July 15, 2015 /3BL Media/ - In 1994, sustainability pioneer and self-described “former corporate plunderer” Ray C. Anderson started his company, Interface, on a journey towards revolutionizing the entire carpet industry. Over twenty years later, the foundation that bears his name is now focused on something even bigger - a worldwide call to action to crowdsource nature-inspired innovations and bring them to markets where they are needed the most.
Students at the German University of Cairo in Egypt noticed a big problem. Canals created to irrigate farms in their hometown were often infected with bacteria, trash, and worms. Inspired by the way that camels digest food, the students designed a new way of moving and filtering the water so that the dirty, stagnant canals could be transformed into a clean source of water for crops.
We heard this refrain, in various forms, from the very beginning of our time stewarding Ray’s legacy here at the Foundation. Each time it was echoed, we first felt humbled. What an amazing honor it is to have someone want Ray’s memory preserved in this manner!
