Chattanooga-based Tricycle® celebrates its fifth anniversary this month with the announcement of an environmental leadership award from the Governor of Tennessee.
The Governor's Environmental Stewardship Awards program recognizes achievements that improve or protect natural resources, with projects or initiatives that are not required by law or regulations. Tricycle will be honored for its innovative leadership in pollution prevention in an awards ceremony in Nashville, next month.
Since its inception, the company has grown from founders Jonathan Bragdon and Michael Hendrix forming a license agreement with a British technology firm, to a staff of 25 in Chattanooga and ten overseas. Tricycle programs serve architects, interior designers and product manufacturers in the interiors industry to eliminate waste, particularly in the carpet industry.
Using digital tools that dematerialize design and manufacturing, in a two year period Tricycle conserved more than 25,000 gallons of oil and kept 150,000 pounds of carpet samples out of America's landfills, as well as contributing a positive economic impact of more than $19 million to the industry. Tricycle's customers include Mohawk, Shaw, Interface, Tandus and other leading manufacturers.
"When we founded Tricycle, some counseled us to set up shop in a city of greater size and, therefore, supposedly greater opportunities," said founder and president Jonathan Bragdon. "But we knew better. Chattanooga offers highly creative locals who have come on staff, fiber optic connectivity, and an extremely supportive etwork of small businesses like the Chattanooga Technology Council and Chattanooga Chamber. These advantages help companies like ours to grow and prosper, bringing positive economic and environmental impact here in Hamilton County, and transforming a global industry in the process."
"Our environment impacts everything from recreational activities to the health of our communities, and I believe it is important to recognize the people and organizations that work so hard to protect it," said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke. "I am pleased to acknowledge and celebrate these Tennesseans who go above and beyond to enhance the condition of our shared environment."
This honor is the latest in a string of recognitions given to Tricycle in the past two years, including the first-ever Gold IDEA award in Eco-Design from Business Week magazine and the Industrial Designers Society of America; a Green Apple award for environmental best practices bestowed in Great Britain's Parliament; shortist finalist status for Denmark's INDEX: award for design that improves life, alongside Apple, Google and Ford; nomination for a 2006 National Design Award for Corporate Achievement, from the Smithsonian Institution; and being named Portfolio Company of the Year 2006, from the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance (CDVCA).