Ray Anderson
Acting
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Ray Anderson is founder and chairman of Interface Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of modular carpet for commercial and residential applications and a leading producer of commercial broadloom and commercial fabrics. He is "known in environmental circles for his advanced and progressive stance on industrial ecology and sustainability."Since 1995, he has reduced Interface's waste by a third, and plans to make the company sustainable by 2020. He defines sustainability as "taking nothing from the earth that is not rapidly and naturally renewable, and doing no harm to the biosphere." For instance, under his leadership, Interface seeks to reduce and then eliminate "petroleum from its manufacturing processes." He is pioneering recycling efforts with nylon and polyester which "is recyclable, leading to more closed loop technologies for the future." However, Anderson wasn't always a friend of the environment. He had his epiphany in 1994 when he read The Ecology of Commerce, by Paul Hawken, who argues that [the] industrial system is destroying the planet and only industry leaders are powerful enough to stop it. Anderson is featured in the documentaries The Corporation and The 11th Hour as well as an interview in The Day After Peace, in an episode of David Suzuki's CBC Television series "The Nature of Things" ("Biomimicry." Parts 1 and 2) and in the episode of Ethical Markets TV Series "Redefining Success." He is also a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council. Ray Anderson is the author of Mid-Course Correction: Toward a Sustainable Enterprise: The Interface Model. Inspired by Daniel Quinn's novel Ishmael, Paul Hawken's The Ecology of Commerce, and many others, Ray Anderson has successfully composed a piece that covers his personal journey towards sustainability in his work. His 2009 book is "Confessions of a Radical Industrialist: Profits, People, Purpose: Doing Business by Respecting the Earth" ISBN 9780312543495. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ray Anderson (entrepreneur), licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
Since the late 18th century American legal decision that the business corporation organizational model is legally a person, it has become a dominant economic, political and social force around the globe. This film takes an in-depth psychological examination of the organization model through various case studies. What the study illustrates is that in the its behaviour, this type of "person" typically acts like a dangerously destructive psychopath without conscience. Furthermore, we see the profound threat this psychopath has for our world and our future, but also how the people with courage, intelligence and determination can do to stop it.
The Corporation
Trashed is a provocative investigation of one of the fastest growing industries in North America. The garbage business. The film examines a fundamental element of modern American culture...the disposal of what our society defines as "waste".
Trashed...
As awareness grows about the consequences of environmental disregard, the sustainability movement is gathering momentum, and the institutions with the furthest reach and the highest stakes - corporations - are being asked by customers to take the lead. Those ahead of the curve already realize that there is a way for industry to permanently coexist with its environment, that fitting in to natural systems is smarter than trying to control them, and that sustainability is the most expansive profit frontier yet to be explored. One business striving for these ideals deserves recognition above the rest for its inspiring leadership: Interface Inc. led by Ray Anderson. What is most remarkable about all companies making this positive shift is not the change of mind - but the change of heart they experience as they realize that environmental stewardship is an ethical imperative for the future.