Shaw partners with EPAs WasteWise program
07.13.2009
Shaw Industries Group, Inc. has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WasteWise program in an effort to promote its environmental and sustainability efforts and continue defining goals to reduce waste and recycle its products. Shaw is pleased engage with EPA through WasteWise and be recognized for its internal waste reduction as well as its post consumer carpet reclamation and many recycling initiatives.
Shaw Vice President of Corporate Sustainability™& Environmental Affairs Rick Ramirez says, "One of the key elements of the Shaw Green Edge™ Business Sustainability™strategy is Materials Resource Management, which embraces all our many efforts around waste minimization, reclamation and recycling, be it process materials or flooring products at the end of their service life. Shaw is committed to specific sustainability goals with clear metrics and timetables regarding critical performance areas such as employee safety and health, eco-products, energy, water, emissions and waste."
WasteWise, launched in 1994, has over 2,000 partners and educates government agencies, non profit organizations, trade associations and businesses about the benefits of reducing solid waste. By partnering with WasteWise, Shaw will receive benefits which include information on reduced purchasing and waste disposal costs, networking in member and regional forums and an annual Climate Profile describing green house gas reduction. Shaw will receive public recognition for its sustainability through WasteWise publications, case studies, meetings and EPA awards, through its membership in WasteWise.
"EPA's WasteWise program has a long-standing reputation in facilitating voluntary actions among its participants in reducing waste and improving the environment. Furthermore, we believe public-private partnerships, such as EPA's WasteWise program, demonstrates our commitment and accountability in achieving our goals as well as transparency and credibility to our stakeholders while providing our Shaw associates with well-deserved recognition for their daily efforts in meeting company goals," says Ramirez.
The commitment of the Shaw Green Edge® is centered on the company's philosophy of Sustainability™Through Innovation™. A key part of the company's commitment is cradle to cradle recycling. With the help of Shaw's Evergreen Nylon Recycling Facility in Augusta, Georgia, Shaw is capable of taking carpet and area rugs made from Type 6 nylon and reprocessing the post-consumer fiber into new nylon fiber over and over again. This fiber goes back into the manufacturing process, without the loss of beauty or durability. Shaw is the largest recycler of Type 6 nylon, the predominant carpet fiber found in American households and corporate facilities. Shaw has worked for decades to develop innovative ways to reduce waste, improve manufacturing processes and preserve natural resources. This achievement was recognized by the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) 2007 Large Recycler of the Year Award and the 2008 EPA/CARE Innovation in Recycling Award in recognition of the Evergreen Facility.
Through June 2009, the company has recycled nearly 250 million pounds of post-consumer carpet of which over 200 million pounds comprise Type 6 nylon. Additionally, carpets made with Shaw's premiere Anso® and Eco Solution Qsm nylons contain recycled content*. Beginning in 2002, Shaw worked with MBDC to benchmark and optimize the material inputs for EcoSolution Q® fiber and in 2007, the fiber became the first to receive the Cradle to Cradle Certification. Anso nylon also received this certification in 2008.
Shaw also recycles primary and secondary carpet polypropylene backing at its Plant SI in Chickamauga, Georgia and converts the material back into more backing. In addition to its environmentally sustainable products, Shaw has also made a strong effort to reduce its paper and cardboard consumption, setting an example for its employees and customers alike.
"WasteWise partners like Shaw not only commit to reduce waste, but also help address global climate change," says Stan Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator. "By decreasing the demand on raw materials through waste reduction and recycling, WasteWise partners have shown that they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower costs and minimize their environmental footprint."
In addition to its partnership with WasteWise, Shaw also participates in EPA's SmartWay™ program for transportation-environmental excellence, the U.S. Department of Energy's Save Energy Now Leader program and is a Founding Reporter to The Climate Registry. For more information visit www.shawfloors.com/recycle
* Recycled content varies. For more information, please visit www.shawfloors.com
