Interface, the world’s leading modular flooring producer, has announced that all its products – including all carpet tiles and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) – are now carbon-neutral across the entire product lifecycle. The company has also introduced a system whereby any specified Interface floor’s “environmental credentials” can be assessed.
KBAC Flooring, currently in its 50th year of operations, as the South African distributor of Interface products will therefore be able to advise designers and customers about the extent of carbon emission reductions each Interface sale has brought about. This information has become increasingly important as demands for greener building grow.
Interface is offering the “environmental credentials” service at no extra cost on request to help consumers meet sustainability goals while also allowing them to reduce the polluting impact of their projects or spaces. And the statistics will be convincing.
For example, every 1 000 square meters of Interface flooring sold will offset carbon emissions equivalent to a car travelling 40 000 kilometres, or a trip around the earth, or 11 return air flights between New York and Paris.
Erin Meezan, Interface’s Chief Sustainability Officer, says: “Interface has spent the last 25 years focusing on eliminating our own environmental impact. We now have a more ambitious goal to reverse global warming: participation by our customers.
“Architects and designers, flooring contractors and end-users are beginning to see that their decisions – the products they specify and buy – have a direct impact on our climate. By specifying Interface products, they can provide proof of the effect this has on reducing embodied carbon which can be used as a marketing opportunity, shining the light on those that are taking the lead in sustainability,” Meezan adds.
In keeping with what in 2019 is the 25th anniversary of its “Mission Zero” commitment to sustainability, Interface has taken a holistic approach to carbon neutrality, looking beyond carbon emissions from manufacturing to also include emissions across the entire product lifecycle. This begins with raw materials and continues through manufacturing, transportation, maintenance and ultimately end-of-life product takeback and recycling.
Since 1994, Interface has worked arduously to reduce every product’s environmental impact, reducing the average carbon impact of its products by an estimated 60%.
To reach carbon neutrality for all products globally, Interface calculates all remaining greenhouse gas emissions for the entire lifecycle of its products and invests in verified emission reduction projects located all over the world to offset them. These projects have included reforestation, addressing deforestation and degradation, wind-based power generation, low-impact run of river electricity generation, and improved household charcoal stoves. The programme is verified annually by independent third-party auditors.
To learn more about Interface’s Climate Take Back mission zero click HERE and for more information about the Carbon Neutral Floors program visit: www.interface.com/carbonneutral.
