DALTON, GA.—Shaw Industries Group, Inc. (Shaw) recently earned top honors in the Floor Covering Weekly annual GreenStep awards, which recognize the flooring industry’s contributions to sustainability. Shaw received the magazine’s most prestigious recognition, the Pinnacle Award, in addition to winning the Practice/Process and International award categories and being named honoree in the People and Promotion/Communication categories.
“We’re proud to be recognized as an industry leader in sustainability,” said Kellie Ballew, Vice President of Global Sustainability at Shaw. “We’re steadfast in our commitment to minimizing our impact on the environment and maximizing human potential. It’s about people and the planet. The events of the past 18 months illustrate that our decades of work to put people at the heart of sustainability is more critical and relevant than ever.”
Shaw’s sustain[HUMAN]ability strategy was recognized for the following:
Pinnacle Award (Winner)—The Floor Covering Weekly GreenStep Pinnacle Award recognizes a person or company that has gone above and beyond professional duty and industry norms, benefitting the flooring industry with personal and/or professional leadership in the area of environmental sustainability.
Shaw was chosen for its ongoing partnership with the World Green Building Council (World GBC), in particular for being a vocal supporter of the World GBC Health and Wellbeing Framework launched in November 2020.
Practice/Process Award (Winner)—The Practice/Process Award focuses on any practice or process improvement that reduces negative environmental impact or promotes sustainability.
Shaw was honored for achieving its ambitious 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions goal nine years early. The company reduced its GHG emissions intensity—the amount of GHGs produced per pound of finished product—by a whopping 40 percent compared to its 2010 baseline.
International Award (Winner – Tie)—The International Award is given to a company with a manufacturing facility outside of the United States that is exemplary in bringing sustainable practices to its area of the world.
The Shaw Contract China team was selected for its keen focus on how it can have a positive impact on people and the planet through its products, spaces and alignment with the International Well Building Institute, which is driving a global movement to transform buildings and communities in ways that help people thrive.
People Award (Honoree)—The People Award recognizes an organization or individual who has put a focus on the sustainability of the communities in which they have a footprint and the health and wellness of those they employ.
Shaw’s focus on transparent and frequent communications was more critical than ever amid rapidly evolving information and processes that came with COVID-19. The company navigated this tumultuous global pandemic with a deep level of support for its associates—including a focus on physical and mental wellbeing.
Promotion/Communication Award (Honoree)—The Promotion/Communication Award honors any educational, marketing or promotional activity that promotes environmental sustainability and/or accurately conveys knowledge and information about green initiatives.
Shaw was recognized for its long-standing carpet reclamation and recycling program and efforts to enhance the program. In 2020, Shaw updated web content, simplified processes, and created additional education materials to reclaim commercial carpet tile at a rate on par with recent years despite significant COVID-19 disruptions within the commercial property sector.
