Title: Strategies Towards Sustainability
1Strategies Towards Sustainability
- The Case of Interface Inc.
2Planning in Complex Systems
System Level
Outcome Level
Strategic Level
Action Level
Toolbox Level
3Interface Inc.
- Worlds Largest Manufacturer of Flooring Tiles
- US1.28 billion in sales
- 26 facilities worldwide
- 7 Faces of Mount Sustainability
4Spear in the Chest
57 Faces of Mount Sustainability
- Eliminate Waste
- Benign Emissions
- Renewable Energy
- Closing the Loop
- Resource Efficient Transportation
- Sensitivity Hookup
- Redesign Commerce
6Systems Map
Earths Biosphere
Processes
Suppliers
Customers
VALUES
Capital
People
Earths Lithosphere
Community
71) Eliminating the Concept of Waste
- We define waste as any cost that does not
produce value to our customers - Not just materials and energy, but also
processes - Reduce waste and then eliminate.
- Redesign products to use less materials and to
reuse materials.
8Systems Map
1) Eliminating the Concept of Waste
Earths Biosphere
Waste to Landfill or incinerator
Natural Materials
Emissions
Waste
Processes
Suppliers
Customers
VALUES
Capital
People
Products
Raw Materials
Inorganic
Organic
Wages
Laws
Employees
Dividends
Investments
Taxes
Earths Lithosphere
Community
92) Benign Emissions
- Elimination of stacks and discharge points.
- 83 of 272 air emissions stacks
- 11 of 21 effluent discharge points
- Prevent toxic substances from entering our
factories in the first place - Eliminate dependence on materials from the
earths crust
10Systems Map
2) Benign Emissions
Earths Biosphere
Waste to Landfill or incinerator
Natural Materials
Emissions
Waste
Processes
Suppliers
Customers
VALUES
Capital
People
Products
Raw Materials
Inorganic
Organic
Wages
Laws
Employees
Dividends
Investments
Taxes
Earths Lithosphere
Community
113) Renewable Energy
- Long-term dependence on solely solar energy, i.e.
substitution of fossil fuels. - Gas turbines or fuel cells as flexible platforms
- First focus on energy efficiency, i.e. reducing
consumption of electricity.
12Systems Map
3) Renewable Energy
Earths Biosphere
Waste to Landfill or incinerator
Natural Materials
Emissions
Waste
Processes
Suppliers
Customers
VALUES
Capital
People
Products
Raw Materials
Inorganic
Organic
Wages
Laws
Employees
Dividends
Investments
Taxes
Earths Lithosphere
Community
134) Closing the Loop
- Close Loop Recycling - Cradle to Cradle
- Natural, Organic Cycle - natural raw materials
and compostable products - Technical Cycle - Giving man-made materials and
organic molecules life after life
14Systems Map
4) Closing the Loop
Earths Biosphere
Waste to Landfill or incinerator
Natural Materials
Emissions
Waste
Processes
Suppliers
Customers
VALUES
Capital
People
Products
Raw Materials
Inorganic
Organic
Wages
Laws
Employees
Dividends
Investments
Taxes
Earths Lithosphere
Community
155) Resource Efficient Transportation
- Avoid transportation, for example through video
conferencing - Reduce transportation, for example through
manufacturing closer to markets and better
logistics - Switch to more efficient modes of transportation
- Least within the control of the organization
16Systems Map
5) Resource Efficient Transportation
Natural Cycle
Earths Biosphere
Compostable products
Waste to Landfill or incinerator
Natural Materials
Emissions
Waste
Processes
Suppliers
Customers
VALUES
Capital
People
Products
Raw Materials
Inorganic
Organic
Wages
Laws
Employees
Dividends
Investments
Taxes
Sustainability Link
Earths Lithosphere
Community
Technical Cycle
176) Sensitivity Hookup
- Closer relations
- amongst ourselves to get all of us in alignment
- with suppliers and customers to get all of us in
alignment - Service to the community through involvement and
investment - Increases the awareness of thousands and
thousands of little things each of us can do to
inch towards sustainability.
18Systems Map
6) Sensitivity Hookup
Natural Cycle
Earths Biosphere
Compostable products
Waste to Landfill or incinerator
Natural Materials
Emissions
Waste
Processes
Suppliers
Customers
VALUES
Capital
People
Products
Raw Materials
Inorganic
Organic
Wages
Laws
Employees
Dividends
Investments
Taxes
Sustainability Link
Earths Lithosphere
Community
Technical Cycle
197) Redesign Commerce
- Shifting from selling products to Selling
Services - Prices reflect full costs
- Tax Shiftingfrom income and capital to
pollution, waste, emissions, etc.
20Systems Map
7) Redesign of Commerce
Natural Cycle
Earths Biosphere
Compostable products
Waste to Landfill or incinerator
Natural Materials
Emissions
Waste
Processes
Suppliers
Customers
VALUES
Capital
People
Products
Raw Materials
Service
Inorganic
Organic
Wages
Employees
Dividends
Investments
Investment
Sustainability Link
Earths Lithosphere
Sensitivity/Involvement
Community
Technical Cycle
21Systems Map
Sustainable Enterprise
Natural Cycle
Earths Biosphere
Compostable products
Processes
Suppliers
Customers
VALUES
Capital
People
Products
Raw Materials
Service
Wages
Laws
Employees
Dividends
Investments
Taxes
Investment
Sustainability Link
Earths Lithosphere
Sensitivity/Involvement
Community
Technical Cycle
22Thoughts?