The Flooring Sustainability Summit returns to Washington, D.C. for the third year, July 15–16, 2026, at The Mayflower Hotel, bringing together leaders from across flooring, sustainability, and the built-environment to examine green and healthy building priorities, align on initiatives, and strengthen collaboration in an ever-evolving industry.
Co-hosted by the National Wood Flooring Association, Carpet and Rug Institute, North American Laminate Flooring Association, Natural Stone Institute, National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association, Resilient Floor Covering Institute, and Tile Council of North America, the Summit continues as a forum for manufacturers, distributors, architects, designers, policymakers, sustainability professionals, procurement leaders, and value-chain partners to explore emerging policy frameworks, life-cycle transparency, and collaborative approaches that shape the future of sustainable flooring solutions.
“This year’s Summit builds on the strong momentum of past gatherings while advancing industry-wide dialogue on key priorities such as material health, circularity, and supply chain alignment,” said Bill Griese, chair of the summit. “We’re excited to welcome an expanded lineup of thought leaders to the 2026 event, and we’re especially pleased that both the Pre-Summit Primer and all panels have been approved as Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) continuing education courses by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), offering a total of 7 learning units.”
Summit Program at a Glance
The program framework and session descriptions have been released, with speaker details to be announced as program elements are confirmed. All activities will take place at The Mayflower Hotel, aside from the evening reception on July 15, which will take place at the American Institute of Architects’ newly transformed Global Campus for Architecture and Design. Each session is designed to engage attendees in learning, networking, and practical problem-solving across multiple sustainability dimensions.
Highlights include:
- Pre-Summit Primer to get up to speed on today’s green building standards and initiatives affecting the flooring industry (approved AIA HSW CEU course).
- Architect and Designer Panel decoding real-world sustainable specifier decisions and criteria (approved AIA HSW CEU course).
- Cross-Category Manufacturer Panel examining how carpet, ceramic, laminate, stone, vinyl, wood, and other flooring sectors are advancing sustainability through circular design, embodied carbon reduction, transparency, and evolving industry standards (approved AIA HSW CEU course).
- Green Building Tools Panel demystifying the LCA, EPD, and material database landscape while clarifying how data platforms, software, and transparency tools support informed design and specification decisions (approved AIA HSW CEU course).
- Supply Chain Leadership Forum bringing manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and installers together to align sustainability goals, close communication gaps, and translate design intent into measurable, real-world outcomes (approved AIA HSW CEU course).
- Networking Receptions & Tabletops to connect with peers, solution providers, and thought leaders.
- High-Level Sustainability Briefings from various industry and advocacy groups.
The full schedule and session descriptions are now live and accessible at flooringsummit.com/program. Attendees are encouraged to register early and secure their participation in this essential industry event.
Keynote Speaker Announcement — George Bandy
The Summit is pleased to announce George Bandy, Jr. as a keynote speaker for the 2026 Flooring Sustainability Summit. Bandy is a globally recognized sustainability leader with more than 25 years of experience guiding organizations on environmental performance, circular economy strategy, and socially responsible solutions that deliver shared value.
Currently serving as vice president and chief sustainability officer at Andersen Corporation, Bandy has held senior sustainability roles at companies including Amazon, Mohawk Industries, and Interface and has been instrumental in advancing sustainable business strategy across diverse sectors. He is also past chair of the Board of Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and has been recognized with leadership awards from USGBC and as a Living Future Hero.
Registration
Registration is now open at flooringsummit.com, where early-rate pricing and sponsorship opportunities are available. Participants can also sign up for the Summit newsletter to receive the latest program updates, speaker announcements, and logistical details.