Interface has taken part in a radical initiative which has seen Southwest Airlines in the US team up with a range of companies in an effort to reduce its impact on the environment.
Southwest Airlines - a low-cost airline that carried the most number of passengers of any airline in the world in 2009 (101.9 million) - has fitted out one of its Boeing 737-700 aircraft with environmentally responsible materials, including recycable elements such as Interface modular carpet tiles.
It's been called a "green plane", and serves as a test (for flights within the US) for potential rollout across the Southwest fleet and other airlines worldwide.
Having first come together about four years ago, Interface and Boeing have since worked with Teague Industrial Design (Boeing's design firm) to create a carpet tile that met both Boeing and Federal Aviation requirements and certifications. The non-directional tile pattern launched by Southwest was customized to fit their exact module size.
"This is the first ever modular product used for the airline industry, so we are very honoured and proud to be the pioneer in this effort," said Interface Americas President and CEO John Wells.
Interface carpet tiles weigh less than the broadloom used in other aircraft, which saves on jet fuel. Additionally, installation time has been drastically reduced and creates less waste, with any leftover modular carpet trims fitting in a shoebox.
Southwest is committed to recycling via Interface's ReEntry Process to guarantee this product won't end up in a landfill.
"It's a rare moment in most company's histories that an entirely new channel of distribution is opened, and we hope this new transportation segment helps lead to additional industries who also look into the advantages of our modular products as well as the sustainability advantage and leadership we can provide," Wells added.