Anderson finished most of his speeches with a poem written by an. His company, interface, manufactured flor carpet tiles and was in the unique position of making a real difference in how business and industry. Ray anderson gave a profound and powerful talk about his. Then he read paul hawkens book the ecology of commerce. Because of ray s book and especially those last poems written after he knew. The interface model, and confessions of a radical industrialist. Composed for tomorrows child, this poem helps to strengthen rays resolve for spreading the word on sustainability, not only for the good of the planet, but for future generations. After reading paul hawkens book, the ecology of commerce, anderson made a decision to change the way he operated his business. Anderson s most popular book is confessions of a radical industrialist.
Anderson was chairman and chief executive of the worlds largest carpettile manufacturer when he read a book that described people like him as thieves and plunderers of the planet. But none of them and no one questioned anderson s sincerity or commitment or passion, to his company as well as to the ideal of a sustainable world. So, given the skeptics reluctance, even disdain, and unwillingness to accept. Ray andersons green business legacy the new york times. Anderson died on august 8, 2011, twenty months after being diagnosed with cancer. Ray anderson is a selfprofessed plunderer turned recovering plunderer. Read first annual rayday bday honors environmental leader ray anderson by maria saporta for saportareport here. During the talk he read a poem written by one of his employees, glenn thomas. Ray described it as one of the most encouraging moments in my life, and used the poem in every talk he gave for the next 15 years, including the following year when he addressed 1,200 interface associates and suppliers and unveiled the companys new vision.
Twenty years ago last week, interface founder and ceo ray anderson spoke the word sustainability for the first time. Anderson was founder and chairman of interface inc. This is a recommended read for anyone interested in the realm of sustainability, specifically on how it applies to business. And the solution i offer is to the biggest culprit in this massive mistreatment of the earth by. How many guys are sitting at their kitchen tables right now onethirty in the morning this sametime eating a piece of pie thats what i. This series contains personal and family papers belonging to ray c. What is there left to say about ray anderson, the iconic and. With interface, ray anderson was the embodiment of a man who practiced what he preached. Video of ray anderson reciting tomorrows child in his office in atlanta. He believed that the harmful technologies of the first industrial revolution, extractive and polluting by nature, could be replaced by the technologies. Ray was given a poem written by glenn thomas, one of his. Not good pie, not like my mother or my wife couldve made, but an ordinary pie id just bought, being alone, at the tops market two hours ago. Rays greatest reinforcement and sense of accomplishment comes in the form of a poem written by glenn thomas. During the talk he read a poem written by one of his employees.
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 sustainable development. He read paul hawkens book, the ecology of commerce seeking a way to minimize. Anderson july 28, 1934 august 8, 2011 was founder and chairman of interface inc. At his carpet company, ray anderson has increased sales and doubled profits while turning the traditional take make waste industrial. There is no question in my mind, based on our experience at interface, that there is a clear, compelling, and irrefutable casebusiness casefor sustainability. The charismatic company founder made a name for the huge strides he took toward creating sustainable business practices in what had previously been an incredibly ungreen field.
He could be sentimental, ending his many public speeches with an apologetic poem to tomorrows child written by an employee after one of his pep talks, but he was only half a dreamer. Some of my favourite ray anderson quotes computing for. Green bizs joel makower writes a nice appreciation of interface s ray anderson, who died earlier this week. Considering that ray anderson joined forces with three other business partners, one could assume that there would definitely be cultural changes or differences, just to name a couple. The transformation process that interface went through 894 words 4 pages. The company he founded, the carpet manufacturer interface, set what may w. More about with reference to the article by ray anderson, the current information on the interface website, what you have learnt on the course and have gained from your extended reading please answer the following question. By combining environmentalism with dedication to his companys success, anderson has proven that being green can also bring in the green for big business. Anderson has been called the greenest chief executive in america. Tomorrows child video of ray anderson reciting it youtube. Ray s greatest reinforcement and sense of accomplishment comes in the form of a poem written by glenn thomas. Anderson has books on goodreads with 1167 ratings.
Believe me or not, i come offering a solution to a very important part of this larger problem, with the requisite focus on climate. Tomorrows child contains a message that resonates deeply within me as i hold my newborn. 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. With reference to the article by ray anderson, the current. Anderson finished most of his speeches with a poem written by an interface employee who was inspired after hearing anderson describe his environmental vision. In 1973, ray founded interface in lagrange, ga, bringing the concept of free lay carpet tile to america and beginning a revolution in commercial floorcovering. 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. Share ray anderson quotations about business, sustainability and earth. Since ray anderson s passing in 2011, interface is still on track to become a zerowaste company by 2020. During the talk he read a poem written by one of his employees, glenn thomas, after glenn heard ray talk. He was known in environmental circles for his advanced and progressive stance on industrial ecology and sustainability.
This group of advisors begins to help interface with its new mission. How interface proved that you can build a successful business. Ray anderson founded the company that makes covetable flor. Confessions of a radical industrialist island press. Composed for tomorrows child, this poem helps to strengthen rays resolve for. Executive summary of confessions of a radical industrialist. Ray anderson, the advocate of sustainability in business, died on monday at age 77. Andersons most popular book is confessions of a radical industrialist. Composed for tomorrows child, this poem helps to strengthen ray s resolve for spreading the word on sustainability, not only for the good of the planet, but for future generations. He proved to the world that swinging for the sustainability. Anderson chronicled the mission zero journey in two books, mid course correction. That anderson made it his signature speaks volumes about this.
After founding my company, interface, from scratch in 1973, 36 years ago, to produce carpet tiles in america for the business and institution markets, and shepherding it through startup and survival to prosperity and global dominance in its field, i read paul hawkens book, the ecology of commerce, the summer of 1994. Ray anderson, of interface, has spent the last 52 years making carpet out of. A friend once told me to read this book as if it were poetry, and she. Included in this series is coursework and memorabilia from georgia tech, name badges from various events, anderson s gallup strenghsfinder test, interviews with anderson, information on his home in north carolina, anderson s resumes, personal and family correspondence, and. The man going off of a very high cliff in his airplane, with the wings flapping, and the guys flapping the wings and the wind is in his face, and this poor fool thinks hes flying, but, in fact, hes in free fall, and he just doesnt know it yet because the ground is so far away, but, of course, the craft is doomed to crash. Ray anderson, founder of interface and green business pioneer, died monday from cancer at the age of 77, leaving an important legacy. Ray anderson has 16 books on goodreads with 23 ratings. Ray andersons 1994 epiphany began when he read the ecology of commerce. The childrens world is full of innocence and happiness and this is a poem showing the full thoughts of a childhood and welcoming the childs world and it is highly appreciated in all respects. Anderson chronicled the mission zero journey in two books, midcourse correction. 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. When reading greenbiz or any of the other numerous media channels that cater to the field of sustainable business, its easy to forget that such a notion scarcely existed 20 years ago. Share his powerful tedtalk in which he explores the personal, ethical and practical motives for building a responsible business. Ray anderson, chairman and founder of interface, has died aged 77.
Ray anderson s sustainability vision for interface was for it to rewrite the ipat equation. Tedx ted prize ted fellows teded open translation project ted books ted. How my company and i transformed our purpose, sparked innovation, and grew profits by respecting the earth, and more on. 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. I was enormously saddened yesterday to hear of the death of ray anderson, founder of interface, a selfdescribed radical industrialist and longtime champion of sustainability. Discover book depositorys huge selection of ray anderson books online. He appeared in the 11th hour, was a commentator on the sundance channels series big ideas for a small planet, and was one of time magazines heroes of the environment in 2007. Hed spent the last 17 years promoting the benefits of sustainable business practices, not only for protecting the. It was written in the early years of interface s sustainability journey by glenn thomas, just after he heard ray speak about his environmental epiphany. Anderson was a fixture as a speaker at product stewardship conferences and a leader in the zero waste movement. In 1994, interface founder and chairman ray anderson set an audacious goal for his commercial carpet company. One of sheehans fondest memories is of ray anderson reciting this poem, written by an employee at.
According to the interface website, ray anderson delivered over 1,500 talks sharing his passion for the interface story the business case for sustainability. Books by ray anderson author of midcourse correction. Judge 2011 organizational behaviour 15th edition new jersey. Poems deal with aspects of sports, science, history, religion, literature, science fiction, and daily life. For mr anderson always kept his eye on the bottom line.
Ray anderson of interface textile manufacturer ray anderson of interface is looking to build a truly sustainable company in. Ray would often end his speeches by reciting the poem, and you can hear him read it at this link. Thanks to bill sheehan for passing along the message last week that ray anderson, ceo of interface carpet, died on august 8. This poem was written by glenn thomas, a former interface employee. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. He was a serious carpet guy, focused on building his company and making great products. Then anderson read paul hawkens book, the ecology of commerce. Pioneers of sustainability lessons from the trailblazers profiles of the pioneers profiles of the pioneers ray anderson founder and former chief executive officer and chairman, interface, inc. Anderson, a leading green business advocate and founder of interface, one of the worlds largest carpet manufacturers, died this week. Now, in the most inspiring business book of our time, anderson leads the way forward and challenges all.