DALTON, GA.—Shaw Industries Group, Inc. has released its third annual corporate sustainability report. Focused on Shaw’s commitment to sustainability through Innovation, the report highlights the Berkshire Hathaway company’s environmental and social responsibility leadership. Beginning with the question, “What if Sustainable Business Meant Smarter Business?”, the report covers Shaw’s significant investment in sustainability initiatives during the 2010 calendar year, substantiating the organization’s progress with metrics and data for more than 40 performance indicators.
“Stakeholders are looking to private enterprise to take the lead in addressing the most critical questions facing today’s businesses—including questions about environmental and social risks,” said Shaw CEO Vance Bell. “While no company has all the answers, those that openly ask questions and seek solutions have the potential to affect the greatest change—environmentally, socially and economically.
“Even though 2010 represented a continuation of the most difficult economic conditions our industry—and our world—has ever faced, we have consistently looked for innovations that are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable,” Bell added.
Level of Disclosure Increased
“Our 2010 sustainability report reflects this philosophy and serves as a demonstration of our commitment to being transparent with our stakeholders,” said Paul Murray, Shaw’s vice president of sustainability. “The report represents an increased level of disclosure from 2009 in areas that we recognize as critical to our various stakeholder groups, including product stewardship, product reclamation and recycling, and social responsibility.”
Shaw 2010 sustainability report highlights include:
• The recycling of 121 million pounds of post consumer carpet.
• Cradle to Cradle products represent more than 50 percent of Shaw sales.
• The launch of Re2E, a new energy facility designed to increase post-consumer carpet reclamation and access to a sustainable alternative fuel source.
• The launch of ClearPath Recycling, a plastic bottle recycling facility slated to become one of the largest facilities of its type in North America.
• More than 1 million training hours for Shaw associates.
• More than $3,300,000 in associate and corporate charitable contributions.
• Significant investment in energy improvements, GHG reduction, and product stewardship and reclamation.
• New disclosures and metrics for key environmental and social performance indicators.
“As with our previous reports, this newest report renews our accountability in all areas of sustainability,” Murray added. “The report process allows us to review and assess our progress at this stage of the journey, then set a roadmap for the work that remains ahead of us.”
Shaw’s 2010 report uses the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 guidelines for sustainability reporting at the B level. The company formally adopted the GRI framework for its 2009 report in order to offer stakeholders further assurance that the disclosures and metrics met globally recognized standards for corporate sustainability reporting.
Shaw’s 2010 sustainability report is available online at www.shawgreenedge.com.
