(LaGrange, GA) The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Recycling Division honored Milliken & Company with a Recognition Award for its overall environmental achievements, including development of the Earth Square carpet renewal process. The presentation took place during the SPE Annual Recycling Conference in Dearborn, Michigan.

"In addition to Earth Square, Milliken's overall environmental accomplishments, such as 98 percent reduction in solid waste and 88 percent reduction in SARA chemicals over 10 years, are extremely impressive and deserving of our recognition," said John McAuley, manager of environmental programs for Basell North America and awards chair for SPE Recycling Division.

The Recognition Award is presented periodically to individual companies who have demonstrated environmental leadership in the plastics industry.

"Milliken has reached zero waste to landfills in many categories because environmental stewardship drives our corporate philosophy. We accept this honor from SPE as we continue to set new goals for protecting the earth," said Bill Blackstock, manager for Milliken Carpet's Earth Square. "Our Earth Square carpet renewal program, offering a 100 percent post-consumer waste product, is one example of this commitment."

Milliken's Earth Square program departs from traditional recycling efforts that shred carpet for secondary markets, because the old carpet is actually renewed and reused in a closed loop recovery program. The used 18-inch or 36-inch square carpet tiles are sent to Milliken for a three-step renewal process, where they are super-cleaned, re-textured and restyled using updated carpet designs. The tiles are then installed for another life cycle. Among its national honors, the Earth Square Program received the Grand Prize Environmental Solutions Innovations 2000 Award from Buildings and Buildings INTERIORS magazines, Most Outstanding New Product from the Buy Recycled Business Alliance, a partnership of the National Recycling Coalition, the first Evergreen Award from the U.S. General Services Administration, and the Keep America Beautiful Award. More information is available at www.earthsquare.com. Milliken Carpet, based in LaGrange, GA, USA, is a division of Milliken & Company, an international textile and chemical manufacturer. Milliken & Company is based in Spartanburg, SC, USA, and is one of the world's largest privately held companies with more than 16,0000 associates and over 65 manufacturing facilities worldwide. Milliken Carpet is the sole provider of Earth Square, the only reusable carpet program on the market. Earth Square has won the Evergreen Award from the U.S. General Services Administration and the Renew America and Keep America Beautiful awards. The Buy Recycled Business Alliance, a partnership of the National Recycling Coalition also named it the Most Outstanding Innovative New Product. Based in Brookfield, Connecticut, The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) is an international network of 35,000 plastics professionals promoting the knowledge and education of plastics and polymers worldwide. ###

Nancy Rogers BOLDface Communications 404.231-5789 nancyrogers@mindspring.com