THE PAULA GORDON SHOW Conversations with People at the Leading Edge(sm) |
Natural Profits |
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Ray C. Anderson ... founder and Chairman of Interface, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial floor coverings, doing business in 110 nations with plants in 6 countries. His book, Confessions of a Radical Industrialist: Profits, People, Purpose - Doing Business by Respecting the Earth, documents 15 years and $400,000,000 profit as a direct result of the corporation’s commitment to zero waste throughout their supply chain. He continues to lead “the second industrial revolution” while sharing the Interface story in speeches all over the world and welcoming leaders of many of the world’s biggest enterprises to Interface, much as he did when Co-chair of the President’s Commission on Sustainable Development in the 1990s. |
Complete Program video, in five parts: |
Excerpts from the Program |
Acknowledgement
Jo Ann Bachman's help was vital in making this program come to pass. Dianne Dillon-Ridgley has worked tirelessly for many years raising awareness around the world of our potentially fatal disconnect from nature. She serves on the Interface board and has provided us with many useful insights and anecdotes. Before heading off to Australia to get an advanced degree in sustainability studies, Teljya Oka-Pregel worked with Interface, developing its message and internet presence. She is a splendid avatar of what we dare hope is emerging from the next generation. As many business people have, Ray Anderson could have found many reasons and excuses for continuing as a "plunderer of the earth." Instead he chose to lead the way to a sustainable, restorative future. Bless him for that choice and for his indomitable spirit. |
Related Links:
Ray Anderson's website is here. There's much more about Interface on the company website. Confessions of a Radical Industrialist is published by St. Martin's Press. We first talked with Mr. Anderson in 1999, early in his ascent of Mount Sustainability. Ray Anderson has worked closely with environmental educator and innovator David Orr. Paul Hawken's The Ecology of Commerce was Mr. Anderson's wake-up call. Frederick Ferré has provided a philosophical basic for the changes Ray Anderson so ablely embodies. David Orr's work in environmental education and sustainable communities are a central part of the process of changing our views and habits. Mr. Anderson regularly cites Janine Benyus' work on biomimicry as both resource and inspiration. Excerpts from this program, and others, helped set the stage for Building Sutainability: A Green Homes and Renovations Conference in Kimberley, BC in late January 2010.
... and, here's a little background information on Paula Gordon and Bill Russell, the Program co-hosts. |