Summary: Merida Meridian sells all-natural rugs. That's a noble distinction amid a market dominated by petroleum-based rugs. But company owner Hiram Samel, an MIT Sloan Fellows alum, has his sights set higher. He is eyeing the possibility of selling rugs that are "fully sustainable," a distinction that would incorporate an array of values associated with the production and distribution of the rugs. With that in mind, Samel asked a team of students in MT Sloan's Sustainability Lab to determine if a market exists for a sustainable rug. While the team found such a product is not yet viable, team member Basmaa Ali tells correspondent Scott Rolph that Merida and other companies would be well served by preparing for an era when "sustainable" is as valuable on the market as "ergonomic" and "organic."
