2Sustain

I’ve written plenty of blog posts that highlight the business benefits of sustainability. But today, I’m going to let someone else do the talking. I hope you’ll spend a few minutes listening to this video clip featuring Ray Anderson, the founder of Interface, the world’s largest manufacturer of modular carpet. Anderson is a sustainable business pioneer who, since 1994, has focused his company’s attention on creating an alternative to the traditional, linear “take –> make –> waste” industrial model.  In this short talk, recorded at TED2009, February 2009, in Long Beach, California, he artfully outlines the business logic of sustainability, using specific examples from Interface’s groundbreaking business plan.

For instance, Interface’s ambitious, long-term goal, dubbed “Mission Zero,” is to have “zero impact, zero footprint” by 2020. Anderson estimates the company is about half-way there, and he offers proof. Since 1995,

• Interface’s net GHG emissions are down 82% in absolute tonnage. Over the same time, sales have increased by two-thirds and profits have doubled, so this 82% absolute reduction translates to a whopping 90% reduction in GHG intensity relative to sales.

• Fossil fuel usage at Interface is down 60% per unit of production.
• Water usage is down 75% in Interface’s worldwide carpet business.

What’s more, the company has proven that sustainability is a powerful marketplace differentiator.

“We have found Mission Zero to be incredibly good for business, a better business model, a better way to bigger profits is the business case for sustainability,” Anderson says. “From real life experience, costs are down, not up, reflecting some $400 million of avoided costs in pursuit of zero waste.”

I hope that you enjoy discovering even more by watching this clip, available at
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ray_anderson_on_the_business_logic_of_sustainability.html