Interface has released the first ISO-compliant social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) for natural rubber used in its nora rubber flooring, advancing efforts toward greater transparency in supply chain effects. The assessment, conducted in collaboration with a supplier based in Vietnam, examines social factors linked to natural rubber production, including labor standards, community impacts, and working conditions. Unlike conventional environmental life cycle assessments, which typically measure carbon emissions or resource consumption, this evaluation applies the ISO 14075:2024 framework to assess human-related dimensions throughout the material’s full life cycle.
Liz Minné, Interface’s global sustainability strategy lead, emphasized the importance of this work in supporting the company’s carbon-negative by 2040 commitment. The study highlights existing strengths in the supply chain while also uncovering gaps in data and areas where improvements are needed.
The natural rubber supply chain involves multiple stages, from cultivation and harvesting to collection and processing. Through on-site interviews with farmers, workers, and other stakeholders, the pilot project revealed how social and environmental factors are intertwined—a concern that has gained urgency as architects and designers increasingly demand greater supply chain accountability.
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By establishing a benchmark for social performance in natural rubber, the assessment could influence future supplier relationships. While environmental life cycle assessments have become industry standard, social evaluations remain uncommon in manufacturing. Interface is now sharing its findings to encourage other companies to adopt similar transparency measures.
This initiative aligns with Interface’s long-standing sustainability efforts. The company published its first sustainability report in 1997, became the first U.S. flooring manufacturer to issue a verified environmental product declaration (EPD) in 2009, and later expanded those declarations globally in 2012. Additionally, Interface has developed carbon-negative carpet tiles that capture more carbon than their production emits, without using offsets.
The assessment’s findings may prompt companies to reassess their supplier engagements in rubber-producing regions. A clearer understanding of local conditions could lead to fairer labor practices, stronger community support, and more resilient supply chains, all of which are increasingly vital as climate pressures grow. The pilot’s results will now guide supplier discussions and future product development.