NewslineVolume V, Issue 15 - July 16, 2004The Carpet and Rug Institute news for industry executives
CRI Members, Letters will be going out shortly soliciting industry input for the CRI 2003 Annual Sustainability Report. Your quick response to the survey will be critical to telling our excellent and on-going industry story on reducing our environmental footprint. We are looking for both quantitative data as well as narrative stories on how our members are making a difference. Contact Bob Peoples at 706.428.2115. In This Issue: Green Label Plus to be Presented at State Legislatures Annual Meeting Nomination Hearing Held for Al Frink to Become Manufacturing Czar On July 13, the Senate Commerce Committee held the hearing for Al Frink to
be the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Science. The nomination
hearing was shared with Administrator David Stone, who has been appointed to
be Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security. All of the Senators present said
they supported Mr. Frink's nomination. Most questions directed to Mr. Frink
were opportunities for Senators to comment on a need for Free Trade policies
and our country's outsourcing problems. In his opening statement Mr. Frink did
mention and thank CRI. Expectations are that there will be a full committee
vote on July 20 and Senate Confirmation on July 23, 2004. Mr. Frink, Vice President
of Sales for Fabrica International in Santa Ana, California, has been invited
to speak at the CRI annual meeting, December 1, 2004. CRI Reaches Out to NYC SchoolsArticles regarding unclean carpets in New York City Schools have appeared in
various New York papers in the past several months. As a result, the United
Federation of Teachers (UFT) has come up with carpet maintenance guidelines
which are due to go into effect in mid August. Contact Jenn Mendez at 703.875.0624. Carpet Standards Merger TalksTalks are underway with the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability
(MTS) and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) to merge their standards into
a unified single national standard. A letter of intent has been signed by both
organizations and detailed discussions have begun. The effort has also been
tied into the state of California initiative to develop an Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing (EPP) specification for carpet. The goal is to identify gaps, find
ways to address those gaps, and hopefully avoid multiple standards. Recognition
that we can not wait to be 100% perfect will be critical to addressing the timing
for both the California effort and the merger work. Priority Projects Receive Funding for Market PromotionCRI's Market Issues Committee (MIC) recently met and approved the allocation
of resources for the promotion of the following priority projects: the new Green
Label Plus indoor air quality testing program; the proposed new testing program
for carpet cleaning solutions and deep cleaning/extraction equipment; the Green
Label vacuum cleaner testing program; and the International Flooring Sciences
Resource Center. The MIC is scheduled to meet again on August 2 and will be
discussing in more detail the marketing strategies for these projects. Alexandria International is Newest Manufacturing MemberCRI is pleased to recognize and welcome our newest manufacturing member, Alexandria
International. Alexandria International manufacturers oriental carpet. See a list of CRI's Member Companies Business-to-Business (B2B) Issue Management Team Makes Progress on UCCnet StandardThe
B2B Issue Management Team recently met and discussed a retailer-initiated effort
to have carpet mills label their products with bar codes containing company
and product data consistent with the UCCnet standard. A consortium of affected
parties (carpet manufacturers, retailers, UCCnet representatives) is close to
finalizing the standard, which is scheduled to be implemented by participating
companies by October. The CRI B2B Issue Management Team is scheduled to meet
again on Thursday, September 30 at 10:00 a.m. Interested companies are encouraged
to participate. CRI to Meet With Carpet Cleaner RepresentativesCRI will host a meeting on August 4, 2004 at the Atlanta Renaissance Concourse
Hotel to discuss the testing protocol for CRI's proposed cleaning testing program.
A contingent of cleaning product manufacturers will be present along with CRI
technical staff to discuss the new program prior to its launch in order to get
input from the carpet cleaner manufacturing segment. If you are interested in
attending this meeting, please contact Barbra Wilson no later than July 19,
2004. Carpet Numbers down in College Residence Hall ConstructionA recent article in American School & University Magazine concentrates
on Residence Hall Construction and lists carpet as one of the amenities in new
construction. According to the report, the percentage of new space carpeted
was at 59% for the year 2003, a drop from the 65% in 2002, and down from 73%
in 2000. International Flooring Sciences Resource Center Up and Running
Visit the International Flooring Sciences Resource Center CRI Meetings* CRI Policy Committee, July 20, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m., CRI Boardroom CRI Participation in Upcoming Events* National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Annual Meeting & Exhibition,
July 19-23, Salt Lake City, Utah 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 |
 |
|
|
