Mumbai :   Speaking to the media in Mumbai during his visit to India, Daniel T. Hendrix, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Interface, Inc., made a strong case for businesses to go on the path of sustainability.

Interface, Inc. is the largest manufacturer of modular carpet tiles in the world.  It has created a viable market for modular carpet globally – a business that once was considered only a niche business.  The company now has 35% share of the market globally.

Interface was one of the first companies to publicly commit to sustainability, when it made a pledge in the mid-nineties to eliminate its impact on the environment by 2020. Known as Mission Zero, it influences every aspect of the business and inspires the company to continually push the boundaries in order to achieve its goal.  Inspired by the vision of its legendary founder, Late Ray Anderson, the company has done truly pioneering work in the field of sustainability.

Interface is now more than half way to reaching Mission Zero and has been widely recognised for its achievements to date. Dan Hendrix said that currently around 45% of the total raw material used by the company is either recycled or bio-based.

The company continues to blaze new trails in its quest for Mission Zero.  It is now unveiling Fotosfera, its first ever truly commercial carpet tile made from plant (or bio) based nylon.  Fotosfera is based on nylon made from castor oil derived from the seeds of the castor bean plants.

Around 70% of the world’s castor bean plants are grown in India, where production also provides socio-economic benefits to local farmers. Castor bean plants grow on marginal land where other crops often struggle, providing farmers with additional income.

Rob Boogaard, Senior VP, Interface Inc. added that Interface’s products combine beauty and innovation with functionality and environmental credentials to help customers bring their design vision to life. Interface products have achieved several awards, specifically for design and innovation, the most recent being The Athenaeum Good Design Award for World Textiles.