen that growth when
compared with past growth.

Nylon textile filament growth is projected at only 0.3 percent over the forecast period, as
it faces increased competition from polyester. CMAI notes the main filament markets are developing
countries, which have shown a preference for polyester. In addition, it reports China currently has
an overcapacity for nylon filament, and that overcapacity will lower demand and profitability in
other Asian countries.

CMAI expects the nylon industrial filament market demand to increase by 3.3 percent through
2011, although it notes the projected growth rate is lower than its recent peak. Demand in this
sector has been stimulated in recent years by the mining industry through its use of heavy
equipment tires and conveyor belts that contain nylon reinforcement, CMAI notes.

Nylon bulk continuous filament (BCF) carpet fiber will see annual production and demand
growth of 0.7 percent, while nylon staple carpet fiber production and demand will decline by 1.4
percent, CMAI forecasts. The BCF market faces competition from various polyesters including
polyethylene terephthalate, 3GT™ and polytrimethylene terephthalate BCF fibers.

The report, which CMAI has made available on CD-ROM, also includes analyses of the
caprolactam, adipic acid and cyclohexane markets. The company also has prepared databases for
capacity, and supply and demand.

The deal includes Goodyear’s tire-fabric manufacturing operations in Decatur, Ala.; Utica,
N.Y.; Brazil; and Luxembourg. These facilities employ some 1,000 workers. Upon closing, Hyosung
would sign a multiyear supply agreement under which Goodyear expects to purchase fabric worth
approximately $350 million to $400 million in the first year.

Goodyear said it is selling its tire-fabric assets in order to concentrate on its core
business of commercial and consumer tire manufacturing. The company expects to realize considerable
cost savings and improved cash flow as a result of the deal.

The 190,000-square-foot Glen Raven Asia facility will serve as a vertically-integrated
manufacturing site for Sunbrella® performance fabrics, including weaving preparation, weaving,
finishing and distribution functions, and will support the company’s Glen Raven Technical Fabrics
subsidiary. Hua Li (Wally) will serve as general manager of the business center, which will employ
more than 300 associates.

“China and the Asia-Pacific Rim are vitally important markets for Glen Raven and for our
customers,” said Allen E. Gant Jr., president, Glen Raven. “With this base of operations in China,
we will be well-positioned to assist our clients with their global sourcing needs, while we also
develop, manufacture, market and distribute our own brands throughout Asia.”