>> DAN HENDRIX: Hello team Interface
Today I want to talk about I Am Mission Zero.
It is a series of documentary films about you, our global employees, and your connection
to Mission Zero.
At Interface, we believe in the power of a great question.
After all, it was a question that set us on the path to Mission Zero.
A designer in Southern California asked an Interface sales rep: What is Interface
doing for the environment?
The question made it to Ray Anderson’s desk, Ray was inspired to look for answers, and
our company ended up on a path we never imagined.
We know that the Mission Zero path has changed our company.
Our factories are more efficient, our products are better, and our progress has won over
many customers.
Bottom line, sustainability has been good for business.
Mission Zero has changed all of us too.
We see the world differently now as a result of that question asked many years ago.
That new perspective led to a flood of innovative ideas and a series of breakthrough innovations
for the company.
But to get to 2020 and beyond, we need to fully harness this creativity and innovation,
especially from you in the factories.
You are where it happens, you are the source of our best ideas.
So, we wanted to know, what is working for you?
What is not?
What does Mission Zero mean to you, and how do we create an environment where every employee
is fully engaged in this initiative?
These types of questions were on my mind when I challenged Erin Meezan our VP of sustainability
to find answers.
I was expecting her to suggest a survey or a poll, but she came back with something very
different.
She proposed that we go to every factory, interview our employees and learn about ways
they're connecting with Mission Zero.
And figure out what we do well and what we can do better.
What she found was so much more.
It’s the story of the power of our shared vision.
Erin and her crew spent several weeks at each of our locations, starting in California and
ending up in Northern Ireland.
They did more than just ask questions at the factory, they explored how associates took
Mission Zero home, what they did in their daily lives, in communities and with their
neighbors.
Nearly 300 employees were interviewed from around the world.
The videos show that: You are not only the source of the best ideas,
you are our best ambassadors.
Finding ways to amplify your voice and to better involve you is critical to reaching
Mission Zero and growing our business.
But what’s even more important to me is that this project has reminded us about who
we are -- and I want to pause to celebrate that.
First, Mission Zero is in our DNA, it is who we are.
We often talk about Mission Zero using numbers – how much have we reduced our impacts.
But many of you talked about how Mission Zero has changed your life, reminding us that it's
not just about what we are doing, but why we are doing it.
Second, we learned that, for you, it’s not always about the goals, it’s about the journey.
Somewhere along the way Mission Zero stopped being a goal and just became who we are.
That's incredibly powerful.
The videos also reminded us of the diversity that exists within our global organization-
the ways our employees embrace sustainability are distinctly different and local.
Finally, I was impressed by how deeply Mission Zero has changed not just your jobs, but your
lives.
You donate your time to local organizations in need, you've been motivated to plant gardens,
clean up parks and streams, replant mangrove forests,
and establish paper recycling programs.
These are just a few examples of your impressive commitment.
The videos Erin and her team created make me incredibly proud to be a part of this company
and to continue to work to create the conditions for more miracles to happen.
Thank you for your passion and your commitment to Mission Zero.
I hope you’ll find the time to watch not just the documentary from your region, but
all of them.
I want to thank all the employees who took part, and thank you for listening to me today.