Sustainability Summary - Mohawk Group

Sustainability That Works
Mohawk Industries
2010 Sustainability
Report Summary
Our world-class, interactive sustainability report is available
exclusively online at www.mohawksustainability.com. It details
our commitment to finding sustainable and innovative solutions
in every business segment throughout the world with regards to
people, planet and profit.
MOHAWK WAS THE FIRST IN THE INDUSTRY TO:
Use the globally accepted guidelines for sustainability reporting as the basis
for our annual report (GRI G3.1)
Incorporate third-party assurance of the report which audits all data and claims
in the report, much like what is done for the financial annual report
COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
In 2010, we continued to see positive impacts toward our 2020 goals of 25% reduction of our
intensities related to energy, greenhouse gases, water and waste to landfill. Our biggest
improvements were achieved in water and waste to landfill with decreases of nearly 9% and
7% respectively.
OUR EFFORTS ARE BEING RECOGNIZED
Mohawk has been recognized as not only an industry leader but also as a sustainability leader
by a number of groups. Some highlights are:
2011 Southeastern Corporate Sustainability Rankings – Mohawk placed 5th
Floorcovering Weekly’s 2011 GreenStep Pinnacle Award Winner – awarded to the industry’s
environmental leader in the state of Georgia alongside other world-class companies such
as Coca-Cola, NCR and UPS and was the highest ranked company in our industry.
Newsweek’s Top 500 Green Companies – Mohawk was the only flooring manufacturer
ranked in this annual ranking of the greenest companies in the U.S.
www.mohawksustainability.com
THEMOHAWKGROUP.COM | 800.554.6637

Sustainability
That Works
Actions, not words. We are less concerned
with talking about our intentions and more
concerned with implementing long-term
sustainable programs.
Making a Real Difference. We are always
striving to improve our environment and
our communities.
Third-Party Verified. Our sustainabilty report
data is third-party verified.
Our three-pronged strategic approach to
sustainability focuses on:
PROCESSES + PRODUCTS + PEOPLE
THEMOHAWKGROUP.COM | 800.554.6637

| Our Products
Leading Innovation with
Renewable Fiber
Developing sustainable carpet from the field to the floor.
Mohawk is a leader in innovation as evidenced by their industry-first
carpet made with renewable resources. For years, Mohawk has led
sustainable technology through turning post-consumer waste—PET
soda bottles, rubber tires, glass and other materials—into flooring
products. Today, our innovation continues through our development
of SmartStrand Contract carpet fiber made with renewable resources.
SmartStrand is a sustainable innovation from The Mohawk Group that
combines a biobased, rapidly renewable carpet fiber with color flexibility,
high performing color retention and stain resistance that will not wear or
walk off providing sustainability, beauty, and performance without sacrifice.
This carpet is made with DuPont Sorona®, a brand of triexta fiber made with
renewably sourced polymer. This triexta fiber requires 30 percent less energy
and reduces CO2 emissions by 63 percent as compared to nylon 6 fiber.
THEMOHAWKGROUP.COM | 800.554.6637

| Our Process
25% Reduction
Our goal is to reduce total water use intensity by 25% by 2020
Mohawk has had a solid track record in water reduction over the past
couple of decades. On average, since 2005, we have reduced our water
consumption by over 11 percent each year. Yet we remain committed to
further reducing our water consumption and ensuring that we maintain
fresh water sources responsibly.
Carpet that beautifies commercial spaces starts out in beautiful
surroundings. Mountains, national forests and the headwaters of the
James River surround Mohawk’s commercial carpet plant in Glasgow,
Virginia. The James River eventually flows into the Chesapeake Bay.
Ever mindful of this delicate ecosystem, our plant managers in Glasgow
have worked to minimize the plant’s impact on the watershed area.
As a first step, engineers eliminated a step that involved two of the largest
contributors of nitrogen and phosphorus. The team also modified the entire
yarn dyeing process to replace certain chemicals that further reduced
levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. Their efforts have been rewarded with
dramatic results: nitrogen emissions have been reduced by more than 65
percent since 2006, while phosphorus levels are down by over 75 percent.
In fact, Mohawk is not only compliant with nitrogen and phosphorus levels
set by state environmental regulations, but consistently measures well
under the limit required by law.
CHEMICAL EMISSIONS
NET REDUCTIONS
65% 75%
Nitrogen
Phosphorous
The solution is an ongoing one. Mohawk now
mandates all suppliers complete questionnaires
identifying any unacceptable nitrogen or
phosphorus levels, ensuring that the improvements
made to date will be lasting ones.
THEMOHAWKGROUP.COM | 800.554.6637

| Our Process
We divert
over 3 billion
pounds of waste
every year
from landfills and recycle it into useful products.
At Mohawk, we tend to view waste as a temporary state. In other
words, something is waste only until we find another use for it. Our
capabilities for not only diverting waste, but also transforming waste into
something of value are well developed. On an annual basis, Mohawk uses
20 times more recycled material than we send to landfills.
For years, we have been leaders in turning post-consumer waste – PET soda
bottles, rubber tires, glass and other materials–into flooring products. Today,
these activities continue even as new ones are being developed. We have
also pioneered new uses for our post-industrial waste materials over the
years, such as recycling waste from tile firing into the formulation of new tile.
The ReCover Program
An estimated five billion pounds of carpet waste is sent
to landfills across North America annually. Our ReCover
program helps reduce this waste by allowing our customers
to dispose of their carpet without having it sent to the
landfill. The program is a unique reclamation solution that
takes the hassle out of carpet disposal.
THEMOHAWKGROUP.COM | 800.554.6637

| Our People
Social
Responsibility
Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
The communities in which Mohawk operates are vital extensions of
our Company. Strong communities help to sustain a strong workforce,
which directly impacts our financial and operating performance. We
also understand that our performance and actions can have significant
impacts both positive and negative – on communities.
Racing to spread awareness and help end breast cancer. We have
contributed $3.9 million to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® breast cancer
organization. Our goal is to help spread awareness about breast cancer
and the importance of early detection. As a corporate partner, we provide
ongoing support through donations when customers “Specify for a Cure”
as part of their purchase. All four of our brands – Karastan, Lees, Bigelow
and Durkan – support the program.
Specify for a Cure® began in 2001 with a commitment to our community
of architects and designers, many of whom have been touched by breastcancer,
either directly or indirectly. The program has had an overwhelming
response from our customers and employees, and support has continued
to grow.
THEMOHAWKGROUP.COM | 800.554.6637

Recognition
for our Work
2011
Newsweeks Top 500 Green Rankings - Mohawk is the only
flooring company to make the list every year since 2009.
2011
Greenstep Pinnacle Award - Environmental Leader of the Year, the
highest honor in Floor Covering Weekly’s GreenStep program.
Mohawk has received a total of 5 GreenStep awards since 2009.
2011
Mohawk’s Glasgow, Virginia manufacturing facility was awarded
the Virginia Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award (GEEA).
2011
Southeastern Corporate Sustainability Rankings – Ranked 5th in
Georgia companies, and the highest ranked flooring company.
2009
The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) named Mohawk as
the Largest Recycler of the Year.
2008
GreenWorks Recycling Center was recognized with the GPEC
Recycling Award from the Society of Plastic Engineers.
2008
Mohawk is the first recipient of Walmart’s Sustainable
Supplier Award.
03/07
Two time recipient of the GSA Evergreen Award For Environmental
Stewardship (2003 & 2007).
Mohawk has ranked as high as 9th in Training magazines’ Annual
Listing of Top 125 Training Organizations.
THEMOHAWKGROUP.COM | 800.554.6637