Shaw Industries Group, Inc. has released its inaugural sustainability report highlighting the company’s environmental and social responsibility initiatives. The report also details Shaw’s progress to key measurable, timeline-driven, public corporate goals, including safety, energy, and waste and water, as guided by its executive Growth & Sustainability Council.

“At Shaw, we believe in the importance of substantiating environmental claims as part of good governance, sound business conduct policy, and our long-standing values of honesty, integrity and hard work,” said Shaw CEO Vance Bell. “Our inaugural sustainability report recognizes the many achievements of Shaw associates past and present, and it provides a foundation for our continued progress.”

“Our first report provides our stakeholders and customers with substantive evidence of our commitment,” added Rick Ramirez, Shaw vp sustainability and environmental affairs. “The metrics reported in the sustainability report reflect the progress of our entire corporate footprint. These metrics also reflect the scope of our full vertical integration, as well as the expansion of our organization through acquisition.”

Other highlights of the 2008 repot include: availability of environmentally friendly products in all five flooring categories Shaw participates in; contributions of more than $2.3 million to the United Way by Shaw and Shaw associates; reclamation of more than 244 million pounds of post-consumer carpet since the launch of Shaw’s carpet collection network – 85% of which was recycled carpet to carpet; along with awards recognizing Shaw's green commitment, ClearTouch PET filament, and NSF 140 certification.

The company said its sustainability strategy also includes post-consumer carpet reclamation of more than 250 million pounds; construction of a new Re2E energy reclamation facility; Cradle to Cradle certification of Shaw’s Epic Hardwood; and nvestment in ClearPath Recycling LLC, the largest PET recycling facility in North America.

“We are proud of Shaw’s first sustainability report and the history, work and dedication it represents,” Bell commented. “We look forward to reporting on our continued progress next year.”