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Entire InterfaceFLOR(R) Modular Product Line Qualifies for USGBC's LEED(R) "Innovation in Design" Credit

Entire InterfaceFLOR(R) Modular Product Line Qualifies for USGBC's LEED(R) "Innovation in Design" Credit

Published 08-16-07

Submitted by Interface, Inc.

LAGRANGE, GA- August 16, 2007 - InterfaceFLOR's entire product line can now earn an extra Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credit through a recent U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) ruling on climate neutral products. In a rapidly evolving and increasingly complex world of environmental product claims, the USGBC has recognized the importance of reducing global warming impacts not only in connection with the use of buildings, but also from the building products used in their construction. An "Innovation in Design" credit has been awarded for products that have net zero greenhouse gas impact under the LEED(R) Green Building Rating System.

"The availability of this new credit provides further incentive for manufacturers to reduce the environmental footprint of their products," said David Hobbs, president of InterfaceFLOR. "We have long taken ownership of the impact of our products across their entire life cycle, so we invest to offset the impacts from the rest of our supply chain. We are pleased that the USGBC has taken this step to ensure recognition for qualified, third-party analysis of products' environmental claims."

The USGBC ruling explains that products and materials are climate neutral when there are zero net greenhouse gases (GHG), such as carbon dioxide, emitted during the entire life cycle of the product. Manufacturers must calculate the total GHG impact utilizing life cycle analysis and then obtain emission reduction credits (ERCs) from projects that reduce carbon emissions. The ERCs must equal or exceed the GHG emissions produced during extraction, processing, manufacture, transport, and end use of a product. Such offset projects must be certified by a recognized third party using sound scientific and accounting principles. To achieve the LEED innovation point, the climate neutral products must account for 5% of a project's total material value.

In its ruling, the USGBC has identified a number of third-party verification programs, as well as acceptable GHG offset standards, that enable a product to achieve the credit. The ruling gives guidance toward credible and verifiable offsets by providing a range of standards that offsets should meet. Recognizing that climate neutral products are a rapidly emerging field, USGBC expects to revise and update the ruling as standards for quality and certification advance.

"With market demand for sustainable goods and services on the rise, NativeEnergy supports initiatives that preserve the highest standards in both reporting and certification. This new credit will help to ensure that claims are measurable, transparent and credible," said Tom Boucher, President of NativeEnergy and a principal supplier of carbon offsets to InterfaceFLOR. "The Innovation in Design credit acknowledges proactive suppliers like InterfaceFLOR, who take a climate leadership position not only with their buildings but also with their products."

Products may only qualify for the innovation point if climate neutral certification is standard for the product line. Products that can be specified as climate neutral for an additional cost, or those where GHG offsets only apply to a specific project are not eligible.

InterfaceFLOR satisfies this requirement as all products manufactured or shipped in North America are standard as climate neutral. Because of this commitment to being climate neutral, Interface, Inc., InterfaceFLOR's corporate parent, is one of the largest purchasers of carbon offsets in the voluntary market. The company has retired more than 392,000 metric tones of CO2 emissions, which equates to 84,848 cars taken off the road for one year, or more than 44 million gallons of gas not consumed.

"We take a broad view of reducing our impact and internally have already reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 43%," added Hobbs. "However, our actual manufacturing impact is a mere 10% of the total GHG emissions released during the lifecycle of our carpet. Therefore we are working diligently across our supply chain to help others achieve their own reductions, and supplementing that effort with offsets as needed to further reduce the impact of our products."

About USGBC

USGBC is a community of leaders working to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated. USGBC envisions an environmentally responsible, healthy, and prosperous built environment that improves the quality of life. Founding in 1993, the Council now comprises more than 9,000 member organizations representing every sector of the building industry; a 90-person professional staff; and a network of over 70 local chapters, affiliates and organizing groups.

About InterfaceFLOR

InterfaceFLOR, LLC is a division of Interface, Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of commercial modular carpet. For 34 years, the company has consistently led the industry through innovation and now leads the industry in environmental sustainability. InterfaceFLOR is setting the pace for development of modular carpet using materials and processes that take less from the environment, and is well along the path to "Mission Zero(TM)," the company's promise to eliminate any negative impact it may have on the environment by the year 2020. InterfaceFLOR's worldwide carpet manufacturing facilities maintain third party registration to the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System and ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System Standards, and the company has been recognized globally for its commitment to build environmental considerations into its business decisions. www.interfaceflor.com

Interface, Inc. logo

Interface, Inc.

Interface, Inc.

Interface, Inc. is the world’s largest manufacturer of modular carpet, which it markets under the InterfaceFLOR, FLOR, and Bentley Prince Street brands. Bentley Prince Street also is a leader in the designer-quality broadloom carpet market. In the mid-1990s, Interface’s Chairman and CEO Ray C. Anderson shifted the company’s strategy, aiming to redesign its industrial practices to instead focus on sustainability without sacrificing its business goals. Interface is committed to doing business in ways that minimize the impact on the environment. Interface companies have adopted an aggressive vision - To be the first company that, by its deeds, shows the entire industrial world what sustainability is, in all its dimensions: People, process, product, place and profits — by 2020 — and in doing so, to become restorative through the power of influence. In respecting that vision, every creative, manufacturing and building decision Interface makes, moves it closer to the goal of eliminating any negative impact Interface companies have on the environment.

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