INITIATIVE | 070 At Shaw, we're continually adjusting our practices in order to increase efficiencies – often to the benefit of our employees and our customers. Innovations in manufacturing create opportunities down the line, in material selection and packaging. Every part of our process benefits from Green Edge thinking.
That's exactly what happened at our carpet tile facility in Cartersville, Georgia. In 2003, we redesigned the tile cutting process, and looked to in-line packaging automation for additional benefits. By redesigning the packaging process used for our 24" x 24" tile products, we by-pass the issues associated with manually stocked, heavy corrugated cardboard, hand palletized and shrink wrapped packaging.
Today, the materials used in the redesigned tile packaging are 30% lighter and far less difficult for customers to dispose and recycle. The reduced packaging weight means reduced cardboard usage, over 550 thousand pounds or 3,550 trees each year. The new design has also increased the integrity of the finished pallet, distributing weight evenly and eliminating any shift during transport. The result is a packaged product that is safer, lighter and less laborious. That's a Green Edge that takes a load off.
