News & Media

Actress, writer, producer and environmental advocate Daniella Pineda shares her perspectives about climate activism and the importance of circularity. She emphasizes the leading role played by Cradle to Cradle Certified® and all certification holders embracing the framework in achieving a better future for our planet, and calls on other companies to prioritize climate, social fairness, and ethical sourcing to gain consumer trust and loyalty.

What new insights can be gained from circular practices in business? In this panel conversation featuring Candi Hampton (Director of Sustainability at Shaw Industries), Chris Van de Voorde (Founder & CEO at JUUNOO) and Nicole Cerroni (Vice President of Sustainability at L'Oréal USA), these three leading companies share the lessons learned from creating value through circular practices in their respective businesses. They discuss the importance of integrating circular practices into R&D, the value of circularity in business, and the need for collaboration and communication between different teams and stakeholders, while also highlighting the role of consumer education and transparency in promoting circularity.

What’s coming up in the digital space, legislation, and ESG reporting? In this panel conversation featuring Natasha Franck (Founder and CEO of EON), Bente Bauer (Co-Founder of 2BPolicy) and Nora Rizzo (Ethical Materials Director at Grace Farms Foundation leading Design for Freedom by Grace Farms), the new initiatives driving large-scale market transformation are discussed. This includes the use of digital product passports, policy integration, and a focus on social equity in supply chains, all aimed to increase traceability, transparency, and sustainability across industries.

Anna Kelles of the New York State Assembly shares insights on the ways the circular economy is shaping U.S legislation and New York's Fashion Act. As the lead sponsor of the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act, she explains how this legislation will require fashion sellers to be accountable to standardized environmental and social due diligence policies. Anna is a champion of climate change solutions, natural resource preservation, criminal justice reforms, and housing affordability and accessibility, representing the 125th District in the New York Assembly.

How can the Cradle to Cradle Certified® framework help achieve circularity? In this panel discussion featuring Roxane Spears (Vice President of Sustainability at Tarkett North America), John Mascari (Co-Founder and COO of Blueland) and Hannes Schoenegger (Co-Founder and CEO of QWSTION and Bananatex®), these three pioneering companies share their stories of innovation. They elaborate on the ways in which adopting the holistic approach of the Cradle to Cradle Certified framework is helping them achieve circular transformation, and how collaboration is key as shared knowledge and resources drive innovation and sustainability forward.

What are consumers thinking? Jason Walters from global insights and advisory consultancy GlobeScan explores the key factors that matter most to consumers in regard to sustainability and certifications. Based on recently conducted research by GlobeScan, consumers are most concerned about environmental issues like climate change and pollution. While consumers express interest in buying sustainable products, they encounter barriers like a lack of information and affordability. Certifications, such as Cradle to Cradle Certified®, play a significant role in building consumer trust and shaping sustainable behaviors, highlighting the importance of third-party verification.

What does the road to net zero look like? In this expert interview Eddy Santosa shares fresh insights on how embodied carbon reporting and the transformation to net zero are shaping the built environment. As a top expert in his field, Eddy has more than fifteen years of experience in sustainable design and the building industry, currently supporting global management, engineering and development consultancy Mott MacDonald.

In his Circular Shift opening remarks, our Institute's Executive Director Elwyn Grainger-Jones discusses the importance of creating change and the need for organizations to adapt to the concept of circularity. He highlights the role of the Cradle to Cradle Certified® certification program in driving organizational transformation and emphasizes the potential for scaling up the certification program guided by collaboration and advocacy to achieve maximum impact.

In this interview, we speak to Rives Taylor, Principal Director of Gensler Research Institute Resilience Center, to find out how he believes Cradle to Cradle Certified® can help the building and construction industry transition to a more circular and sustainable approach. Rives is a recognized global expert in resilient, high-performance, and sustainable design.

We caught up with Marissa Pagnani McGowan, Chief Sustainability Officer NA at L'Oréal, where she stewards the company's sustainability platform, L’Oréal for the Future, in North America. Together with L'Oréal's leadership team, Marissa believes that L'Oréal has a responsibility and opportunity to drive transformation towards a more circular, just and inclusive beauty industry benefiting all stakeholders, and she is dedicated to collaboration and innovation to accelerate this progress. In this video she outlines how the rigorous certification process of Cradle to Cradle Certified® raises the bar for the industry and emphasizes the added value of the certification for their extensive L'Oréal portfolio.

Take a look back at this insightful panel exploring emerging consumer practices, challenges and opportunities with an inspirational panel of cross-sectoral leaders featuring Heather Barker from Reckitt, Alice Beyer Schuch from Bay City, Mads Kogsgaard Hansen from Bang & Olufsen, led by Joel Makower from GreenBiz Group.

What is the relationship between the construction industry and the EU Taxonomy? What will it take for a sustainable and circular built environment to scale and become mainstream? These questions are explored in this insightful panel featuring Charles van Thiel from GRESB, Dr. Christine Lemaitre from DGNB German Sustainable Building Council, Owen Zachariasse from JLL, moderated by our Institute's Built Environment Lead for EMEA Ana Quintas.

Keynote speaker Nancy Gillis is Program Head Climate Action & First Movers Coalition at the World Economic Forum. In her current role, Nancy works with companies to harness their purchasing power and supply chains to spur the commercialization of innovative clean energy technologies that are key for tackling the climate crisis.

Prior, Nancy was the CEO of the Global Electronics Council (GEC), a mission-driven non-profit that seeks to achieve a world of only sustainable technology, and previously served as the Global Lead for Resilient and Responsible Supply Chains at Ernst & Young (EY). During the Obama Administration, she served as the Director of the Federal Supply Chain Office at the General Services Administration (GSA).

In his keynote address, Stephan Grabmeier explores the statement "if Circular Shift is the answer, what are the questions?". A recognized thought leader for innovation, new economy and sustainable transformation, Stephan Grabmeier is part of the strategy consulting team of Germany's Future Institute Zukunftsinstitut, an international reference point for trend and future research on economy and society.

Watch our executive interview with Devon Leahy, VP of Sustainability at Ralph Lauren. She explains Ralph Lauren’s new sustainability strategy and why it involves certifying five of their iconic products as part of the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Products Program. She also shares insights about current transformations and expectations in the future of the fashion industry.

Watch our executive interview with Frank Spikker, CEO at Royal Mosa as he talks tiles, sustainability and using a Cradle to Cradle philosophy to design and make materials that enable circularity in addition to the importance of being driven by an intrinsic belief in the value and power of circular design. 

An experienced CEO with competences in marketing, operations, and design in both B2B and B2C, Frank joined MOSA as CEO in 2018. He studied Business Administration/International Marketing at Radboud University Nijmegen and started his career at Philips Lighting. Here he worked in various positions within Marketing and General Management in Europe and Asia until 2011. In his last position at Philips, Frank Spikker was responsible for the Business Unit Professional Lighting Asia Pacific as CEO. Since January 2011 he was Group CEO of Halo Creative & Design Ltd. This English company with brands such as Timothy Oulton has built a global distribution network for handmade, luxurious furniture and lighting with a focus on style and design.

Watch our executive interview with Reinhard Schneider, CEO at Werner & Mertz. He shares his views on how to drive a business on circular principles & what a CEO can do today, next month & next year to drive circularity. Schneider studied business administration with concentrations in marketing and commerce at the University of St. Gallen. A descendant of the Werner & Mertz founders, he has been involved in the development of the family-run business in Mainz since 1992 in his capacity as a member of the board.

Today, Schneider is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and owner of Werner & Mertz. The family company is known for its brands emsal, Erdal, Green Care Professional und FROSCH – recognized as Germany’s most sustainable brand in 2009. The entrepreneur received the renowned German Environmental Award from the Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in October 2019 in Mannheim, Germany.

Watch our executive interview with Omer Ahmed, CEO at Artistic Milliners as he covers the most urgent sustainability challenges facing the fashion industry today, and solutions for advancing the way the industry can design and make products with a positive impact for today and tomorrow. Artistic Milliners is a vertically integrated global leader in denim fabric and garment making headquartered in Karachi, Pakistan. Omer is also the co-founder of Star Fades International, a fully operational denim laundry and design center located in Los Angeles, California.

Watch our executive interview with Heather Barker, Global VP Regulatory & Group New Growth Platforms at UK-headquartered multinational Reckitt, global leading producer of health, hygiene and nutrition consumer goods products. Heather shares her insights on the multinational’s sustainability approach and initiatives towards achieving net zero, the paramount role of partnerships in maximizing impact, and her vision for the next frontier in consumer engagement.

Watch our executive interview with Professor Paul Anastas, Director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale University, and winner of the 2021 Volvo Environment Prize. Professor Anastas offers his insights about the role of green chemistry in addressing the human and environmental impacts of consumption and production, and enabling the transition to a circular economy. He also shares his vision for our planet and society by 2050.

Watch our executive interview with Jo Chidley, Founder & CEO at Beauty Kitchen. Jo is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of sustainable beauty and is driving the beauty industry forward with better practice approaches. She is Beauty Kitchen’s toughest critic, inspecting everything from the efficacy of the products, to the way the ingredients are sourced, right down to the packaging sustainability for each product.

Watch our executive interview with Tim Baucom, President at Shaw Industries. Tim joined Shaw Industries in 1992, building a track record of innovation and leadership in sales, marketing and strategic planning across multiple departments and divisions. During his decade at the helm of the company's commercial division, he was instrumental in establishing it as the largest and most profitable commercial business in North America.

As president of Shaw, Tim leads the company's residential, commercial, speciality and turf businesses. He previously served as executive vice president of Shaw's residential business, leading it to improved levels of performance through product innovation, sales, brand focus and improved customer support. Tim's 35-year history in the flooring industry also includes DuPont, where he helped launch the well-known Stainmaster® brand.

During Circular Shift 2021, we virtually connected with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Check our conversation below featuring Kevin Pollard, Head of Unit – Exposure and Supply Chain.