Shaw Wins EPA's Presidential Green Chemistry A

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Shaw Wins EPA's Presidential Green Chemistry A
Dalton, GA, June 24--Shaw Industries, Inc. was honored Monday with the Environmental Protection Agency's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award at a ceremony held at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington. The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards, administered by the EPA, have been presented annually since 1996 to recognize businesses and individuals who have discovered innovative ways to significantly reduce pollution at its sources and have used chemistry to improve the environment. Winners must demonstrate utilization of technology in achieving their pollution prevention goals. Shaw won the award for developing a carpet tile alternative to conventional PVC carpet tile that may be sustainably recycled, has less embodied energy, and equal or greater performance vs. PVC. "We are greatly honored to be recognized by the EPA and receive this award," said Julian Saul, president of Shaw Industries. "This award reinforces our commitment to the environment--to making a sustainable carpet product for everyone." Jeff Wright, Shaw's senior chemist, explained that when Shaw's new carpet backing is paired with its new nylon carpet yarn, the end product has the ability to be sustainably recycled--carpet yarn to carpet yarn, and backing to backing. To test its materials for sustainability, Shaw now uses the Cradle-to-Cradle Design Protocol, a third-party system created by renowned designer William McDonough and German chemist Michael Braungart. The Cradle-to-Cradle Design Protocol assesses each individual material used in a product to determine whether it's safe for the ecosystem. Shaw's Eco Solution Q(R) fiber and EcoWorx backing are among the first products in the world to be fully assessed through the Cradle-to-Cradle Design Protocol. Prior to putting its products through the Cradle-to-Cradle Design Protocol, Shaw has been concerned about environmental conservation and has been making strides in that area for years. Since 1992, the company has reduced emissions from its manufacturing plants by more than 95 percent. Over a five year period, the company also reduced by 40 percent the amount of water required to make one square yard of carpeting.


Related Topics:Shaw Industries Group, Inc.