PFAS elimination efforts, C2C Certified Changemakers campaign and EcoWorx^® BIO earn Shaw four honors at 2026 GreenStep Awards

DALTON, Ga., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Shaw Industries Group, Inc. (Shaw) was recently recognized by Floor Covering Weekly during the publication's annual GreenStep Awards, which recognize outstanding achievements in sustainability across the flooring industry.

Shaw received top honors in the Practice/Process and Pinnacle categories and was an honoree in both the Promotion and Product categories, reflecting the company's commitment to continuously improving its products and processes ahead of regulation, responsible supply chain management, product innovation, and advancing public understanding of sustainable product certifications.

"These recognitions reflect how sustainability is integrated into the way we design products, manage our operations and supply chain, and collaborate with others to drive broader impact throughout the industry," said Candi Hampton, vice president of global sustainability at Shaw. "We're continually looking for ways to apply the latest science and technology to improve what we do, share what we learn and create solutions that are designed for people and the planet."

Shaw was recognized for the following:

Practice/Process Award (Winner)
The Practice/Process Award recognizes practices or process improvements that reduce environmental impacts or advance sustainability. Shaw received the award for its proactive, systematic approach to eliminating PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from its supply chain and manufacturing operations. 

Shaw phased out PFOS-based soil resistant products in 2001, PFOA-based soil resistant products in 2008, and all PFAS-based soil resistant products in its U.S. carpet manufacturing operations by January 2019 and globally by 2020. The company subsequently disassembled, professionally cleaned, or replaced manufacturing equipment where PFAS-based soil resistant products had previously been intentionally used to address residual traces.   

Shaw also contractually requires third-party suppliers to provide raw materials that do not contain PFAS and tests all new materials for even trace levels of PFAS before they are used in carpet manufacturing. If PFAS are detected, Shaw substitutes the material and often works with suppliers to reformulate ingredients.

As part of this work, Shaw discovered that existing PFAS testing methods, designed for drinking water, did not accurately detect PFAS in soaps, oils, resins, and other materials. To address this, Shaw developed a testing methodology and used it to identify PFAS in 60 ingredients from third-party suppliers, leading to material substitutions and reformulations.

Pinnacle Award (Winner) 

The Pinnacle Award honors a person or company that has gone above and beyond professional duty and industry norms, benefiting the flooring industry with personal and/or professional leadership in the area of environmental sustainability.

Shaw earned the award for its PFAS-testing preparation innovation, using what it learned to help suppliers better understand their materials, strengthen their own testing capabilities and efforts to remove PFAS from their supply chains. Because many of those suppliers serve multiple industries, the impact has the potential to reach well beyond flooring. The company has publicly shared the testing methodology it developed so others can also benefit from the work.

"We're proud to be a leader in material chemistry and to share our learnings with others so that those truly seeking to remove PFAS from their supply chain can benefit from what we've learned in the process," notes Kellie Ballew, vice president of environmental affairs at Shaw. "So often, our suppliers say, 'You're the first one to ask us this.' They've been incredibly grateful for the collaboration that has allowed them to know more about their products. Because when we know more, we can all do more."

Learn more about Shaw's rigorous approach to eliminate PFAS from its carpet manufacturing operations and supply chain. Visit www.shawinc.com/PFASapproach.

Promotion Award (Honoree)

The Promotion Award honors any educational, marketing, or promotional activity that promotes environmental sustainability and/or accurately conveys knowledge and information about green initiatives.

Shaw was honored in this category for its participation in the C2C Certified^® Changemakers campaign, a public education initiative led by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute that spotlights companies leading the way toward a healthy, circular economy. Almost 90 percent of the products Shaw makes are Cradle to Cradle Certified – more certifications than any company in the world of any type. What began with a single product in 1999, the company's EcoWorx^® carpet tile, now permeates the company's entire business.

Created to enhance understanding of C2C certification and help people fulfill their personal and professional sustainability objectives, the campaign showcases C2C Certified products across daily life, from shampoo and clothing to furniture and flooring, illustrating how certified products can make daily life more meaningful. It continues into 2027.

Product Award (Honoree)
The Product Award recognizes flooring or flooring-related product that is manufactured sustainably or promotes sustainable living.

Shaw was honored in the category for EcoWorx^® BIO, which builds on the company's original EcoWorx carpet tile, as the first PVC-free, fully recyclable carpet tile. By replacing a traditional polymer with a bio-based alternative, EcoWorx BIO reduces embodied carbon by approximately 40 percent compared with traditional EcoWorx while maintaining performance, design and recyclability. The product has an average Global Warming Potential of 2.35 kg CO2e/m², validated through an Environmental Product Declaration, and is backed by Shaw's Environmental Guarantee, which provides for reclamation and recycling at the end of its useful life at no cost to the customer.

To learn more about these products available from Shaw Contract, visit the brand's website.

ABOUT SHAW
Shaw Industries Group, Inc. is a leader in flooring and other surface solutions designed for residential housing, commercial spaces and outdoor environments. Leveraging strengths in design, innovation and operational excellence, the company takes a people-centered, customer-focused, and growth-minded approach to meet diverse market needs. It creates differentiated customer experiences through its expansive portfolio of brands: Anderson Tuftex®, COREtec®, Shaw Floors®, Patcraft®, Philadelphia Commercial®, Shaw Contract®, Shaw Sports Turf®, Shawgrass®, Southwest Greens®, Watershed Geo® and more.

Headquartered in Dalton, Ga., Shaw is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. with more than $5 billion in annual sales and approximately 18,000 associates worldwide.

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SOURCE Shaw Industries Group, Inc.