James Connelly of the International Living Future Institute Earns GreenBiz “30 under 30” Recognition

May 31, 2016 /3BL Media/ — James Connelly, Director of the Living Product Challenge at the International Living Future Institute has been named one of the “30 under 30” people to watch in sustainable business by GreenBiz Group, the leading media and events company in corporate sustainability.

This 2016 list highlights “individuals to watch” for breaking new ground in green business. These individuals are making a difference in areas as diverse as renewable energy and green building, the circular economy and supply chains, resilient cities and transportation, chemicals and health care, agriculture and finance.

The 30 awardees work at corporations such as Apple, JetBlue and Steelcase; at startups including Building Robotics, Kuli Kuli and Etology, and at nonprofits including CDP, Ceres and Greenlining Institute. They hail from more than a dozen U.S. cities, including Atlanta; Grand Rapids, Mich.; New York City; Orlando, Fla. and San Francisco. Their titles include engineer, founder, CEO, consultant, manager and director.

“These men and women have demonstrated leadership qualities in their organizations, sectors or in the wider world of business, including within some of the world’s largest companies,” says GreenBiz Chairman and Executive Editor Joel Makower. “They represent the full potential of sustainable business to transform companies, consumers, value chains and systems of commerce.”

“We are thrilled that James has been named one of the 30 under 30,” says Amanda Sturgeon, CEO of ILFI. “His leadership in the product transparency movement has been vital to the continuing success the Declare Program. Now, as Living Product Challenge Director, James challenges the manufacturing industry to generate products that create a net positive impact upon the world. It is incredibly exciting to see this idea come to life.”

View the full “GreenBiz 30 under 30” list here: greenbiz.com/under30

ABOUT THE LIVING PRODUCT CHALLENGE

The Living Product Challenge re-imagines the design and construction of ALL products to function as elegantly and efficiently as anything found in the natural world. Living Products are informed by biomimicry and biophilia; manufactured by processes powered only by renewable energy and within the water balance of the places they are made. Living Products improve our quality of life and bring joy through their beauty and functionality. Imagine a Living Product whose very existence builds soil; creates habitat; nourishes the human spirit; and provides inspiration for personal, political and economic change

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL LIVING FUTURE INSTITUTE

The International Living Future Institute is a hub for visionary programs. The Institute offers global strategies for lasting sustainability, partnering with local communities to create grounded and relevant solutions, including green building and infrastructure solutions on scales ranging from single room renovations to neighborhoods or whole cities.  The Institute administers the Living Building Challenge and the Living Product Challenge, the  most rigorous and ambitious performance standards in the world. It is the parent organization for Cascadia Green Building Council, a chapter of both the United States and Canada Green Building Councils that serves Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. It is also home to Ecotone Publishing, a unique publishing house dedicated to telling the story of the green building movement’s pioneering thinkers and practitioners.

ABOUT GREENBIZ GROUP

GreenBiz Group’s mission is to define and accelerate the business of sustainability. It does this through a wide range of products and services, including its acclaimed website GreenBiz.com and e-newsletters, GreenBuzz and VERGE; webcasts on topics of importance to sustainability and energy executives; research reports, including the annual State of Green Business; the GreenBiz Executive Network, a membership-based, peer-to-peer learning forum for sustainability executives; and conferences: the annual GreenBiz forum and VERGE. www.greenbiz.com