Two Georgia Companies Awarded Top Environmental Honors

Summary: Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia Recognizes Outstanding Environmental Achievement

ATLANTA (October 6, 2005) – Two Georgia companies took top honors for environmental achievement at this year’s Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia conference, sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Pollution Prevention Assistance Division.

The 2005 Partner of the Year award went to Interface Flooring Systems, Inc. of LaGrange. This award is given annually to a member of the Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia who demonstrates overall excellence in environmental performance, community outreach, employee involvement and sustainability activities. Among its many accomplishments, Interface has reduced its solid waste and energy use, and has made a strong commitment to use more recycled content in its products.

Interface also was recognized with P²AD’s Outreach and Employee Involvement Award, which honors a company’s work to enhance local communities, revitalize neighborhoods, conserve or beautify public spaces and improve employee well-being. Interface actively promotes public environmental education activities, including the company’s support of Keep Troup Beautiful as well as the West Point Lake Coalition. Both organizations have a strong educational focus on making our environment a cleaner place in which to work, live and play. Interface also has been involved in community revitalization through the DASH (Dependable Affordable Sustainable Housing) program to help its associates purchase homes in the Hillside community of LaGrange.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company – Marietta was named the 2005 Mentor of the Year, recognizing its efforts to help other companies in Georgia understand the benefits of continual environmental improvement. Lockheed Martin invested significant time and effort in educating other companies about the advantages of waste reduction, and promoted the benefits of participation in the Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia. Leading by example through its own environmental efforts, Lockheed Martin exemplifies what it means to act as a mentor.

The Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia is a voluntary environmental leadership initiative open to any organization or business in Georgia. It includes four Partnership levels to fit the goals and efforts of various organizations that want to strengthen their environmental stewardship and, at the same time, improve their bottom line.

“Our goal for this program is to support and reward the efforts of our members as they become true environmental leaders,” said Bob Donaghue, director of P²AD. “Environmental stewardship makes good business sense, and through our program, our Partners gain valuable opportunities to mentor others, improve the quality of life in their own communities, and ultimately work side by side with policy makers to enhance the environmental quality of all Georgia communities.”

The Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P²AD) is a non-regulatory division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Since 1993, P²AD has provided free, confidential environmental technical assistance in the areas of pollution prevention, resource conservation, waste reduction, by-product reuse and recycling. In 2004, the Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia was established to foster environmental leadership and recognize superior environmental performance. For more information about P²AD and the Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia, visit www.p2ad.org.