Lunch and Learn Speaker Series Fall 2020 Speaker:

Kellie Ballew
Director of Sustainability
Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

Abstract:
When someone says sustainability -- especially related to manufacturing, your mind might immediately go to conventional metrics like energy, water, and waste.  While those things are still incredibly important (table stakes in many realms), there is a growing focus on the impact of products on people. Not just for products you might expect like the lotions and creams you may put on your body or the clothes that you wear, but in products like furniture, flooring and paint.
 
We spend a whopping 90% of our time indoors - at home, at school, at work, in restaurants, stores, hospitals, sports venues, and more.
 
It's no wonder the spaces where we learn, create, and come together to solve our greatest challenges have a significant impact on our wellbeing. We’ve become an indoor species.
 
So, how do we ensure that we are creating a nurturing "new" habitat?
 
That question is why we’re keenly focused on the ingredients that go into our products and the impacts of sound, moisture and other design elements on people...how our products impact the human experience in addition to global challenges like climate change and ocean plastics. It's about people AND the planet.
 
In order for products to fit into a circular economy, they must be safe AND circular.  This session will cover market drivers, impacts on manufacturing and the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Products Program as a framework and methodology for validating a product’s multi-faceted and holistic approach to sustainability.

Bio:
Kellie Ballew is a Director of Sustainability for Shaw Industries Group, Inc., the world’s largest carpet manufacturer and global provider of sustainable floor coverings, headquartered in Dalton, Georgia. With more than 25 years of manufacturing and technical experience and a keen understanding of customer needs, Kellie brings a unique skill set to Shaw’s Corporate Sustainability Team. Kellie has primary responsibility for engaging and influencing internal and external stakeholders connected to product transparency and certification programs including the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Products Program among others. Kellie serves on various working groups and technical committees, providing her expertise from the product manufacturer’s perspective.  Kellie helps drive chemical transparency through Shaw’s raw material supply chain, managing the framework and data associated with ingredients in its flooring products. Kellie has been integral in the development of and technical support for Shaw's commercial carpet products including EcoWorx® Tile, a pioneering product receiving acclaim for its sustainable design attributes -- including material health and circularity. Her detailed product chemistry and process knowledge is a unique attribute to Shaw's sustainability and product stewardship team. Kellie earned her BS in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. She was recognized by The Manufacturing Institute as a 2015 STEP Ahead Honoree, which recognizes the contributions of women in manufacturing careers.