Perkins featured in Washington and Lee University Alumni Magazine 2009
Washington and Lee Alumni Magazine 2009
Before Lewis Perkins, of Atlanta, joined the Mohawk Group in March, the carpet manufacturing giant was one of the best-kept secrets of the environmental movement. These days, Perkins is the face of the organization, charged with creating a brand identity for Mohawk and showcasing the company’s best sustainable initiatives, which they have practiced for years.
Whether promoting Mohawk’s status as the largest U.S. recycler of plastic soda and water bottles (which it turns into carpet), or explaining how old carpet is transformed into new flooring at the company’s GreenWorks Center in north Georgia, Perkins enjoys sharing the Mohawk narrative. One of his first significant efforts was initiating a partnership between Mohawk and Global Green USA, an organization that is rebuilding communities across the U.S., particularly in New Orleans.
Perkins, who majored in art history, said his experiences at the University reinforced the strong ethics that his family instilled. There is a moral code that guides all of his decisions as an adult, and embracing a sustainable lifestyle is a value-driven choice that takes into consideration factors such as human rights, wellness and spirituality.
“Sustainability and the green movement is just one part of a whole piece that is social consciousness,” he said.
