InterfaceFLOR
Description
Are you interested in how the design philosophy 'cradle to cradle' works in practice?
Then visit the carpet tile manufacturer InterfaceFLOR together with the Environmental Engineering/Food&Green department.
In his book "Midcourse Correction", the entrepreneur and founder of the company Interface - Ray Anderson - describes how he got involved with the topic of "sustainable business" in 1994.
That year, products worth 800 million US dollars were sold and not long after that, sales were expected to reach close to a billion US dollars. Faced with questions from customers about Interface's environmental policies, Ray began to delve into the topic of "sustainability". The topic touched his soul, moreover, internal research showed that to make products worth US$800 million, his company had to use 556 million kilograms of raw materials. Of this, 182 million kilograms were raw materials of which there are still plenty but the remaining 374 million kilograms involved the use of raw materials such as mineral oil, coal and or natural gas, most of which were burnt, thus not replaceable and also not sustainable.
Ray Anderson was eventually inspired, among others, by Bill McDonough, who, together with German Michael Braungart, propagates the design philosophy of 'cradle to cradle'. Based on this, Ray Anderson set the ambitious goal of his company being fully sustainable by 2020. For an interview with Ray Anderson at the 52nd World Food Summit in Munich in 2008, please visit the 1st link below.
During the visit, InterfaceFLOR will talk about how the 2020 goal will be achieved through the following seven fronts:
* Preventing waste
* Avoiding harmful emissions
* Harnessing renewable energy
* Closing the circle
* Efficient transportation
* Creating engagement
* Innovative business
These seven fronts are described at the second link listed below.
Meanwhile, InterfaceFLOR has achieved the following: waste reduced by 65%, CO2 emissions by 52% and energy consumption by 35%.
"We are halfway there, but the first half is the easiest."
The programme is as follows:
13.30-14.00 Reception with coffee
14.00-14.30 Welcome and introduction by InterfaceFLOR
14.30-16.00 Tour of the company
16.00-17.00 Discussion
17.00 Closing with a drink
Location
InterfaceFLOR, Industrielaan 15
Scherpenzeel
Organiser
Sustainable Technology
Name and contact details for information
Further information from Elfride Dijkstra at the e-mail address below.