On Tuesday, May 9th, the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council recognized ten organizations and one individual for their leadership in the sustainable purchasing movement, a growing trend in which organizations are using their purchasing power to advance the long term health and vitality of society, economies, and the planet.

The leadership award winners were selected by a prestigious panel of judges. Each employ a wide range of sustainable purchasing strategies and documented the resulting environmental, social, and/or economic benefits in a case study. Shaw's recognitions include:

Market Transformation Leadership Award:

Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

Presented to Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

Shaw’s innovative work to create EcoWorx® - a commercial carpet tile product made largely from reclaimed materials with significantly reduced energy and water consumption, and recyclability. This required forging unique collaborations with supplier and customers, and clearly demonstrates its contribution to the circular economy, having achieved Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Silver.
 
Supplier Leadership Award:

Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

Shaw’s innovative work to create EcoWorx® - a commercial carpet tile product made from reclaimed materials with significantly reduced energy and water consumption, and recyclability. This required forging unique collaborations with supplier and customers, and clearly demonstrates its contribution to the circular economy, having earned Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Silver.

During the Awards Ceremony, the Council also honored many more organizations with Outstanding Case Study Awards. These awards recognize organizations for documenting their sustainable purchasing efforts in detailed case studies enable others to follow their lead. Winning case studies are published in SPLC’s Case Study Library.

SPLC’s Leadership Awards recognize organizations that have demonstrated or actively supported the kind of leadership envisioned in the SPLC’s Principles for Leadership in Sustainable Purchasing. The Principles state that an organization demonstrates leadership in sustainable purchasing through:

· Understanding. Understanding the environmental, social, and economic impacts of its purchasing.

· Commitment. Taking responsibility for the environmental, social, and economic impacts of its purchasing by committing to an action plan.

- Results. Delivering on its commitment to improve the environmental, social, and economic impacts of its purchasing.

· Innovation. Actively promoting internal and external innovation that advances a positive future.

· Transparency. Soliciting and disclosing information that supports a marketplace of innovation.

“The winners of these Awards have each demonstrated their commitment to leadership in sustainable purchasing,” says SPLC Executive Director Jason Pearson. “Collectively, they focus the powerful purchasing influence of organizations — in public and private sectors alike — to advance a socially just, ecologically robust, and economically prosperous future. The winners of SPLC’s Leadership Awards exemplify, encourage, and support a constructive cycle of innovation that will define the global marketplace of tomorrow.”