Ray C. Anderson (July 28, 1934 – August 8, 2011) was founder and chairman of Interface Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of modular carpet for commercial and residential applications and a leading producer of commercial broadloom and commercial fabrics. (source: wikipedia)
Mr. Anderson understood the issue with sustainability and the role business and industry plays. He reframed the problem of consumption and affluence to a problem of happiness. Perhaps there is a way to be happy to take from the earth only what can be renewed by the earth? He conceded that Interface was as a plunderer of the earth. But, did not leave it there. He conceded that by digging up the earth and converting natural resources to products for a profit, he himself was a plunderer. However, he discovered that through transformative technologies and unique supplier relationships his company’s product could be created from materials of the earth in a sustainable way. He called it ‘cool’ carpet. According to Environmental Leader article dated August, 2011, “Interface says that in the past 17 years, it has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 24 percent, fossil fuel consumption by 60 percent, waste to landfill by 82 percent and water use by 82 percent, while avoiding over $450 million in costs, increasing sales by 63 percent and more than doubling earnings.” That is some kind of cool.
How did they do it? They started by using less oil, using less energy overall and less material. They made products last longer and recycled old carpet into new. They worked deals with nylon suppliers to get pre- and post-consumer recycled content materials– including a 100% recycled content fiber by sending fiber from reclaimed carpet.
We could all stand to learn from Ray Anderson, an inspirational entrepreneur and environmental visionary and businessman. Cool indeed.
Source: Emily Riley: Innovation Practitioner