A core part of today’s sustainability story is around the health and wellbeing of company associates and the community. Community has a broad definition. It can be everything from the communities that you do business within, communities formed for a purpose and the community of those within your industry.
I challenge anyone to name an industry that has more community than the floor covering industry. I had the honor last week to attend, as a board member, the spring meeting of Women in the Floorcovering Industry (WIFI). Here, we are building a community of those working to empower, educate and inspire women in the flooring industry.
Then, as a Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF) board member, it was a pleasure to attend Cocktails for a Cause held by the hospitable Will and Mary Helen Young in their home. Health and wellbeing is what FCIF is all about — funds are raised to assist industry members facing grave illness. And at the event, industry leaders were checkbook ready!
Both 501c3 organizations exist on the passion and commitment of so many in the industry — its time given freely in addition to the leadership position they hold at their company. These are organizations that have a sharp eye on health and wellness.
FCW’s GreenStep was born 15 years ago to honor those in the industry with initiatives and significant investments often unseen by associates and customers. This issue holds all of the entries for this awards program in six categories: Pinnacle (setting the standard and leading the way), Product, Practice/Process (how things are made), Promotion/Communication (spreading the word), International (significant happenings outside of the U.S.) and People.
There are many things I love about GreenStep. First, I’m always eager to read the entries and see the good works this industry is doing. And when the Awards program day comes, the room is filled with like-minded industry leaders that put competition aside and freely share their ideas and achievements.
Gracing the cover of this issue is a peek at FCW’s parent company Hearst’s commitment to sustainability. Hearst’s approach is holistic including forestry to how we procure paper, for example, as well as extending beyond the environment.
FCW is based in the Hearst Tower, which itself is a study in sustainability. From our most recent sustainability report: “From design through construction, Hearst was committed to producing the most environmentally friendly office building in New York City history. Hearst Tower was the first occupied green commercial building in the city to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. In 2012, it became the first building to upgrade to a Platinum Rating for Existing Buildings. With its efficient use of resources and efficient spaces, as well as abundant natural daylight and fresh air, modern technologies and an open layout that emphasizes increased communication and collaboration among Hearst employees, Hearst Tower redefines the modern workplace.”
Upon entering the building, you are met with a three-story waterfall that runs from the entrance to the atrium and lobby, recycling rainwater collected from the roof and saving 1.7 million gallons of water annually. According to the report, “Icefall cools and humidifies the lobby and atrium space, saving additional power.”
But initiatives extend well beyond 57th Street and 8th Avenue to Hearst’s Jack Ranch which completed its California Flats Solar Project with Capital Dynamics, installing 1 million individual solar modules to produce clean, renewable electricity in 2019 to the paper the company procures — Hearst requires that all paper mills the company purchases from operate under a third-party certified chain of custody program.
This industry is more than product. Its people, its community and its support. I, for one, am proud to be a part of it, in it, and able to share all of the stories set to move us all forward in prosperity.
Stay safe. Stay inspired.