USG Corp. announced it has joined the Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments, a three-year-old group of international companies that has been working to educate the industry on the benefits of operating "green" facilities and offering environmentally sustainable products. The Alliance also includes flooring makers Milliken & Co. and Forbo Flooring, as well as notable companies JohnsonDiversey, Johnson Controls, Philips Lighting and Owens Corning.

The Alliance invited USG to join based on the company's commitment to green operations and product offerings, as well as its recognition of sustainability as a critical part of its business strategy. William C. Foote, chairman and CEO of USG Corp., said that joining the Alliance will aid his company in promoting its "green" message throughout the industry.

"By joining the Alliance, USG can work with like-minded companies to help other organizations understand and embrace the triple-bottom line benefits of 'going green'," Foote said. "We use recycled and renewable raw materials, which reduces consumption of energy and resources and maintains superior product performance characteristics."

Bill Gregory, director of environmental affairs for Milliken & Co., said that USG is a good fit for the Alliance.

"USG's commitment to environmental stewardship and their forward thinking exemplify what it is that this group of companies is trying to do," he said, "and that's to help the business community understand that sustainable development is not only the right thing to do, it's at the core of profitable business strategies."

Alliance programming and activities include education and promotion of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programs, ENERGY STAR, Climate Leaders and others.