10.14.2003 ET

(CSRwire) Atlanta, GA - Navigating the maze of identifying and purchasing environmentally responsible floorcoverings just got a little easier. Interface Flooring Systems has received the industry's first third-party certification for an Environmentally Preferable Product for carpet, awarded by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). Certification was awarded after a rigorous, 14-week evaluation process that examined each phase of the product's life cycle, including resource consumption, product manufacturing, product use, and end of life. All Interface® brand products constructed of DuPontT Antron Lumena® or Legacy® face fiber and Interface GlasBac®RE, a backing composed of reclaimed and recycled carpet backing, are included in this certification.

"In a competitive environment, environmental claims can be exaggerated or misunderstood," said John Wells, president of Interface Flooring Systems. "Customers and manufacturers alike benefit from an objective, third-party evaluation that is as comprehensive as this SCS certification. We are proud to be in the company of our supplier, DuPont Antron, as offering an Environmentally Preferred Product."

Through Executive Order 13101, commonly referred to as the "greening of the government," the Federal government defines 'Environmentally Preferable' as products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. Environmentally preferable is more comprehensive than single attribute claims, such as recycled content.

According to Kirsten Ritchie, director of environmental claims at SCS, third-party certification sets a company apart: "Interface's customers can be confident that the products certified as environmentally preferable have been thoroughly evaluated by an independent body. Interface has made a commitment to provide the marketplace with environmentally responsible carpet products, and they have delivered on their promise. They should be commended for their actions."

Interface Flooring Systems is the flagship company of Atlanta-based Interface, Inc., a global leader in the manufacture of environmentally-responsible floorcoverings and other textiles. The company is committed to giving the marketplace a wide range of choices for specifying Earth-friendly products, with the industry's first climate neutral carpet, Cool CarpetT, as well as the only carpet product to be designed using biomimicry, the i2T collection from Interface Flooring Systems; and a residential carpet product created from the bio based, plant-derived fiber, IngeoT.

For more information on Interface's environmental initiatives, visit www.interfacesustainability.com.

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