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Continued investments in human resources increased the depth of the organization's core competencies during the year. A key appointment in
early 1996 was that of Dr. Michael Bertolucci as President of IRC, succeeding Acting President, Dr. Ray Berard. |
IRC supported lnterface's chemicals group in 1995 in developing and marketing specialty monomer products for the UV-Curable coatings industry. It also collaborated with Interface Flooring Systems and Bentley to create a more resilient polycarbite polymer carpet tile backing. Now in installation testing, this new development, which was extended into a foam backed modular carpet, shows strong promise. The advanced materials used to manufacture the new polycarbite products exhibit superior performance ratings at lower costs, and the extent of their suitability for use throughout the Corporation's product lines is under careful study. In support of the Corporation's embryonic Architectural Resources business, ongoing research for new material compositions to improve product performance included the formulation of fire resistant technology for experimental wall systems.
Intensive activity was also devoted to supporting the
Corporation's EcoSense
The Envirosense® Consortium, a nonprofit educationally-oriented alliance founded by IRC, continues to address indoor air quality concerns.
Membership consists of companies that advocate a total systems approach for indoor environmental issues.
By altering existing production procedures, IRC has helped the operating companies make great progress in reducing the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by company products to well below levels required by Carpet and Rug Institute standards. By year's end, this technology was being applied across the spectrum of materials used in Interface's carpet manufacturing processes. Working to advance the Corporation's goal of benign emissions, IRC also made significant strides toward eliminating harmful emissions from all Interface production facilities. Its goal is not only meet but to exceed existing quality standards for air, water and solid wastes, and to do no harm to the earth's ecosystem.
Increased participation with other environmental organizations, such as The Business Council on Indoor Air and the U.S. Green Building Council, demonstrated IRC's growing commitment to EcoSense. Similarly, involvement in collaborative groups, such as the Industrial Development Research Council and the Advanced Building Systems Integrated Consortium, dedicated to advancing the concept of the intelligent workplace, increased as well. Such activities reflect the company's sense of responsibility for remaining at the forefront of design and development efforts which advance the state-of-the-art in the Corporation's fields of interest. program by exploring recycling technologies in keeping with Interface, Inc.'s commitment to harvest and
closed-loop recycle used carpet into
new carpet. IRC also initiated a
program to develop a totally compostable carpet which can be recycled into the
food chain. This environmentally
sensitive endeavor requires the use of natural and degradable fibers, together with Interface's antimicrobial
additive,
Intersept®
to
assure durability.