Heroes of the Environment

Ray Anderson

The originally published version of this story incorrectly identified Ray Anderson as "CEO." Anderson is Interface's Chairman and founder.

In 1994, Interface Chairman and founder Ray Anderson realized he was in a wasteful, fossil-fuel dependent business. He decided that things at his carpet-tile company, in Atlanta, Ga., were going to change. To make it happen, he assembled the Eco Dream Team, a group of leading thinkers and designers, who could help him imagine a safer, healthier company. As part of that team, I experienced his commitment up close. Anderson called it a "midcourse correction," but the transformation he had in mind was, in fact, much bolder. He set about remaking his $1-billion-a-year company according to the principles of sustainable development, seeking processes and materials that do not threaten future generations or the planet. Throughout the process, he was eager to learn from others, both by voracious reading and by tapping the knowledge of his Dream Team.

What really set him apart was the fact that Anderson stood up early in a very public way with a commitment to making his business accountable. He put Interface and his reputation on the line and set the goal of eradicating the company's environmental footprint by 2020. He encouraged the kind of scrutiny and evaluation that most Chairmen shun. Interface has since cut dependence on fossil fuels by 45%; water and landfill use by as much as 80%. Spreading his message to the corporate world and beyond, he has become a great proselytizer for a gentler way of doing business.

William McDonough is founder of William McDonough + Partners and MBDC, and co-author of Cradle to Cradle

The originally published version of this story incorrectly identified Ray Anderson as "CEO." Anderson is Interface's Chairman and founder.