Ethics, Governance and Sustainability - Study Guide

   Interface Global

Go to the Interface web site and review the organisations structure and sustainability strategies:   

When viewing the site, pay particular attention to how the firm is currently progressing on its "climb Mt Sustainability" journey and think through the challenges it may now be facing.   

Check out this video: (9 min 46 sec)  

When viewing the video, keep an eye out for these key points and what they might mean:

• Where did the initial motivation for change at Interface come from?
   
• How important do you think it was that Anderson had a change of mind set? What lessons are there in this for your own organisation?
   
• Do you think Anderson is right when he says that some products should not be made at all? What products can you think of that might fit into this category?
   
• Anderson thinks that "if we can't make carpets sustainably, we don't have a place in a sustainable world". Do you think this is right? What implications do you think this might have for your own industry?
   
• Anderson also states that no business is currently sustainable (in the 'sustainable world' context). Do you think this is right?
   
• A goal for business, according to Anderson, is to "do no harm". Another view is that this 'no harm' approach falls short and we should be looking to do things that are enriching to humanity and to the planet (this is one of the ideas in the 'sustaining corporation' phase Dunphy et al talk about). Do you think a 'no harm' vs 'positively enriching' mind set would really matter in the way we go about our lives and business activities? 

Rear this article:  

Also read the following articles: these come from various sources and from different time points that give some additional perspectives on the organisation and its approach to sustainability (all of these 4 readings are included in the eReader on the course Learnonline site). If you have any problems access the articles   :

• Source: FastCompany.Com
  

• Doppelt, B 2003, Leading Change Toward Sustainability, Greenleaf Publishing, Sheffield, UK, pp 54-56 & 239-241

• Hargroves, K & Smith, MH 2006, The Natural Advantage of Nations, Earthscan, London, pp 78-81

• Source: GreenBiz.com

Also try an internet search <Interface Global Sustainability> and browse through some of the search results.

You might also try these additional items:

• A more recent video:  
• A more recent article: Interface 20 years on