Trained in mechanical engineering, he worked for 30 years in the automotive and aerospace industries before retiring and devoting. Ray anderson is amazing and his sustainability story is a demonstration of true leadership on environmental issues. Confessions of a radical industrialist by ray anderson penguin. In this remarkable book, anderson leads the way forward and challenges. Aug 09, 2011 the extent to which interface s people have embraced the challenge is the ultimate tribute to the companys founder, ray anderson. The collection, which includes biographical materials, business records, correspondence, organizational records, photographs, presentations, speeches, writings, travel files, and books, is available at the. Summary when paul hawken, author of the ecology of commerce named and shamed ray anderson the founder and ceo of interface, a petroleumintensive carpet manufacturer as a plunderer of the earth in 1994, anderson took. Profits, people, purposedoing business by respecting the earth. How my company and i transformed our purpose, sparked innovation, and grew profits by respecting the earth, and more on. The originally published version of this story incorrectly identified ray anderson as ceo. Thats the story youll find in more detail in this book.
Twenty years ago last week, interface founder and ceo ray anderson spoke the word sustainability for the first time. Anderson july 28, 1934 august 8, 2011 was founder and chairman of interface inc. Shop amongst our popular books, including 9, spiritual caregiving as secular sacrament, confessions of a radical industrialist mp3 and more from ray anderson. To see how things were going with interfaces mission zero, i. Mainstreaming corporate sustainability is a book written for sustainability professionals who wish to scale that mountain. How interface proved that you can build a successful business. Midcourse correction revisited by ray anderson chelsea. In 1994, interface founder and chairman ray anderson set an audacious goal for his commercial carpet company. The result has been the impoverishment of both christian faith and christian practice. Ray andersons midcourse correction gives a compelling argument on the importance of sustainability in the workplace, and how we should utilize technology as a force for change. Rays passion for sustainability and his desire to preserve the earth for future generations has inspired.
Anderson has books on goodreads with 1182 ratings. Ray anderson, founder of interface and green business pioneer, died monday from cancer at the age of 77, leaving an important legacy. Ray anderson handed over the daytoda y running of interface inc to dan hendrix in 200 1, who has been with interface since 1983, working his way up from fi. Ray anderson of interface textile manufacturer ray anderson of interface is looking to build a truly sustainable company in one of the worlds dirtiest industries. You usually read about it in books written by scientists or sociologists, but. Ray anderson began hiking in new hampshire and has climbed all the 4,000footers in new england. Anderson foundation is proud to have provided funding for earthshare georgias new environmental video. Aug 10, 2011 ray anderson, founder of interface and green business pioneer, died monday from cancer at the age of 77, leaving an important legacy. Since january 2014, interfaces plants in holland and northern ireland have been using around 90% less carbon and 95% less water than in 1996, with no waste going to.
Seventeen years and a sea change later, ray estimated that interface was more than halfway. In recent years, anderson has embarked on a mission to make interface a sustainable corporation by leading a worldwide war on waste and pioneering the processes of. Discover book depositorys huge selection of ray anderson books online. To take nothing from the earth that cant be replaced by the earth. In this groundbreaking book ray anderson reflects theologically and practically on preaching, worship, ethics, social justice.
He was a serious carpet guy, focused on building his company and. Then he read paul hawkens book the ecology of commerce. He was known in environmental circles for his advanced and progressive stance on industrial ecology and sustainability. In this remarkable book, anderson leads the way forward and challenges all of us to share. Anderson as many of you probably know became an unlikely, and influential, figure for the renewable movement. In september of this year, ray anderson, the founder and chairman of interface carpets, published his second book as a response to the corporate leaders who continue to question the value and economic return for a commitment to environmentally and socially sustainable. Jan 31, 2001 anderson lays out his threefold goal as follows. Anderson was founder and chairman of interface, inc. He was a serious carpet guy, focused on building his company and making great products.
He proved to the world that swinging for the sustainability. Ray chronicled that experience in midcourse correction in 1998, and today his grandson and the executive director of the ray c. Ray anderson founded the company that makes covetable flor carpeting. Midcourse correction 1998 and confessions of a radical industrialist 2009. The interface model, and confessions of a radical industrialist. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Ray anderson, interface chairman and sustainability leader. Hes a soughtafter speaker and adviser on environmental issues and serves on many. Ray dives into the world of sustainability and begins to shape business practices with a sustainable lens. Anderson chronicled the mission zero journey in two books, midcourse correction. Ray christie anderson was born july 28, 1934, in rural west point, ga. I first met anderson in 1994, not long after anderson encountered paul hawken, whose.
With passion and pride, ray anderson, founder, chairman, and ceo of one of the. Ray anderson founded interface, the company that makes those adorable flor carpet tiles as well as lots of less whizzy but equally useful flooring and fabric. Ray anderson, 77, often called the greenest ceo in america for his crusade to turn his billiondollar carpet company into an environmentally sustainable enterprise, died aug. Ray anderson on climbing the mountain of corporate. Ray anderson, interface founder and sustainability. But behind the fresh design is a decadesdeep commitment to sustainable ways of doing business culminating in the mission zero plan. By combining environmentalism with dedication to his companys success, anderson has proven that being green can also bring in the green for big business. That benchmark was andersons doing, way back in the early 1990s, when he experienced the spear in the chest epiphany that would launch the thousand or more speeches he would subsequently make around the world. At his carpet company, ray anderson has increased sales and doubled profits while turning the traditional take make waste industrial. Ray anderson is chairman and founder of interface, inc. During the talk he read a poem written by one of his employees, glenn thomas, after glenn heard ray talk.
His latest book confessions of a radical industrialist expounds upon his first work, mid course correction and chronicles his companys success and his personal journey. Andersons papers were donated to the georgia historical society by the ray c. Anderson foundation brings the story current with a revisiting of that original book, complete with new chapters, a new foreword by paul hawken, an update on interface and its journey and a window into the future for. For many years professor of theology and ministry at fuller theological seminary, anderson was a theologian who never ceased to be a pastor. The business logic of sustainability free summary by ray anderson. But behind the fresh design is a decadesdeep commitment to. He and interface have been featured in three documentary films, including the.
In doing so ray proved that business can indeed do. Executive summary of confessions of a radical industrialist. The late ray anderson, ceo of interface, once coined the phrase striving for mount sustainability. Ray tells the full business case for sustainability, proving that for interface, sustainability was so right. The business logic of sustainability free summary by ray. In addition to being the chairman of the board for interface, inc. Ray anderson gave a profound and powerful talk about his decadesdeep commitment to sustainable ways of doing business through his carpet company interface culminating in the mission zero plan.
Ray anderson is more than just the founder and chairman of the worlds largest manufacturer of modular carpeting, hes also the grandfather of corporate sustainability. Anderson is the chairman and founder of atlantabased interface, inc. Ray anderson tells the story of how his company interface flooring began making efforts to go green. In 1994, after reading the ecology of commerce by paul hawken, ray anderson felt a spear in the chest. Ray said, the only way the earth can change is if business, the most pervasive and influential force on the planet, is willing to lead. With passion and pride, ray anderson, founder, chairman, and ceo of one of the worlds largest interior furnishings companies, recounts his awakening to the importance of environmental issues and outline the steps his petroleumdependent company, atlantabased interface, inc. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. Ray anderson 19342011, founder of carpet company interface, pioneered sustainable business practices. Confessions of a radical industrialist island press.
He built interface, a carpet manufacturer based in georgia, into a multibillion. Now, in the most inspiring business book of our time, anderson leads the way forward and challenges all of industry to share that goal. Ray anderson sustainability in action bioneers youtube. One of the grandfathers of the figure modelingmilitary miniatures hobby in its current form, mfca grand master ray anderson was making box dioramas even before sheperd paine, as that artist himself has noted. The making of mcdonalds by ray kroc, robert anderson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Family of interface founder ray anderson carrying on his. Hes thruhiked the appalachian trail, hiked all of the pacific crest trail, and hiked parts of the continental divide trail. Developing action plans for such a radical change meant that every step of the business had to be rethought, and interface is on the way to achieving ray andersons vision.
Ray anderson was named one of time magazines heroes of the. You can leave condolences in the guest book, buy sympathy flowers, and pay your respects. The two major vehicles for andersons continued influence over corporate america include the company he founded interface inc. In 1994, interface chairman and founder ray anderson realized he was in a wasteful, fossilfuel dependent business. Confessions of a radical industrialist by anderson, ray c. He discusses his upbringing and the initial formation of his carpet tile company, interface. To see how things were going with interface s mission zero, i. Ray had a spear in the chest epiphany when he first read paul hawkens the ecology of commerce, inspiring him to revolutionize his business in pursuit of environmental sustainability. Interface is known as one of the leaders in sustainability because of ray anderson s efforts. Mainstreaming corporate sustainability by suzanne farver. Aug 08, 2011 that benchmark was andersons doing, way back in the early 1990s, when he experienced the spear in the chest epiphany that would launch the thousand or more speeches he would subsequently make around the world, along with writing two inspiring books. Anderson has been called the greenest chief executive in america.
The late ray anderson, author and selfstyled radical industrialist. Aug 11, 2011 ray christie anderson was born july 28, 1934, in rural west point, ga. Oct 26, 2018 the two major vehicles for andersons continued influence over corporate america include the company he founded interface inc. Too often in the life of the church, theological reflection and the practical matters of leading and serving have been considered independently. Sep 03, 2014 twenty years ago last week, interface founder and ceo ray anderson spoke the word sustainability for the first time. The extent to which interfaces people have embraced the challenge is the ultimate tribute to the companys founder, ray anderson. Anderson, founder and former chairman of interface, inc. They premiered it on earth day, and john lanier was one of several georgia leaders interviewed for the film.
Anderson transitioned from daytoday management of interface to nonexecutive chairman in 2001, and spent the next 10 years focusing his time and energy on the business case for sustainability, delivering more than 1,000 speeches and authoring two books on the topic. Environmental pioneer ray anderson launches new book. May 18, 2009 at his carpet company, ray anderson has increased sales and doubled profits while turning the traditional take make waste industrial. This is definitely a mustread for anyone in the sustainability field, and a good read for anyone interested in improving their business operations.
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