(NEW YORK, NY—NOVEMBER 16, 2011)—Raw, an InterfaceFLOR modular carpet tile product created from yarns derived from a combination of salvaged fishing nets, post-industrial waste, and fibers from the company’s own processing of reclaimed carpet products, is among 100 products named “Best of What’s New” for 2011 by Popular Science magazine.
In naming Raw to this noteworthy list, Mark Jannot, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, said, “For 24 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us—those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our views of what’s possible in the future. The ‘Best of What’s New’ Award is,” he continued, “the magazine’s top honor, and the 100 winners—chosen from among thousands of entrants—represent the highest level of achievement in their fields.”
The 100 “Best of What’s New” products are reviewed in a centerpiece feature of the December issue of Popular Science.
Since its introduction this past June, InterfaceFLOR’s Raw has been earning kudos not only for its exceptionally sustainable construction from 100 percent non-virgin yarn and high recycled content backing, but also for its distinctive looks and superlative performance. The inspiration for this design was organic deconstruction, and a composition of the floor tiles in an installation conveys how aging and wear can evolve into a pleasing visual aesthetic with the nuances of patina and the character of distressing. It’s representative of layers peeled away to reveal an inner beauty.
Raw was developed by InterfaceFLOR’s principal design consultant, David Oakey, and it contains 29 percent post-consumer recycled content and a total of 79 percent recycled content.
“To be counted among the top 100 product innovations of the year by such a respected publication such as Popular Science is an exciting coup for InterfaceFLOR,” said John Wells, president and CEO of parent company,
Interface Americas. “Raw is an enigma: it’s such an attractive design, yet it’s made from trash—industrial sludge, decrepit fishing nets and used and reclaimed carpet. It’s a great example of how ingeniously this refuse can be reinvented into something highly functional, deceptively luxurious and beautiful. It also exemplifies how InterfaceFLOR is vigorously dedicated to discovering alternative resources for producing its carpet tile products so that we can meet our Mission Zero® pledge to reach a zero environmental footprint by 2020.”
About Popular Science Founded in 1872, Popular Science is the world’s largest science and technology magazine with a circulation of 1.3 million and 6.8 million monthly readers. Each month, Popular Science reports on the intersection of science and everyday life, with an eye toward what’s new and why it matters. Popular Science is published by Bonnier Active Media, a subsidiary of Bonnier Corporation.
About InterfaceFLORMInterfaceFLOR, LLC and InterfaceFLOR Canada, Inc, are subsidiaries of Interface, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial carpet tile. For 38 years, the company has consistently led the industry through innovation and now leads the industry in environmental sustainability. InterfaceFLOR is setting the pace for development of modular carpet using materials and processes that take less from the environment, and is well along the path to “Mission Zero®,” the company’s promise to eliminate any negative impact it has on the environment by the year 2020. InterfaceFLOR's worldwide carpet manufacturing facilities maintain third party registration to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standard, and the company obtained the first-ever Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for the commercial floor covering industry in North America. The company is recognized globally for its commitment to build environmental considerations into its business decisions. For additional information: www.interfaceflor.com www.interfaceflorblog.com
