Ray Anderson is a renowned entrepreneur and chairman of Interface Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of modular carpet for commercial and residential applications, as well as a leading producer of commercial broadloom and commercial fabrics. He is highly respected in environmental circles for his forward-thinking and progressive stance on industrial ecology and sustainability.
Under his leadership, Anderson has made significant strides in reducing waste, with a goal of achieving sustainability by 2020. He defines sustainability as "taking nothing from the earth that is not rapidly and naturally renewable, and doing no harm to the biosphere."
Anderson's commitment to sustainability has led him to implement innovative initiatives, such as reducing and eliminating petroleum from his company's manufacturing processes. He is also pioneering recycling efforts with nylon and polyester, which is recyclable, and is working towards developing closed-loop technologies for the future.
Anderson's journey towards sustainability began in 1994, when he read Paul Hawken's book "The Ecology of Commerce," which argued that the industrial system is destroying the planet and that only industry leaders have the power to stop it. This epiphany led him to re-evaluate his company's practices and implement changes to reduce its environmental impact.
Anderson has been featured in several documentaries and television programs, including "The Corporation," "The 11th Hour," and "The Nature of Things." He is also a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council and has written two books, "Mid-Course Correction: Toward a Sustainable Enterprise: The Interface Model" and "Confessions of a Radical Industrialist: Profits, People, Purpose: Doing Business by Respecting the Earth."
