NewslineVolume V, Issue 24 - November 19, 2004The Carpet and Rug Institute news for industry executives
In This Issue: CRI Annual Meeting, December 1 If you have not already registered to attend CRI's Annual Meeting, you can
do so by visiting the CRI website, www.carpet-rug.org. There is no charge to
attend the meeting and lunch, however, registration is necessary. If you have questions or need any additional information, contact Sally Fortenberry at 706.428.2108. CRI Joins Trade Mission CRI participated in the most recent Consumer Goods Trade Policy Mission to
Beijing, China on November 8, 9 and 10. The Mission was organized by the U.S.
Department of Commerce in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in the Chinese
capitol. The Mission was hosted by newly appointed U.S. Assistant Secretary
for Manufacturing, Al Frink. It was attended by a variety of representatives
from consumer goods companies and trade associations. Secretary Frink did an
outstanding job in conducting the meetings and was well received by both U.S.
Embassy officials and his Chinese counterparts. Contact John Miller at 706.428.2109. New Seal of Approval Program Launched at ISSA ConventionCRI unveiled its new Seal of Approval for Cleaning Products at the International
Sanitary Supply Association INTERCLEAN Convention in New Orleans this week.
The program was launched with CRI President Werner Braun presenting to the group
along with a panel consisting of Gary Asbury, President of Professional Lab
Testing; Lloyd Starks, Special Projects Consultant with Keymaster Technologies;
and David Bridges, Director of NASA Southeast Regional Technology Transfer Center. Contact Joan Seelaus at 706-428-2123. More about new Seal of Approval Program USGBC Meeting in PortlandCRI was present for the annual GreenBuild event held in Portland, Oregon the week of November 8. CRI was a LEEDer level sponsor for the conference and also a sponsor of the 2nd annual White Paper on Sustainability produced by Building Design and Construction magazine (BD&C). Survey results along with recommendations were presented by BD&C editor Rob Cassidy. Both BD&C and Environmental Design+Construction magazine also featured articles on our industry's sustainability efforts. The carpet industry annual 2003 Sustainability Report was also released at this meeting. A full copy of the report may be obtained at www.carpet-rug.org. Contact Bob Peoples at 706-428-2115. MTS Unified Sustainable Textile Standard Approved for BallotThe Unified Sustainable Textile Standard was approved by the MTS development
committee and sent out for national balloting. If approved, this document will
become the sustainability standard for carpet going forward. Voting is open
until mid- December. The carpet industry played a critical role in the negotiation
of the new standard and a recommendation will be made to the CRI Board of Directors
on December 1 to support adoption of this standard for our industry. This effort
again demonstrates the leadership role our industry is taking on environmental
stewardship. Program Puts Old Carpet to Good UseA remodeling project in a downtown Minneapolis office building has sparked
a pilot program to recycle old carpet at all of Wells Fargo's buildings in that
city whenever new carpet needs to be installed. The recycling program began
with the remodeling of office space in the Investors Building in downtown Minneapolis.
When Wells Fargo Corporate Properties Group (CPG) project manager, Nancy Carrier,
decided to replace the vinyl-backed carpet with new carpet from C&A Floor
Coverings, she decided to send 2,000 square yards of old carpet back to C&A
for recycling rather than to an area landfill. The installing dealer, St. Paul
Linoleum and Carpet, removed the old carpet, packed it and sent it back to C&A's
Dalton, Georgia recycling facility at C&A's expense. Future used carpet
will be stockpiled in Minneapolis and shipped back to Dalton by the truckload.
Because C&A - division of Tandus - uses the old carpet as raw materials
for its recycled-content backings, the company paid Wells Fargo for the used
carpet as well as for the freight. The Bramton Company is Newest CRI MemberCRI is pleased to recognize and welcome our newest associate member, The Bramton
Company. The Bramton Company is a leading manufacturer of a variety of pet products
for the pet specialty industry. Products include carpet stain and odor removers.
See a list of CRI's Member Companies Consumer Survey To Be Presented at MIC MeetingThe results are in and are currently being tabulated from the initial CRI Consumer
Segment in which 1,319 consumers were surveyed across the country on their attitudes
toward carpet. The survey was done by EnviroMedia of Austin, Texas, and will
be presented to the Market Issues Committee on November 30 from noon until 1:30
p.m. Robin Rather and Pam Udall will be making the presentation at this special
meeting. CRI Has Presence at Connections ShowCRI was in attendance at the Connections Convention and Trade Show recently
in Las Vegas and traffic was brisk at the CRI Booth as plans of the upcoming
Seal of Approval Chemical Testing Programs made the rounds. The show is the
largest one for professional carpet cleaners. Texas Proposes Asthma Research CenterSenate Bill 95, pre-filed on November 16 for the upcoming Texas Legislative
Session, would establish the Texas Tech Asthma Research Center to operate in
collaboration with the University of Texas at El Paso and the Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality. The center will conduct research related to asthma
and conditions associated with asthma. The center will collaborate with the
Department of State Health Services to develop a standard definition of asthma
and to identify entities to collect and report asthma and related health data
to the center. The center's research will initially focus on the region of the
State bordering with Mexico. CRI will monitor the progress of this bill as the
Texas Legislators gather in January and will consider ways to become involved
in the process should it appear beneficial. Northeast Flooring Contractors Association Fall ConferenceCRI President Werner Braun was the featured speaker at the Annual Fall Conference
for the Northeast Flooring Contractors Association (NFCA) recently in West Palm
Beach, Florida. Mr. Braun was invited to speak about what CRI has to offer to
such a group, and spent two hours presenting and answering questions from the
group. Braun Named to Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of DirectorsCRI President Werner Braun has been invited to serve on the Georgia Chamber
of Commerce Board of Directors. As the unified voice of the Georgia business
community, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce represents one million employees
from more than 3,700 member companies and organizations. Mr. Braun will serve
on the BOD for the calendar year 2005 and act in an advisory and legislative
capacity for the organization.
CRI Meetings* Market Issues Committee (special session to review results from consumer
survey research), November 30, noon - 1:30 p.m., CRI Boardroom CRI Participation in Upcoming Events* International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) Tradeshow, November 16-19,
New Orleans, Louisiana 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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