Shaw Industries Group, Inc. has released its inaugural sustainability report to share the company's legacy of environmental and corporate social responsibility. This report is reflective of Shaw's commitment to sustainability leadership through the Shaw Green Edge® - a company-wide business platform based on sustainability through innovation.

Reflecting Shaw's long history of investment in sustainable development and initiative-driven progress, the sustainability report outlines the company's accomplishments and goals. It also reflects the global flooring provider's fully vertically integrated organizational footprint, detailing progress according to three pillars of sustainability:

• Corporate governance and social responsibility
• Operational and environmental excellence
• Innovative products and services

The report details Shaw's progress towards key measurable, timeline-driven, public corporate goals, including safety, energy, waste and water guided by the executive Growth & Sustainability Council.

Other key highlights for 2008 include:

• Availability of environmentally friendly products in all five flooring categories (carpet, area rugs, hardwood, laminate, tile and stone)
• Contributions of more than $2.3 million and countless hours to the United Way by Shaw and Shaw associates
• Reclamation of more than 244 million pounds of post-consumer carpet since the launch of Shaw's carpet collection network - 85% of which was recycled carpet to carpet
• EPA/CARE Innovations in Recycling award for post-consumer carpet reclamation and recycling program
• Introduction of ClearTouch® PET filament with recycled content from reclaimed plastic bottles
• NSF 140 certification
• Expansion of Shaw's EcoWorx® Environmental Guarantee program worldwide
• Announcement of Shaw as one of 240 Founding Members of The Climate Registry

"At Shaw, we believe in the importance of substantiating environmental claims as part of good governance, sound business conduct policy, and our long-standing values of honesty, integrity and hard work," said CEO Vance Bell. "Our inaugural sustainability report recognizes the many achievements of Shaw associates past and present, and it provides a foundation for our continued progress."

Bell also said the sustainability report marks a significant milestone for Shaw. "We hope that sharing our own progress will help demonstrate our belief that innovation and sustainability are not only inextricably linked, they are the primary guarantors of long-term success," he said.

"Accountability, transparency and disclosure of continuous improvement and progress are basic tenets of corporate sustainability, and our first report provides our stakeholders and customers with substantive evidence of our commitment," said Rick Ramirez, Shaw vice president of sustainability and environmental affairs.

The progress detailed by the report provides proof points to that commitment, Ramirez added. "For example, the metrics reported in the sustainability report reflect the progress of our entire corporate footprint - including all of our administrative, manufacturing and distribution operations in North America. These metrics also reflect the scope of our full vertical integration, as well as the expansion of our organization through acquisition."

Since the publication of this sustainability report, Shaw has also announced additional progress towards its sustainability strategy, including:

• Post-consumer carpet reclamation of more than 250 million pounds
• Construction of a new Re2E energy reclamation facility
• Cradle to CradleCM certification of Shaw's Epic Hardwood
• Investment in ClearPath Recycling LLC, the largest PET recycling facility in North America

"We are proud of Shaw's first sustainability report and the history, work and dedication it represents," said CEO Vance Bell. "We look forward to reporting on our continued progress next year."

About the Shaw Green Edge
Sustainability through InnovationTM That's the Shaw Green Edge®. It's our commitment to create the most beautiful - and sustainable - flooring in the world. And to help create a better planet for our customers, our people and our communities in the process.

Rooted in our drive to continuously improve every aspect of our business, the Shaw Green Edge guides everything we do, every day - from maintaining the highest ethical standards to safeguarding the health and well-being of our people and our communities, to conserving energy and water and recycling raw materials, to designing cradle to cradle products that can be remanufactured over and over again.

Because setting the standard for environmental excellence, social responsibility and product design is more than our responsibility. It's also good business. And it’s our legacy.

About Shaw Industries
Shaw Industries Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is the world's largest carpet manufacturer and a leading floor covering provider with more than $5 billion in annual sales and approximately 28,000 associates at the end of 2008. Headquartered in Dalton, Ga., the company manufactures and distributes carpeting, rugs, hardwood, laminate and ceramic tile for residential and commercial product applications worldwide. A recognized leader in environmental stewardship, Shaw has implemented hundreds of sustainability initiatives and cradle to cradle design solutions collectively termed the Shaw Green Edge. For more information, visit www.shawgreenedge.com.

Shaw Industries, Inc.

Shaw Industries, Inc.

Shaw Industries Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is the world’s largest carpet manufacturer and a leading floor covering provider with more than $5 billion in annual sales and approximately 28,000 associates at the end of 2008. Headquartered in Dalton, Ga., the company manufactures and distributes carpeting, rugs, hardwood, laminate and ceramic tile for residential and commercial product applications worldwide. A recognized leader in environmental stewardship, Shaw has implemented hundreds of sustainability initiatives and cradle to cradle design solutions collectively termed the Shaw Green Edge. For more information, visit www.shawgreenedge.com.

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