A Climate Conversation with Georgia Business Leader Roy Richards, Jr.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introducing Roy Richards, Jr. 

00:47 Growing Up in Rural Georgia and a Lifelong Love of Nature 

02:40 Southwire’s Journey Toward Environmental Stewardship 

07:35 Turning Moral Obligation Into Moral Opportunity 

09:58 Why Roy Champions the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact 

12:11 Closing Thoughts

What does it take to commit professionally and philanthropically to advancing climate solutions in Georgia? In this interview, John Lanier of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation sits down with Roy Richards, Jr., former CEO and current board chair of Southwire Company, committed climate philanthropist, and co-chair of the Drawdown Georgia Leadership Council, to hear his story.

Their conversation covers the personal epiphany that shaped Roy’s approach to environmental stewardship, Southwire’s transformation into a sustainability leader, and the Georgia climate initiative that has him most excited about the future.

A Rural Georgia Childhood That Shaped a Climate Leader

Roy Richards traces his lifelong affection for the natural world back to a small farm outside Carrollton, Georgia, where fishing, hunting, and exploring the woods and creeks gave him a personal connection to the land that still drives his environmental work today.

How Southwire Became a Sustainability Leader

Roy candidly describes how Southwire once treated environmental regulators as adversaries, and the period of regulatory scrutiny that changed his thinking, along with the role Interface founder Ray Anderson played in helping light the way toward a new approach to manufacturing.

From Moral Obligation to Moral Opportunity

John and Roy discuss sustainability as two sides of the same coin, the obligation to stop environmental harm, and the opportunity to help build the electrified, renewably powered future ahead, with companies like Southwire positioned to lead that shift.

Why the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact Excites Roy Most

As co-chair of the Drawdown Georgia Leadership Council, Roy explains why the Business Compact, a critical mass of Georgia companies working together to draw down their carbon footprints and share best practices, is the part of Drawdown Georgia he’s most excited about.

What You’ll Learn

• How a rural Georgia childhood shaped one business leader’s lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship.
• How Southwire shifted from resisting environmental regulation to embracing sustainability as core to its business.
• Why Roy Richards sees sustainability as both a moral obligation and a moral opportunity for Georgia businesses.
• What the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact offers companies willing to share best practices and learn from one another.

Continue reading in our companion blog for more on how Georgia business leaders are advancing climate solutions.

Download the Interview Transcript

Prefer to read the conversation instead? Download the complete transcript of this interview to explore Roy Richards, Jr.’s insights on climate leadership in Georgia.