Bio-Based Products

Position Statement on the Development and Use of Bio-Based Products

Interface has a tradition of evaluating the life cycle impact of its products on the Earth, from the raw materials used to make them, to customer use patterns, to their end-of-life fate. Finding alternatives to oil-based products is a significant part of Interface's plan to develop and integrate sustainable practices into every part of its business.

A key example of our work in this area is the development of fibers made from renewable resources for use in our products. We understand the environmental impact associated with using oil for both feedstock and energy needs, and we believe that moving toward renewable resources, such as bio-based fibers, and away from synthetics helps us to move closer to our goal of sustainable manufacturing.

We are committed to minimize our reliance on oil-based raw materials and energy sources, as we move to recycled and renewable resources for our manufacturing processes. As we develop bio-based products for the future, we will need to look at a whole new set of impacts. While we recognize that current technologies and processes used to create bio-based products may not be the final answer in our quest for renewable technologies, we do think they are a long step in the right direction.

As a first step, we have chosen to explore fibers made from PLA (polylactic acid) to yield products that are more sustainable. PLA fibers today are derived from non food grade #2 corn and potentially other starch containing agricultural plant materials and waste products.They are similar to polyester synthetic fibers and can be used for commercial fabrics, textile backings and carpet applications as well as garments, packaging materials and household products.

Our exploration of the PLA technology is an important step toward increasing our knowledge of and ability to use bio-based fibers. We affirm our position to evaluate PLA's usefulness in our markets, as we are convinced that only by being a part of this business cycle can we influence the market toward bio-based fibers produced through sustainable processes.

At this time, Interface represents a very small portion of the market for PLA, but we will strive to work with our supplier to take incremental steps toward improving this technology while minimizing total environmental impact. Our participation in this technology is necessary if we are to truly show our commitment to moving from products based on oil toward products that support a carbohydrate economy.

                        Read Interface’s article on Biobased Fabric Composting in the May 2005 Issue of BioCycle.

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