Interface On The Road

ON THE ROAD

Our designers visited Interface's Basecamp in Georgia to learn more about their products, process, and enduring commitment to sustainability.

Interior designers Emma Shiffert and Jesse Stallard visited Interface's manufacturing facility and offices in Georgia to gain insights into their manufacturing processes, impact within the industry, and discover how they are revolutionizing sustainability standards.

The Interface Story Interface was founded in 1973 when Ray Anderson changed the American flooring landscape with the innovation of European carpet tile. This innovation offered a new, flexible approach to carpeting, allowing for easier access to wiring and floor infrastructure. Today, the global manufacturer is known for innovative, flexible, and sustainable flooring solutions with a range of carpet tiles and resilient flooring options, including luxury vinyl tile (LVT), FLOR®, and nora® rubber.

Our designers visited Interface's Georgia manufacturing facilities, studios, and base camp.

Interface Basecamp, a LEED platinum and WELL Gold building, showcases the company's commitment to wellness and sustainability.

Manufacturing With A Human Touch With 6 manufacturing sites in over 4 continents and 3,600 employees worldwide, Interface has developed a manufacturing system that hinges on their skilled workforce. Walking through Interface's pilot studio and yarn prep, tufting, and backing facilities, our designers were struck by the balance of innovation, efficiency, and the products' human touch.

Interface's yarn prep and tufting is made to order, with customizations requiring no minimum, upcharge, or lead-time. The manufacturer preserves leftover yarn to reuse, and often incorporates solution dyed yarn. To ensure efficiency, machines are combined to avoid starting, stopping, and reloading. The human hand is present throughout their production process, with 80% of Interface's products being prepped by hand. Most of the individuals working at Interface's Georgia manufacturing facility have worked there for over 20 years, a testament to the company's culture and environment.

In their Pilot Studio, Interface engages in custom work that applies NeoCon trends, like the gravitation towards blue-grays and rusty orange colors. Creel machines use air to filter the yarn into the necessary percentage for custom designed carpets. These ensure runs are as continuous as possible, avoiding resetting needles on the machine and ensuring efficiency.

Sustainability For years, Interface has been rooted in sustainability.

In 1994, the carpeting manufacturer introduced a program called Mission Zero focused on reducing their harmful environmental impact. Between 1994 and 2020, Interface intentionally reduced their SHOOTING FOR ZERO: THE IMPACT ON INTERFACE’S environmental impact by shifting their supply chain OWN OPERATIONS SHOOTING FOR ZERO: and trying new business models. approach Since 1996 we THE IMPACT ON INTERFACE’S have: Interface®

89 89 89 89 % 99 89% 99 Interface®

OWN OPERATIONS

Since 1996FOR weZERO: have: SHOOTING

Since 1996 we have:

Through Interface's Carbon 101 CEU, smbw's designers learned more about carbon and how to talk about it. When discussing global warming, carbon is an often used shorthand for carbon dioxide (CO2), which accounts for 76% of greenhouse gas emissions. Interface breaks down their carbon emissions into three categories. Scope 1 consists of direct on site emissions, while Scope 2 is associated with energy and utilities. Scope 3 is related to all other company activities and accounts for the majority of the company's footprint, including travel, waste, purchased goods and services, and the use of sold products.

Lessons for the Future

“INTERFACE SET “INTERFACE SET WHAT MAY BE the impact of carbon released through % Given WHAT MAY BE SET THE HIGHEST building and manufacturing on human health “INTERFACE the environment, Interface recommends % and THE HIGHEST SUSTAINABILITY WHAT focusing on the amount of embodied MAY carbon in the BE ofBENCHMARK the project, allowing for a less skewed OF SUSTAINABILITY % beginning THE operational carbon percentage.HIGHEST The CEU also the following resources for more sustainable BENCHMARK OF ANY INDUSTRIAL % shared SUSTAINABILITY design and carbon consideration: Climate ANY INDUSTRIAL COMPANY. ” % Toolkit, Carbon Smart Materials Palette, Building BENCHMARK OF Transparency, Build Beyond Zero, and Drawdown.

COMPANY.”

Interface®

THE IMPACT ON INTERFACE’S OWN OPERATIONS

This commitment to sustainability can be summed up by their mission statement, "If humanity changed the climate by mistake, we can change it with intent."

Lessons for the Future

Lessons for the Future

LESS WATER USAGE Decreased the water used at manufacturing sites by 89%.

LESS WATER USAGE Decreased the water used at manufacturing sites by 89%.

LESS WATER USAGE Decreased the water used at manufacturing sites by 89%.

89 % 99% 96% 92%

RENEWABLE ENERGY (GLOBAL) Increased the total renewable energy used in global manufacturing sites to 89%, including 100% renewable electricity use.

RENEWABLE ENERGY (GLOBAL) Increased the total renewable energy used in global manufacturing sites to 89%, including 100% renewable electricity use.

RENEWABLE ENERGY (US AND EU) Reached 99% renewably sourced energy in our manufacturing sites in the US and Europe.

RENEWABLE ENERGY (US AND EU) Reached 99% renewably sourced energy in our manufacturing sites in the US and Europe.

96% 92% 96 % 46 92%% 69 % 69% 46% RENEWABLE ENERGY (GLOBAL) Increased the total renewable energy used in global manufacturing sites to 89%, including 100% renewable electricity EMISSIONS use.

LOWER GREENHOUSE Reduced the GHG emissions intensity from our manufacturing sites by 96%.

LOWER GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS Reduced the GHG emissions intensity from our manufacturing sites by 96%.

LOWER GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS

RENEWABLE ENERGY (US AND EU) Reached 99% renewably sourced energy in our manufacturing sites in the US and Europe.

REDUCTION IN WASTE TO LANDFILL Reduced our waste to landfill across our global business by 92%.

REDUCTION IN WASTE TO LANDFILL Reduced our waste to landfill across our global business by 92%.

REDUCTION IN WASTE TO LANDFILL

Reduced the GHG emissions intensity from Reduced our to landfill across our REDUCTION IN waste ENERGY USAGE CARPET CARBON FOOTPRINT our manufacturing sites by 96%. global business by 92%.

REDUCTION Reduced the energy we use to make products by 46%.

Reduced the average cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of our carpet by 69%.

REDUCTION IN ENERGY USAGE CARPET CARBON FOOTPRINT REDUCTION Reduced the energy we use to make Note: All numbers provided describing our 25 year footprint reduction are calculated through 2018 and applicable the production of Interface carpet tiles only products byto46%.

Reduced the average cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of our carpet by 69%.

69% 46%

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"Interface. Lessons For The Future"

Note: All numbers provided describing our 25 year footprint reduction are calculated through 2018 and applicable to the production of Interface carpet tiles only

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CARPET CARBON FOOTPRINT REDUCTION Reduced the average cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of our carpet by 69%.

REDUCTION IN ENERGY USAGE Reduced the energy we use to make products by 46%.

Mission Zero's successor Climate Take Back builds upon the work they began in 1994, with a focus on reversing environmental damage rather than simply reducing their impact. This program pushes for zero negative environmental impact, shifting the ways we see and use carbon as a resource, working alongside nature instead of against it, and transforming industry practices for a better future.

ANY INDUSTRIAL COMPANY.”

Takeaway After walking through Interface's processes and sustainable practices, our designers came away from the experience with a newfound understanding of manufacturing and sustainability that they could integrate into their design choices.

Knowing more about the way carpets are made and the sustainability of different material selections provides our design team with an informed perspective on carpet and tile combinations.

ABOVE Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor GreenBiz Group

Following these insights, we'll be sure to always consider how can the flooring selections affect the building's environmental footprint in the right direction, factoring in emissions, energy and end of life cycle impact.

ABOVE Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor GreenBiz Group

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ABOVE Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor GreenBiz Group

Note: All numbers provided describing our 25 year footprint reduction are calculated through 2018 and applicable to the production of Interface carpet tiles only

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On the Road: Interface

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