Interface & Ray Anderson
Interface & Ray Anderson
Key Facts
According to Stanwick and Stanwick, Interface is currently the largest producer of soft-surfaced modular floor coverings across the globe. Ray Anderson, former CEO and founder of Interface, started the company in 1973. By 1994, Interface one of the leading competitors in the highly competitive floor-coverings industry. After having what Anderson has referred to in the past as an Epiphany, he challenged the organization to take on an undertaking of epic proportions. Since taking on this challenge, the company has not only seen success in terms of this undertaking, but has also seen eye-opening successes from a traditional business/economic point of view.
In the summer of 1994, Anderson read the book The Ecology of Commerce (1993), written by Paul Hawkins. In the book, Hawkins had identified the biggest culprit in the causing of the decline in Biosphere as business and industry. (Hawkins had also convicted Anderson as a “plunderer of the earth.”) In identifying business and industry as the leading culprit, Hawkins also suggested that because of this, business and industry must lead the way in preserving our finite natural resources. Anderson took this to heart. He considered who might lead business and industry in leading the world to a better tomorrow. Finally, he decided that he and Interface could lead the way as well as anyone.
Soon thereafter, Anderson created the “Eco Dream Team” by hiring many of the brightest experts on sustainability. He decided on specific definitions for terms like sustainability (“a dynamic process which enables all people to realize their potential and to improve their quality of life in ways that simultaneously protect and enhance the Earth’s life support systems”) and waste (any cost that does not produce value to its customers, including by-products of production and any activity no done correctly the first time). It was not long before Mission Zero was created. Mission Zero is
Key Facts
According to Stanwick and Stanwick, Interface is currently the largest producer of soft-surfaced modular floor coverings across the globe. Ray Anderson, former CEO and founder of Interface, started the company in 1973. By 1994, Interface one of the leading competitors in the highly competitive floor-coverings industry. After having what Anderson has referred to in the past as an Epiphany, he challenged the organization to take on an undertaking of epic proportions. Since taking on this challenge, the company has not only seen success in terms of this undertaking, but has also seen eye-opening successes from a traditional business/economic point of view.
In the summer of 1994, Anderson read the book The Ecology of Commerce (1993), written by Paul Hawkins. In the book, Hawkins had identified the biggest culprit in the causing of the decline in Biosphere as business and industry. (Hawkins had also convicted Anderson as a “plunderer of the earth.”) In identifying business and industry as the leading culprit, Hawkins also suggested that because of this, business and industry must lead the way in preserving our finite natural resources. Anderson took this to heart. He considered who might lead business and industry in leading the world to a better tomorrow. Finally, he decided that he and Interface could lead the way as well as anyone.
Soon thereafter, Anderson created the “Eco Dream Team” by hiring many of the brightest experts on sustainability. He decided on specific definitions for terms like sustainability (“a dynamic process which enables all people to realize their potential and to improve their quality of life in ways that simultaneously protect and enhance the Earth’s life support systems”) and waste (any cost that does not produce value to its customers, including by-products of production and any activity no done correctly the first time). It was not long before Mission Zero was created. Mission Zero is