Introduction
Sustainability has become many companies’ priority as a result of the shift in public opinion concerning environmental issues and corporate social responsibility. Individuals and organizations have become conscious of their environmental footprint. Waste reduction is one of the major issues to solve as the size of landfills is alarming, and the biodiversity of the planet is in danger. One of the leaders of waste management is Interface, Inc., a leading producer of carpets in the USA. The company manages to recycle over half of the raw materials it uses (Benn, Edwards, & Williams, 2014). The organization aims at making no wastes at all in terms of its mission zero plan (Luqmani, Leach, & Jesson, 2017). This paper includes a brief description of some of the most innovative and effective strategies Interface employs to achieve its waste reduction goals.
Interface and Its Products
Interface, Inc. is one of the world’s largest producers of carpets. It is one of the companies that started paying attention to sustainability in the 1990s. The company has employed various strategies to achieve its objectives and minimize its wastes. The premise for the success of these projects was the approach used. Interface became a learning organization that made innovation one of its core values (Luqmani et al., 2017). Employees have been encouraged to come up with methods and projects to address major environment-related issues. The company has always been willing to collaborate with like-minded organizations and encourage their partners to become more environmentally responsible.
Innovative Products and Approaches
Product diversification was another key factor that contributed to the company’s success. One of the innovative products was the carpet produced from recyclable materials, which can be regarded as a revolutionary approach to carpet making (Hart, 2013). Instead of using nylon that decomposes during decades, Interface developed a new type of material produced from recyclable fiber (Hart, 2013). Another product that minimizes Interface’s wastes is the carpets produced from fishing nets. The nylon used for the production of these nets is non-recyclable, but it is an appropriate material for carpet making. Interface collaborates with fishery companies located in the Philippines making waste reduction optimal for both sides (Perman, 2014). Finally, Interface also offers carpets as a long-term leasing product as customers can return their purchases for recycling (Luqmani et al., 2017). These products and services, as well as approaches, can be seen as major factors contributing to the company’s competitiveness.
Organization’s Profitability and Implications for Other Companies
These innovative projects and products help the organization gain profits. Interface manages to become more sustainable, which attracts customers. At the same time, it maximizes profits by minimizing costs. The strategies utilized can be adopted by other companies as well. For instance, effective collaboration between businesses can help all stakeholders reduce their wastes. Manufacturers can use raw materials produced in communities or by other companies. The food industry can also benefit from the replacement of plastic packaging with recyclable materials. Such companies as Apple could consider adopting the leasing project developed by Interface. Old gadgets can be returned to the producer for recycling.
Conclusion
On balance, Interface can be regarded as an innovative leader in the domain of sustainable business. The organization diversifies its products and services to ensure the minimization of waste production. The developed approaches and methods could be utilized in different industries. It could be beneficial for all companies to adopt some of the strategies that have proved to be effective.
References
Benn, S., Edwards, M., & Williams, T. (2014). Organizational change for corporate sustainability (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
Hart, C. A. (2013). Climate change and the private sector: Scaling up private sector response to climate change. New York, NY: Routledge.
Luqmani, A., Leach, M., & Jesson, D. (2017). Factors behind sustainable business innovation: The case of a global carpet manufacturing company. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 24, 94-105.
Perman, S. (2014). Interface’s quest to make carpetmaking cleaner.Bloomberg. Web.