Sustainability

I have challenged the people of Interface to make our company the first industrial company in the whole world to attain environmental sustainability, and then to become restorative. To me, being restorative means to put back more than we take, and to do good to the Earth, not just no harm.
Interface CEO Ray Anderson

Living sustainably means leaving Planet Earth at least as healthy, resource-rich and beautiful as we found it. This is an enormous challenge, but it is a challenge we must meet if we want our descendants to have a planet worth living on.

Around the world, many people are already experimenting with sustainable alternatives. In the London suburb of Beddington, for example, an urban village is being developed that will have zero net carbon emissions. The village will be comfortable and have modern conveniences, contradicting the belief that sustainability means a lower quality of life. On Mindanao in the Philippines, a micro-hydro scheme is providing power to 110 households and public buildings, cutting out the need for fossil fuels.

Corporations are also beginning to explore more sustainable ways of doing business. In the process, many are finding that less waste means an increase in profits. At its plant in Georgia, USA, Interface used to send six tons of carpet trimmings to the landfill every day. By 1997, it was sending none.

Achieving sustainability will require initiatives on the part of both business and government. It will also require each of us to limit our material demands and to be mindful of our environmental impact whenever we shop, travel or turn on a switch.

A sampler for working towards a more sustainable world

An excellent gateway site is the Ecosustainable Hub with its links to environmentally sustainable projects and to related resources and tools.

The Australian Conservation Foundation works to protect the environment but they also focus on green homes, sustainable cities and corporate responsibility.

Australia's Planet Ark works to show people the many ways in which they can reduce their day to day impact on the environment - at home, at work and in the community.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development and the International Network for Environmental Management are both active in promoting sustainability worldwide.

Redefining Progress is an American example of a group that is working locally to shift economic and public policy towards sustainability.

Village Earth is a consortium which is helping communities to develop in a sustainable way through the provision of training, consulting, and networking resources.

Livelihoods Connect is an Internet toolkit for creating sustainable livelihoods to eliminate poverty.

Find out more about the American firm, Interface, and their vision for sustainability in the industrial environment - a model that incorporates "people, process, product, place and profits".