‘Champion of sustainability’ leads cradle-to-cradle body

United States – ‘As we continue rethinking the way we make and consume products, cradle-to-cradle design and certification are more relevant than ever before. I am committed to further elevate the profile of cradle-to-cradle and build the value of the circular economy.’ So says Lewis Perkins, the newly-appointed president of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, a US-based non-profit organisation focused on transforming the manufacturing and consumption of items and products into a regenerative force for the planet.

Perkins’ appointment comes at a time of ‘tremendous momentum’ for the organisation which recently surpassed 3300 certifications from more than 200 manufacturers, including 35% growth in certifications in 2015 and 9% in just the first two months of 2016. The institute is embarking on several key initiatives – among others, with the Ellen McArthur Foundation – aimed at continuing to boost demand for cradle-to-cradle certified products.

Described as ‘a lifelong champion of sustainability’, Perkins has served in strategic roles with organisations such as The Clean Air Campaign, 360i and the Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center. He has been a featured speaker on sustainability at the Forbes magazine Green Visionary Series, Sustainable Brands and the US White House Council for Environmental Quality GreenGov Symposium. He has also been a panellist at the Annual Grammy Awards Green Summit.

Headquartered in California and with a support office in the Netherlands, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute uses design based on laws of nature to help companies create products that are safe for people and the environment.

The organisation has emerged from the cradle-to-cradle approach developed by Dr Michael Braungart who, in 2002, published the book ‘Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the way we make things’.