7.18.2005 ET

(CSRwire) (Atlanta) Less than two years after becoming the first carpet manufacturer to achieve third-party Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) certification, Interface Flooring Systems has now received certification for its entire i2™ line of modular carpet in addition to any Interface® brand product specified with GlasBac® RE backing. Awarded by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), EPP certification is based on a rigorous, 14-week evaluation process that examines a product's total life cycle, including resource conservation, product manufacturing, product performance, and end of life.

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.

"We are committed to pursuing third-party verification for our products in order to simplify the process for our customers who want to specify environmentally responsible products," said John Wells, president of Interface Flooring Systems. "The amount of information, and misinformation, on environmental claims in the marketplace can be staggering. Having a thorough, rigorous process to ensure that claims are accurate benefits everyone."

"We appreciate the efforts of companies like Interface who are focused on finding alternative materials and more efficient processes that will make products more environmentally responsible," said Kirsten Ritchie, director of environmental claims at SCS. "Our certification process examines the total life cycle for a product, from raw materials to how it is handled when no longer in use. Our stringent criteria tell a potential customer that a product lives up to its claims."

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 Carpet™, as well as the only carpet product to be designed using biomimicry, the i2™ collection from Interface Flooring Systems; and the first residential carpet product created from bio-based, plant-derived fibers.

Established in 1984, Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is an independent certifier of multiple facets of the food industry, forest and marine management programs, and a wide variety of claims related to environmental achievement in product manufacturing.

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

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