Article Number : 6164 |
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| Date | 12/1/2010 8:38:02 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=6164 |
| Abstract | In every issue of GO magazine, an industry executive is asked five questions related to sustainability and/or the environment. The interviewee is given no prior knowledge of the questions, which are answered within a 5-minute time frame... |
| Article | Glen Hussmann President and CEO, Tandus Flooring 1 WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU BELIEVE SEPARATES TANDUS FLOORING FROM OTHER COMPANIES AS IT RELATES TO YOUR GREEN INITIATIVES, PRINCIPLES AND PLATFORMS? The heritage of being first. The first to introduce a fully closed-loop recycling process within the carpet industry as recognized by the U.S. Senate. The first to recognize the merits of low VOCs and improve indoor air quality with the introduction of our RS installation system. The first to fully support and bring forward third-party certification of sustainable claims. And the heritage continues as we have reached into other waste streams outside our industry to create product. 2 GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING ANOTHER COMPANY IS DOING YOU RESPECT. Shaw’s investment in waste to energy is an impressive first step for residential carpet. I just think the economics of it are impressive — they are not doing it for a one-year payoff. This first step should give them time to develop closed- loop recycling for residential products and appropriate carpet landfill diversions. 3 WITHOUT MENTIONING ANY NAMES, IDENTIFY A BLATANT EXAMPLE OF GREENWASHING OUT THERE THAT MAKES YOU CRINGE? Claiming recycled content that isn’t third-party certified. It’s so easy to make claims regarding post-industrial recycled content, and the industry should continue to drive toward third-party certification as a standard for making such claims. 4 WHAT’S BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS? Lining up economics and innovation. We need to provide economics through sustainable funding that will drive innovation. The challenge Tandus Flooring faces is consistent with the entire industry. We are continuing to drive innovation to increase the robustness of the recycled content in our own products, flooring back into flooring. We continue to explore opportunities to recycle carpeting materials into other applications and we continue to participate with the industry in building out the landfill diversion infrastructure. The sustainable funding we are working to put in place is a huge commitment on the part of the carpet manufacturers. 5 ALL THIS LEGISLATION. GOOD OR BAD? It can be and always will be both. If an unintended result of legislation makes it uneconomical for the manufacturing base to stay in the U.S., you will continue to drive manufacturing jobs outside the U.S. On the other hand, legislation that results in industries working together with the consumer to reduce demands on our environment is a good thing. But you have to achieve balance. You have to consider all consequences of legislation, including unintended consequences. |