Shaw Industries Earns Four GreenStep Awards for Sustainability Leadership

The Dalton-based manufacturer received the Practice/Process award for its systematic elimination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Having phased out PFAS-based soil resistance in U.S. operations by 2019 and globally by 2020, the company went further by developing proprietary testing methods to identify residual traces in raw materials. By sharing these methodologies publicly, Shaw secured the Pinnacle award, which recognizes leadership that extends beyond corporate boundaries to influence broader industry practices.

Beyond technical process improvements, Shaw was honored for its participation in the C2C Certified Changemakers campaign. Nearly 90 percent of the company's products now carry the Cradle to Cradle certification, a standard that began with a single carpet tile line in 1999. Furthermore, the company’s EcoWorx BIO carpet tile earned recognition in the Product category. This innovation replaces traditional polymers with bio-based alternatives, reducing embodied carbon by approximately 40 percent while maintaining full recyclability.