Who is John Bradford and why should you care?
I really want you to care about Earth Saver John Bradford because he's a technical and thought leader in the environmental movement. When I visited their team in Georgia, I had a first hand opportunity to see what all the fuss was about. The fuss is that there is no fuss.
I met with John Bradford, Ray Anderson, Ray's Daughter is Mary Ann Lanier who manages Interface Flor Education Fund, and Joyce LaValle who the VP of Marketing for Interface Americas. I felt kind of like I was meeting with my family. There were no pretenses, airs, or agenda. They genuinely wanted to hear about what we are up to with the Earth Savers Gang, and how they could help. I decided I wanted to interview John for our series after learning how much he has contributed to his company, and toward the environmental movement. John drove me to back to the airport in his farm pick up, and as we rambled along the highways he told me about his family, his passion, and his motivation. John is a pioneer in the new industrial revolution, and he's doing it one carpet tile at a time.
Here is his official Bio:
John Bradford is VP Operations & Research and Development, Interface FLOR Commercial
Holding 16 years’ experience in research and development, and several patents, Bradford has helped drive InterfaceFLOR Commercial’s status as a leader in innovation and sustainability. An engineer by trade and expert in both product and process development, Bradford has helped the carpet manufacturer reduce its environmental footprint by more than one third over his 10-year tenure; the company’s stated goal is zero footprint by 2020. He is the company’s connecting point between technical research and conception, product development, manufacturing, marketing and product introduction to the marketplace. This effort has resulted in new product categories for the industry as well as significant technological breakthroughs that are helping Interface distance itself from the petroleum well head. Recent innovations developed under John’s leadership include TacTiles, a no-glue installation method; Cool Blue, a backing line utilizing recycled carpet components; the industry’s first technology to reclaim and recycle nylon 6,6 for the commercial market; and energy conversions throughout manufacturing facilities that include renewable energy and a partnership with the City of LaGrange to harness methane gas from the local landfill for power generation. A resident of LaGrange, GA., Bradford and his wife, Nancy, have three children Julia, Bo and Jack. 
MR: What does global warming mean to you?
JB: Global warming means that human behavior is impacting the operating temp of the earth. The temperature is going up small percentages at a time- effecting the way we do life. Seemingly insignificant, but think of it this way: if your body temp goes up by a few degrees you will certainly realize that you are not feeling “well.” Your own body is a small microcosm of how the earth works....even one or two degrees is incredibly significant for any species.... If we are walking around with an elevated temperature we are not operating under our optimum capabilities. Our bodies energy is working to fight infection. This is basically what is happening to the planet. We have undermined the perfect natural health of the planet...and she is sick. She is not operating at optimum capabilities.
MR: Help me understand the difference between natural vs. unnatural cycles of global warming.
JB: The distinction is this: warming from natural cycles vs unnatural cycles...I make this distinction because it’s hard for people to understand what the real difference is.
Yes...it’s true that the planet’s temperature has always increased or decreased due to the natural cycles of natural carbon creation. However, when this natural cycle is taking place...the earth can regulate itself and establish the balance it needs to still operate at it’s optimum level.
What humans do however, especially with our extraction of oil from the earth ...is we take, and we do not put back. In other words we disrupt the cycle...the natural re-cycle that must happen for the earth to be able to regulate itself.
When we manufacture petroleum based products we add excessive carbon to the atmosphere, and then we don’t do anything creative with it. The carbon just “hang’s out” in our atmosphere increasing temperatures. Humans have a “take make waste” system, and our challenge is to teach that should only take what we can replenish.
Another way to look at this difference is this; Nature has a closed loop system. It closes it’s own loop naturally. Take the existence of a tree. The tree grows, matures, decays, dies, and gets reabsorbed. The carbon output it makes in it’s cycle gets regulated in the cycle.
What we take, we do not put back. This means that we are depleting, and plundering, and basically undermining the earths basic need to have this system mimicked.
Mother nature is the great regulator. Many of us have witnessed her in action. She is a powerful force..and we are merely fleas on her back. We are starting to give her a strong reason to scratch. Nature is now trying to regulate herself and in doing so we can witness her erratic behavior and increased propensity for very temperamental weather patterns etc.
Our excessive abuse of this has meant a massive increase in warming due to human activity. When we burn oil, all we do is accumulate C02. There are not nearly enough trees or plants to counteract the sheer volume of emissions, and so the earths temperature is steadily rising, and as it rises it disrupts every ecosystem in it’s wake. Animals, atmosphere, water, land, and humans too. We are destroying our own habitat by doing this.
MR: So John...in your opinion how do we break this vicious cycle...or lack of cycle?
JB: When thinking of sustainability, and breaking this habit we have to consider closing the loop. Our mentality is to throw away...and every time we purchase a bright shiny new replacement....we have to think, where is the old one going and what went into making the new one? Usually oil. and many times the things we manufacture out of oil are non-renewable. They don’t bio degrade and they will not be reabsorbed into the earth. This is not good. We need to think about manufacturing in a sustainable way. We need to think about how to close the loop, and make products that when their usefulness is over, that we can rest easy that they will be absorbed back into the earth, and regenerate a new use and then the cycle continues.
At this point, we have what I call “an action with no reaction” we have nothing in place to to counteract the effects of our output of carbon. We are not using the CO2 we create in a useful way, we are simply increasing the concentration of it and therefore making the temperature rise.
MR: So if I am a parent John- I’m busy, overwhelmed, I am seeing information coming at me about going green and it’s importance but I really don’t quite understand why...what would you tell me to do?
JB: Don’t be overwhelmed. Just do something. Many of us read or have a conversation, and then do nothing with the information. It would take a few simple steps to put one eco tip into action
Today would not be the day to read an eco tip and do nothing. I believe that time is running out. I believe that we will be affected 20-25 years from now.... if we do not stop making bad choices today our future generations don’t stand a chance. Read a tip and DO the tip. Put it into action. You have to start somewhere. Just do something.
MR: Speaking of generations...where do you see we might have a gap?
JB: We’ve definitely got a generational gap going on right now, and we can use it to our advantage. My generation learned their values due to our exchange of information. It was so much slower. Think how tweens communicate today...everything is in real time. Text messaging, the information age, web 2.0. The information is at peoples fingertips now, but it’s the tween’s of today that will really be able to absorb information at a very quick pace and turn that data into action. I think our generation - older generations have got to support tweens in being in action however, and not being passive observers.
The challenge is getting them related to nature. Making them apply what they are learning, because otherwise it gets lost inside all the other data that is getting thrown at them. Today information has to be more meaningful and experiential- as educators our challenge is the sheer volume of info that comes through their world, and supporting them in finding a way to make what they are learning stick.
I think that with the Earth Savers Gang - it’s relational - informative, learning by doing, action oriented, what you are building with your online and offline missions will make a huge difference. Teaching kids how they can have both the natural and virtual worlds and use one to impact the other in a more meaningful and socially responsible way. 
For instance, when I was young, if I wanted to learn about something I would take something apart and put it back together. Now, if they want o learn how a radio works they can read about it, and then take it apart and learn about it. It became intrenched because I was doing it.
My generation did things on a schedule. When you had it on your schedule- you gave the task your full attention and got it done. Even though I have a cell phone now, the way that I operate and get things done is still the same. I can easily turn my cell phone off and answer the messages later in the day and return the call.
Our tween generation it’s all real time. They are bombarded with instant messaging, and information from every angle. They are less likely to apply themselves to a schedule like the one I am suggesting because their world never operated that way to begin with.
If I look at my parents generation the way they made decisions was face to face. They needed facial expressions and body language. They don’t understand the information age. It’s scary to them and completely foreign. The gap of understanding from one generation to another is very large.
Family influence and a huge thing for kids and it’s very very critical, but the influence of our kids piers and what they are exposed to and influenced by is a huge part of who they are going to become.
MR: So what do we do? As parents?
JB: Introduce them to nature any and every way that you can. Lets face it, every family and how we raise our children all very different. One might respond differently to one thing vs another and another but a key element of my own children’s growth and understanding how nature works is by being in it. We made an effort to get into it. Walk the farm, go to the orchard, climb, whatever. We use the opportunity to talk, observe, and question. Everything comes back to the conversation of the natural cycle and order of life.
My kids are all teens now- they are aware of the global conflicts that are taking place.They are wise to the flexing of military muscle, the violence in schools, the consumerism that is misleading our culture. This generation also vividly remembers 9/11 it’s indelible imprint on their life. They want answers...where does this hatred some from? They know it’s based on deals we have made over time...deals that largely have to do with the hoarding, greed, and economical impact over oil. This plays back to the natural resources have been given to us...how we have used, misused, fought and warred over them. They want to know, at what point did we start to honor money, fame, and celebrity over honoring the very habitat that gives us the gift of life?
Unfortunately now, we are so separate from understanding how the world really works - the grave consequences of separating ourselves so entirely from nature one of ignorance.
There is a lot of educating to do, and a lot of action to be taken. The good news is that kids believe in the power they possess to get the job done. Harnessing their natural inclination for optimism and their zest for learning and their energy and we will be well on our way. I’d like to think the Earth Savers Gang project is one of the great ideas out there that can teach kids how to apply the knowledge to elevate global consciousness.
The opportunity, if we really collectively give it the credit and significance it deserves is a deal breaker. We have the opportunity to achieve a global goal collectively as human beings. This is unbelievably special, and real.
MR: John, if you asked my reader to do one or two things...to start somewhere, what would you tell them.
JB: TWO THINGS: RECYCLE AND COMPOST
The reason why is that it touches the two major transformations we have to make as a culture to reach sustainability. Both teach and allow practice of the closed loop system I spoke of earlier. If you do these two things, which every single person can do...you are actually making a HUGE difference. You are closing the loop. Giving back to nature what it needs to regenerate.
MR; What is your favorite movie?
JB: Second Hand Lions- story about two old guys who live on a farm away from everything. They have a nephew who comes to live with them who is about eight years old I think. I loved the story telling part of it was compelling because I grew up in a family of story tellers. I also loved the fantastical part of the story because these two regular guys who told stories of things they that were so extraordinary they were actualy unbelievable. Their whole life was an adventure and their used their ordinary gifts to make extraordinary moments. I think it resonates with me because it’s so true of ourselves as humans. We are given or discover our own unique talents and they are ordinary talents, but used to their maximum potential we have the same opportunity. It’s a matter of believing in yourself. Believing in the power of one. You make your life’s adventure. Life does not happen to you...you happen to it.
MR: What is your favorite Book?
JB:
The LORAX by Dr. Seuss.
The Art of Zen and Motorcycle Maintenance- It’s philosophy but it gets down to who you are and how you created who you are in your mind. It gets to the essence - it’s deep, but so great. The reading is great for anyone who is searching.
Bio Mimicry ...learn from nature it instead of trying to control it.
The Ecology of Commerce. - Deep for business people- It’s the thing that started our industrial revolution inside of interface.
Vital Signs- if you were the CEO of this economy what would be the key indicators you would look at...trends on those. It’s a comprehensive book on that that would open everyones eyes about where our world is headed.
MR: Who is your eco hero?: Ray Anderson: The founder of Interface.
MR: Who is your favorite Earth Savers Gang Character and why? 
JB: I’m Ernie personality wise: I’m a Farmer, a soil saver- but my passion is around energy...and so I choose Zach. I guess I am a cross between them.
MR; What is your little bit every day that you do , that you think makes a difference?
JB: I work to focus on how to make “take make waste” into a cyclical system without totally upsetting the profitability of the business. God gave me all the gifts to take all those moving parts and develop a strategy. So I do it for both interface and myself.
I love my work in sustainable development. I love the challenge of communicating across all generations the importance and the emergency that is the state of the environment today. I look for opportunities to restore our place in nature. I consider this my gift, that inspires and motivates me for our future generations. My children..your children..their children.
MR: Where can you most likely be found on a Friday Night?
High-school football game watching my daughter Julia (age 17) cheer.
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