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Ray Anderson receives ESA Corporate Award

The Ecological Society of America presents its prestigious Corporate Award to Ray Anderson, founder of Interface, Inc. The award is given to a corporation or business for demonstrated accomplishments in incorporating sound ecological concepts, knowledge, and/or practices into its planning and operating procedures. Based in Georgia and founded in 1973, Interface is the largest commercial carpet tile manufacturer in the world. Anderson will receive the award during a ceremony at the ESA -SER joint meeting in San Jose, California on Monday, August 6, 2007.

“We believe Interface serves as a model for companies wishing to institute more ecologically responsible business practices,” said ESA 's President Alan Covich.

Interface is committed to using renewable energy throughout its operations; energy derived from fossil fuels is considered by the company to be waste and has been targeted for elimination. With this objective in mind, the company has begun to use more energy efficient transportation options such as electric and hybrid gas/electric cars. Since 1999, Interface has contributed nearly $125,000 to environmental education in the communities where the company operates.

“If we're successful, we'll spend the rest of our days harvesting yester-year's carpets and other petrochemically derived products, and recycling them into new materials; and converting sunlight into energy; with zero scrap going to the landfill and zero emissions into the ecosystem. And we'll be doing well … very well … by doing good,” said Anderson. “That's the vision, and by recognizing Interface you help us spread the word through the power of your influence. Thank you.”

Anderson has set the goal of reducing the ecological footprint of Interface to zero, and the company is making progress toward this goal on multiple fronts. For example, Interface has reduced the amount of waste it produces by over $330 million. In addition to reducing waste, Interface emphasizes recycling, the use of natural raw materials, and compostable products. Interface has made a commitment to achieve ‘benign' emissions and is reducing its emissions daily based on the results from an inventory of every stack and outlet pipe in the company. As of December 2005, Interface had reduced the number of stacks by 35 percent and the number of effluent pipes by 53percent.

For more information about the awards session, as well the 2007 ESA -SER joint meeting, please visit: www.esa.org/sanjose. Some 4,000 attendees are expected at this year's meeting in the silicon valley.