NewslineVolume IV, Issue 14 - May 30, 2003The Carpet and Rug Institute news for industry executives
In this issue: Critical Audiences Targeted for Marketing PlanCRI has identified five critical audiences as our targets for the marketing plan:
* Asthma and Allergy Doctors CRI has developed excellent informational pieces to educate these audiences on the features and benefits of soft floor coverings. If you have contacts in these target audiences, please contact Steve Phillips at 706.428.2115. Save The DateThe CRI Annual Meeting is tentatively planned for October 24, 2003. Plans are underway to have speakers on China, sustainability, and health issues. Governor Perdue has also been invited to be the keynote speaker during lunch at the meeting.
Truth About Mold CoalitionCRI is the first non-insurance industry group to be asked to join a group of insurance companies and other organizations banding together to debunk the myths surrounding mold. CRI will join and also have a seat on the Board of Directors of the Washington-based Truth About Mold Coalition. Contact Frank Hurd at 706.428.2136.
Florida Promotes Carpet RecyclingWith the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Carpet Stewardship, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined a national effort to further reduce waste by recycling and reusing post consumer carpet. DEP Deputy Secretary for Regulatory Programs, Allan Bedwell, stated that "waste carpet makes up one percent of the municipal waste stream - - about the same as plastic bottles, steel cans and tires. This partnership will provide us with ways to more effectively recover materials for recycling and better protect Florida's environment." The carpet industry forged a plan with the federal, state and local government agencies and non-governmental organizations to improve the management of waste carpet in the United States. The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) was established as a result of the MOU. Eleven states have now signed onto the MOU and the U.S. EPA has set a goal to recover, reuse and recycle 40% of post consumer carpet over the next ten years. Uses include plastic lumber, parking stops, pallets and new carpet. Contact Frank Hurd at 706.428.2136. Visit the CARE website for more information
Environmentally Preferable Products DatabaseJennifer Mendez of CRI traveled to California for two separate meetings regarding programs that have the potential to adversely affect the industry. The first meeting was with CTG Energetics, Inc. CTG will be the company managing the State of California Green Products Material Data, and Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) database. The project is not yet underway as the contract has not been signed. Signature is anticipated in the near future with hopes of getting underway in June. At the meeting, the following issues were addressed: CRI's sustainability efforts; CRI's Green Label Program; and most significant, CRI's opportunity and willingness to provide input. The database will focus on California schools and serve as a guideline for product selection. The project should last 18 months from start to finish with requests for industry input to be submitted prior to the release of any criteria. There will be no comment period following release of criteria. Overall, the meeting went well and follow-up includes plans to stay in contact with CTG in order to assure our involvement as the project moves forward. Contact Jennifer Mendez at 703.875.0634.
Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) CriteriaWhile in California, Jennifer Mendez also met with Charles Eley, Executive Director, and Arman Shehabi, Assistant Director for CHPS. Discussions followed issues that are addressed in the criteria: Myths - costly to maintain; IAQ; VOC emissions testing; and carpet content - CHPS Guideline calls for schools to purchase carpet with the same recycled content specification as contained in the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) plastics category. The meeting went well. Charles and Arman agreed, in fact encouraged, our input as they begin work to produce a maintenance and operations best practices manual. This manual will include a section regarding proper maintenance of carpets. CHPS is also planning an issue briefing in the fall regarding IAQ and
have invited CRI to participate. It was suggested that perhaps someone
with a strong technical background participate. Currently, there are
plans to update the existing document this fall. CRI will be able to
provide information and a revised version will be available in 2004.
The CHPS goal is to be a credible and fair source of information and
they are open to industry input. Contact Jennifer Mendez at 703.875.0634. Work Continues with Trends & TruthsCRI's work with Mannington and DuPont Antron continues as Jennifer Mendez traveled to Dallas, Texas last week to talk to designers, architects and facility managers about carpet and indoor air quality. Other presentations included segments on sustainability, environmentally preferable product certification, and vinyl chemistry; fact vs. fiction. These seminars are being held nationally to help educate those individuals that work in designing and maintaining healthcare and school facilities. Contact Jennifer Mendez at 703.875.0634. Sample Sales Tax UpdateThe carpet sample sales tax legislation, House Bill 189, which has passed through both the Senate and the House of Representatives, will be signed into law by Governor Perdue on May 30 in his Atlanta office. The Governor's signature represents the culmination of a lot of hard work on the part of CRI and GTMA and their member companies. Congratulations on an outstanding effort. CRI, GTMA and General Assembly members will be on hand for the signing. Contact John Miller at 706.428.2109.
MembershipCRI is pleased to announce that former member Gulistan Carpet Inc. has rejoined CRI. Welcome Back. For contact information on any CRI member, visit our website CRI West MeetingWerner Braun and Frank Hurd recently conducted an update on CRI activities for our West Coast members. Some of the topics discussed were the new marketing strategies to address barriers to profitability and growth along with the targets for improvement in perception in key audiences, sustainability, a budget overview, new members, and the 2003 CRI Annual Meeting. West Coast members were also shown the CRI videos directed to physicians and schools. Murry Hall, former CRI Manager of Government Issues-West, now happily retired and doing well, honored CRI by attending the meeting. CRI Meetings* Governmental Issues Committee Meeting, June 3, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m., CRI Boardroom CRI Participation in Upcoming Events* Republican Attorneys General Association Annual Summer Meeting, May
31-June 3, Las Vegas, Nevada If you are aware of other events that present significant opportunities to deliver our messages to our critical audiences, please contact Louise Dobbs at 706.428.2104. Check our website calendar for other industry related events |
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