Interface, a Georgia-based manufacturer of modular carpet tiles and flooring, was one of several winners of the 2016 Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) in Sustainable Oceans Management for its work to decrease marine pollution in coastal areas of the Philippines while improving local communities, the US Embassy in Manila announced over the weekend. Interface launched Net-Works, a project to remove discarded nets from oceans to prevent marine life from getting caught in them. Net-Works encourages the recycling of these nets by providing payment to participants in the local community. The recycled nets provided by the program are sent to an Interface supplier, which uses the nylon found in the nets to produce 100-percent recycled carpet yarn. As of 2015, the program has operated in 26 communities and directly benefited more than 4,000 people.

US body awards PH recycling project. (2016, December 15). The Manila Times, p. B5.