Anderson Honored by Women's Sustainability Group

Atlanta, GA, Oct. 11, 2010--"A man on the moon? Not radical enough!" said Ray Anderson, founder and chairman of Interface, at the Women’s Network for a Sustainable Future (WNSF) 7th Annual Businesswomen’s Sustainability Leadership Summit in New York on Oct. 5.

Speaking via video-conference, Anderson was the keynote speaker and recipient of the "Business Sustainability Leadership Award," marking the first time the WNSF has honored a businessman.

His daughter, Mary Anne Lanier, member of the Sustainable Operations team at Interface, accepted the award for him in person.

Anderson is internationally recognized in environmental circles for his advanced and progressive stance on industrial ecology and sustainability. Under his leadership, Interface has increased its sales and doubled its profits. At the same time, the company has cut its energy use by nearly 40% in pursuit of its Mission Zero goal: to achieve a zero environmental footprint by 2020.

Anderson said it is vital to set radical goals, and continually strive towards achieving them. He expounded on this theme and explained how he set Interface on the road to sustainability, aka Mission Zero, in his 2009 book "Confessions of a Radical Industrialist."

Anderson also addressed the contribution of women to sustainability. "A sustainable society will build on the ascendancy of women in business, the professions, government, and education, as they bring their right-brain, nurturing nature to bear on the seemingly intractable challenges created by us left-brain-dominant, pragmatic men and our pre-occupation with bottom lines and other 'practical' considerations."