InterfaceFLOR Exceeds Goals for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction

2006 EcoMetrics™ Report Demonstrates Mission Zero Progress

InterfaceFLOR, the world leader in the production of environmentally responsible modular floor coverings and textiles, has reported significant progress towards its Mission Zero goal to achieve a neutral environmental footprint by 2020.

In its latest EcoMetrics report, InterfaceFLOR highlights the measures it has taken to achieve a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, a reduction in waste and energy usage plus increased renewable energy sourcing.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Reductions

At the 2006 meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), Interface, Inc. founder and chairman, Ray Anderson, had publicly announced a commitment to make the company a “climate neutral” enterprise by 2020, based on GHG reductions of 6.7% per year over the next 15 years. The company’s latest global EcoMetrics report, confirms Interface met and exceeded its 2006 CGI commitment goal, reporting GHG reductions of 7.7% for the past year, bringing its absolute GHG emissions reductions to 60% over 10-year period.

Reductions in green house gas emissions were accomplished through improved process efficiencies (37%), renewable energy credits (10%) and a landfill gas project at InterfaceFLOR Commercial in LaGrange, Georgia, USA, (13%).

“Each of our global businesses is committed to our Mission Zero promise to eliminate any negative impact our companies may have on the environment by 2020,” says Lindsey Parnell, European CEO of InterfaceFLOR.

“Mission Zero demonstrates our commitment to our stakeholders that InterfaceFLOR will focus on environmental and social sustainability in ways that help us seek economic prosperity, and 2006 proved a stellar year for us.

“We showed continued progress with GHG emission reductions, while production and sales increased dramatically. It’s testament to the dedication of our associates worldwide that we have found creative ways to continue to meet over one third of our GHG emission reduction goals through on-site efficiencies and process changes, before relying on carbon offsets,” he continues.

Energy Efficiencies – Global Energy Usage Down 45%

Also key to InterfaceFLOR’s overall strategy on GHG emission reductions, is the challenge to reduce its global energy usage to an absolute minimum while increasing product volume and revenue. This challenge has also been met with success: the company reports that global energy usage is down 45% in its worldwide carpet manufacturing facilities while production volumes have increased.

At the same time, Interface is also making great progress toward its commitment to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2020, as it recently announced that 16% of the energy sourced worldwide in 2006 was from renewable sources such as wind, biomass and landfill gas. Currently, seven Interface facilities worldwide are operating with 100% renewable electricity and two other locations are purchasing increasing amounts of green energy in keeping with their facility-specific Mission Zero goals.

Renewable Materials

Interface’s Mission Zero promise includes a commitment to invest in long-term, raw material solutions that will enable the company to “close the technical loop” on nonrenewable and virgin materials by 2020. The company has increased the amount of recycled and bio-based materials from 0.5% in 1996 to more than 20% in 2006.

“All of our projects reflect Interface’s firm commitment to sustainability in all of its facets, with great emphasis placed on our internal and external stakeholder relationships,” says Parnell. “Internally, Interface has created a culture that breeds success in all of our endeavors. Externally, we continue to support the call for immediate action on some of the world’s most pressing challenges, with global warming in the forefront. Through our commitments to the Clinton Global Initiative, The Climate Group, the Pew Center for Global Change and many others, we have been able to partner with other like-minded companies and organizations to increase awareness and encourage action on global warming in a manner that is both timely and relevant.”

Interface, Inc. (NASDAQ: IFSIA), is a global leader in the manufacture of environmentally responsible floor coverings. The company is committed to giving the marketplace a wide range of choices for specifying Earth-friendly and Environmentally Preferable Product–certified products, with the industry’s first climate neutral carpet, Cool Carpet™. Interface is also engaged with the Global Roundtable on Climate Change, the Chicago Climate Exchange and the California Climate Action Registry.

In Europe, InterfaceFLOR has manufacturing facilities in Craigavon Northern Ireland; Halifax, West Yorkshire and Scherpenzeel in Holland, plus sales offices in most major cities. Modular flooring for the home is available through Heuga Home Flooring.

The company's aim is to move from the traditional industrial approach of 'take, make, waste' and move towards a more natural or cyclical system of material and resource flows. Encouraging other companies to follow its lead in resource friendly manufacturing policies and processes is also a central part of the environmental mission.

Ends

Date issued: 21 Mar 2007

Note to Editors:

The Clinton Global Initiative, a non-partisan project of the William J. Clinton Foundation, is a catalyst for action, bringing together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. www.clintonglobalinitiative.org