Interface® is one of the world's leading manufacturers of modular flooring — carpet tiles and high-end vinyl flooring (LVT) — founded in 1973 in LaGrange (Georgia, USA) by visionary entrepreneur Ray C. Anderson. Anderson developed the concept of loose lay carpet tiles on a trip to Europe and recognised that this system would be ideal for the American market, particularly for open-plan offices with flat-cable electrical distribution systems. 1994: the year of transformation — Anderson was asked by a customer what his company was doing for the environment. Reading Paul Hawken's "The Ecology of Commerce" led him to a radical course correction: Mission Zero® — the promise to eliminate every negative environmental impact by 2020. Results: Interface reduced its carbon footprint by 74%, greenhouse gas emissions by 69%, fossil fuel consumption by 60%, water usage by 75%. Since January 2019: all Interface flooring products carbon neutral across the full lifecycle. 2016: next moonshot initiative — Climate Take Back™ (goal: carbon negative company by 2040). 2020: first carbon negative carpet tile collection (Embodied Beauty™, CQuest™Bio backing). Net-Works™ programme: purchase of discarded fishing nets from the poorest communities worldwide, recycled by Aquafil into yarn for Interface carpet tiles.
Technological innovations: GlasBac® backing, Intersept® (patented preservative), TacTiles™ (glue-free installation system, 90% lower environmental footprint than conventional flooring adhesives, 2003), i2™ Design Approach (biomimicry principle, forest as model; tile-to-tile variations in pattern, colour and texture — selective replaceability without waste issues; debut: Entropy®), CQuest™Bio and CQuest™BioX backings (bio-based and recycled materials, carbon negative). Carpet collections (selection): Entropy®, NY+LON Streets, Embodied Beauty™, World Woven, Human Connections, Level Set, Yuton, Woven Gradience and many more. LVT collections (selection): Sound Choice™ (4.5 mm, Ceramor™ finish), Fresco Valley, Beaumont Range. ReEntry® programme: reuse, recycling and take-back of carpet tiles.
For architects and interior designers seeking for office, hospitality, educational, healthcare and commercial flooring projects with high sustainability and LEED/WELL requirements an American world market leader for modular carpet and vinyl flooring founded in LaGrange (Georgia) in 1973 that under founder Ray C. Anderson with Mission Zero® (1994–2019, full achievement) and Climate Take Back™ (2016–2040) set the global corporate sustainability standard for the furniture and flooring industry, and with Embodied Beauty™ presented the world's first carbon negative carpet tile — Ray C. Anderson read "The Ecology of Commerce" in 1994 and changed Interface® forever: Mission Zero® fully achieved by 2020, Net-Works™ from fishing nets and Climate Take Back™ as the next moonshot — Entropy® as the designated icon product, carbon neutral since 2019.
