ATLANTA, June 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GlobeScan and SustainAbility released the results of their annual Sustainability Leaders survey at this year's Sustainable Brands conference. When asked, "which companies do you think are leaders in integrating sustainability into their business strategy?" respondents have, for the past 19 years, consistently mentioned Interface, an Atlanta-based global manufacturer of modular carpet that is a leader in sustainable business. Interface has the longest-running tenure on the list and is the only company to be named in the top four since 1998.

The Sustainability Leaders study is a highly respected global index that uncovers the drivers and trends in the sustainability landscape, surveying experts and practitioners in the field to keep a pulse on the momentum in this area. Over the past two decades, the depth and insights of the research have evolved as the universe of experts has grown exponentially and the movement continues to build momentum as a top priority for the world's most well-known enterprise and consumer brands.

"It is gratifying not only to receive consistent recognition in the Sustainability Leaders study from our peers and partners in business, academia and the NGO world, but also to be mentioned alongside companies we greatly admire, such as Unilever, Patagonia, IKEA and Tesla," said Dan Hendrix, chairman and CEO of Interface, Inc. Hendrix, a 33-year Interface veteran who has led the company on its sustainability journey, continued, "And we are proud to report that, four years before our milestone year of 2020, we are ahead of plan and on track to achieve our Mission Zero® goal to eliminate our negative environmental footprint."

The story of Interface's course correction in 1994 to move toward sustainability is now legend. More than 20 years and a sea change later, Interface is fast approaching its Mission Zero horizon, the journey no one would have imagined for the company or for the petroleum-intensive industry of carpet manufacturing, which has been forever changed by the company's leadership. Mission Zero is the company's promise to eliminate any negative impact it may have on the environment by the year 2020 through the redesign of processes and products, the pioneering of new technologies, and efforts to reduce or eliminate waste and harmful emissions while increasing the use of renewable materials and sources of energy. 

"In a world where we have high expectations for corporations to step up and infuse sustainability into business strategy, ultimately driving business success through purpose, Interface is a steadfast leader," said Eric Whan, director at GlobeScan. "Over two decades, we have seen the sustainability agenda evolve and broaden, and watched companies rise and fall on our list. Interface has demonstrated consistent leadership as the only company that has been on the list every year since we started this effort in 1997 by evolving its approach, by making sustainability a part of its DNA and by pursuing positive business practices through initiatives like Net-Works®."

The Sustainability Leaders Survey tracks expert opinions on the evolution of the sustainability agenda for two decades, along with views on the leaders and institutions most responsible for driving it forward. More than 900 experts in 84 countries were asked, unprompted, to name three companies that they believe are leaders in integrating sustainability into their business strategy. This year, Interface tied with IKEA as third most mentioned company in the study, with Unilever and Patagonia first and second most mentioned, respectively.

About Interface

Interface, Inc. is the world's largest manufacturer of modular carpet, which it markets under the Interface® and FLOR® brands. The Company is committed to the goal of sustainability and doing business in ways that minimize the impact on the environment while enhancing shareholder value. 

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SOURCE Interface, Inc.

Christine Needles, 404.491.4660, christine.needles@interface.com