Interface, Inc.

Interface, Inc. and its subsidiaries sells modular carpet tiles, luxury vinyl tile and Nora brand rubber flooring.

Interface was founded in 1973 by Ray Anderson, whose decade and a half in the carpet trade had led him to create one of the first U.S. manufacturers of carpet tiles, also known as modular carpet or carpet squares. Carpet tiles, which originated in Europe, became highly popular during the 1980s as an alternative to broadloom carpet, especially in office environments that at the time were switching to flexible, “open” plans that required easy access to wiring and infrastructure beneath floors. Interface grew to become the largest carpet-tile maker on the planet.{{cite web |title=Inside Interface's bold new mission to achieve 'Climate Take Back'|url=https://www.greenbiz.com/article/inside-interfaces-bold-new-mission-achieve-climate-take-back |date=June 6, 2016 |publisher=GreenBiz |access-date=August 14, 2019}}

Starting in 1994, Interface focused on environmental sustainability, especially in reducing the use of petroleum.{{cite web |title=Sustainable Growth – Interface, Inc.|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/33906/sustainable-growth-interface-inc |date=March 31, 1998 |publisher=Fast Company |access-date=May 8, 2018}} At this time, the company announced a program called Mission Zero with a goal of eliminating any negative impact the company may have on the environment by 2020. Since 1996, Interface chose to adopt an innovation-based green strategy.{{Citation |last1=Lampikoski |first1=T |title=Green, Innovative, and Profitable: A Case Study of Managerial Capabilities at Interface Inc. |journal=Technology Innovation Management Review |issue=November |pages=4–12 |year=2012 |volume=2 |doi=10.22215/timreview/624 |url= http://timreview.ca/article/624|doi-access=free }} In a short period, it managed to reduce its impact on the environment by one third. Each year, the company releases its annual EcoMetrics, demonstrating the company’s environmental impact and progress.

In 2016, Interface announced its new mission, Climate Take Back, which aimed to reverse global warming. In 2018, Interface announced that all of its products, including all carpet tile and luxury vinyl tile (LVT), are carbon neutral across the entire product lifecycle through its Carbon Neutral Floors program.{{cite web |title=Interface Carbon Neutral Floors Program Adds nora Rubber Flooring|url=https://facilityexecutive.com/2019/02/interface-carbon-neutral-floors-program-adds-nora-rubber-flooring/ |date=February 26, 2019 |publisher=Facility Executive |access-date=August 14, 2019}} in 2019, 90% of Interface’s energy came from renewables.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/12/how-flooring-manufacturer-is-cutting-carbon-pollution/|title=How flooring manufacturer Interface is cutting carbon pollution|last=Kennedy|first=Sarah|date=2019-12-11|website=Yale Climate Connections|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-11}}

Interface was recognized as Recyclers of the Year by the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE).{{cite web |title=Press Release: Carpet Cycle, InterFace Flor Named CARE Recyclers of the Year, Moot Honored As CARE Person of the Year, Annual Report Released |url=https://carpetrecovery.org/newsblog/news-media-archive/carpet-cycle-interface-flor-named-care-recyclers-of-the-year-moot-honored-as-care-person-of-the-year-annual-report-released/|date=May 9, 2007 |publisher=Carpet America Recovery Effort |access-date=July 15, 2009}} In 2006 and 2016, Interface was voted number one in Globescan's survey of environmentally sustainable businesses.{{cite book |last=Ellis |first=Tania |title=The New Pioneers: Sustainable business success through social innovation and social entrepreneurship |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=kYarHlEN5rYC&q=The+New+Pioneers:+Sustainable+business+success+through+social+innovation+and+social+entrepreneurship+Tania+Ellis |year=2010 |isbn=9780470971314 |page=41|publisher=John Wiley & Sons }} They are also the recipient of The Queen's Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development (Environmental Achievement) (2008).

• 1973: Ray Anderson creates Carpets International.
• 1974: Carpets International introduces GlasBac, a patented structured backing system that has become the industry standard for high-performance modular backings.{{cite web |title=To use PVC or not to use PVC? |url=https://www.floorcoveringweekly.com/main/topnews/to-use-pvc-or-not-to-use-pvc-12068 |date=January 18, 2012 |publisher=Floor Covering Weekly |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 1982: Carpets International becomes Interface Flooring Systems, Inc, and acquires Compact Carpet of Canada, renaming it Interface Flooring Systems Canada, Inc.{{cite web |title=Interface, Inc. |url=https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/interface-inc |date=August 19, 2013 |publisher=Georgia Encyclopedia |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 1994: Ray Anderson experiences "spear in the chest” epiphany, leading Interface to establish Mission Zero.{{cite web |title=How a carpet maker became an unlikely hero of the environmental movement |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90235407/how-a-carpet-maker-became-an-unlikely-hero-of-the-environmental-movement |date=January 2, 2019 |publisher=Fast Company |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 1994: Ray Anderson reads Paul Hawken's book The Ecology of Commerce, inspiring his first environmental speech; develops framework to track and measure sustainability progress, classified as Mount Sustainability.
• 1995: Interface establishes ReEntry Recycling Program, which reclaims carpet to ensure used flooring tiles do not end up in landfills.
• 1996: Interface partners with yarn suppliers to develop recycled nylon.{{Cite Q|Q104832504}}
• 1998: The company introduces NexStep polyurethane cushion backing.
• 2001: Interface establishes new backing system, GlasBacRE, now featuring up to 81% total recycled content.
• 2003: Interface launches first residential product through FLOR.{{cite web |title=Interface Announces Its First Residential Product: FLOR |url=https://www.buildinggreen.com/product-review/interface-announces-its-first-residential-product-flor |date=June 1, 2003 |publisher=Building Green |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 2003: Interface becomes the first carpet company to receive Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) certification for its products and the first company to introduce Climate Neutral product offering through its Cool Carpet program.
• 2006: Interface unveils TacTiles, the first glue-free and sustainable flooring installation method.{{cite web |title=What's In Your Product |url=https://www.architectmagazine.com/technology/whats-in-your-product-1_o |date=November 18, 2011 |publisher=Architect |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 2008: Interface is first to pilot Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).{{cite web |title=TacTile Carpet |url=https://www.interiorsandsources.com/products/productid/1165/name/tactile-carpet-from-interface|date=January 1, 2008 |publisher=Interiors and Sources |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 2010: Interface develops first product with 100% recycled nylon with yarn supplier Aquafil.
• 2012: Interface announces Net-Works in partnership with the Zoological Society of London to collect discarded fishing nets for recycling into new yarn.{{cite web |title=Interface, Aquafil and Zoological Society of London collaboration announces expansion |url=https://www.econyl.com/blog/architecture-design/interface-aquafil-and-zoological-society-of-london-collaboration-announces-expansion/ |date=September 22, 2014 |publisher=Econyl |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 2015: Interface introduces Skinny Planks, 25 x 100 cm carpet planks that can be used to create similar patterns to those found on timber or vinyl flooring.{{cite web |title=First Look: New Skinny Plank collections from Interface Carpets |url=http://www.corporate-workspace.com/?p=985 |date=November 10, 2015 |publisher=Corporate Workspace |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 2016: Interface launches new mission, Climate Take Back, which aims to reverse global warming.{{cite web |title=Inside Interface's bold new mission to achieve 'Climate Take Back' |url=https://www.greenbiz.com/article/inside-interfaces-bold-new-mission-achieve-climate-take-back |date=June 6, 2016 |publisher=GreenBiz |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 2017: Interface announces entry into the hard surface flooring category with a line of luxury vinyl tile (LVT).{{cite web |title=Interface adds LVT to carpet tile for total flooring options |url=https://www.floorcoveringweekly.com/main/newsletters/interface-adds-lvt-to-carpet-tile-for-total-flooring-options-16351 |date=February 8, 2017 |publisher=Floor Covering Weekly |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 2017: Interface announces Proof Positive, a first-of-its-kind, carbon negative carpet tile prototype.{{cite web |title=Interface Unveils Prototype Carpet Tile to Inspire New Approaches to Address Climate Change |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/interface-unveils-prototype-carpet-tile-to-inspire-new-approaches-to-address-climate-change-300470129.html |date=June 7, 2017 |publisher=PR Newswire |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 2018: Interface develops first carbon negative carpet tile backing, CircuitBac Green, to further reduce flooring’s carbon footprint.{{cite web |title=Interface Launches Carbon Negative Carpet Tile Backing |url=https://www.floortrendsmag.com/articles/103584-interface-launches-carbon-negative-carpet-tile-backing |date=July 24, 2018 |publisher=Floor Trends |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 2018: Interface acquires Nora Systems.{{cite press release |title=Interface Completes Acquisition of Nora Systems |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/interface-completes-acquisition-of-nora-systems-300693096.html |date=August 7, 2018 |publisher=Interface, Inc |via=PR Newswire |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 2019: Interface declares its entire portfolio carbon neutral across the entire product lifecycle through its Carbon Neutral Floors program.{{cite web |title=Interface Expands Carbon Neutral Floors Program to Include nora Rubber Flooring Products |url=https://www.interface.com/US/en-US/about/press-room/nora-CNF-en_US |date=February 21, 2019 |publisher=Interface |access-date=November 20, 2019}}
• 2019: Interface celebrates Mission Zero success and continues to activate on Climate Take Back; releases 25th Sustainability Report, highlighting lessons learned and key EcoMetrics.{{cite web |title=Interface Announces Mission Zero Success, Commits to Climate Take Back |url=https://www.floortrendsmag.com/articles/105550-interface-announces-mission-zero-success-commits-to-climate-take-back |date=November 4, 2019 |publisher=Floor Trends |access-date=November 20, 2019}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.interfaceglobal.com/Sustainability.aspx InterfaceGlobal]
• [http://www.flor.com/ FLOR - Interface's residential brand site]
• [http://www.interface.com/US/en-US/campaign/climate-take-back/Climate-Take-Back Interface Inc's sustainability website]
• [http://www.interfaceflor.eu/ InterfaceFLOR Europe corporate website]
• [http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/cbg/news/ray_anderson.htm Industry Leader Shares Vision for the Greening of Corporate America]
• [http://www.interface.com/US/en-US/about/investor-relations Interface Investor Relations]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Atlanta

Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq

Category:Textile companies of the United States