June 12, 2013
OAKLAND, Calif. and PHOENIX, Ariz. – June 12, 2013 – GreenBiz Group, The Sustainability Consortium, and the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives, a program of the Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University, will be coming together for the Sustainability Solutions Festival, a unique and powerful partnership among three leadership institutions.
The three entities have agreed to align interests and audiences as part of the weeklong series of events to be held in Phoenix, February 15-22, 2014. The week will include the 2014 GreenBiz Forum, sustainability-focused innovation fairs, a green "Un-gala" and meetings and workshops for the board and network of The Sustainability Consortium and other events.
"This three-way partnership takes the GreenBiz Forum to a new level, leveraging the leadership and networks of three great organizations," says GreenBiz Group CEO Eric Faurot. "It will allow all of us to tap into one another's deep expertise, high-level relationships and talent to create a world-class event that features high-quality content and a rich, dynamic experience."
"As our network grows globally, we are excited to continue to collaborate with great groups like GreenBiz and our partners at GIOS to bring together some of the best companies, civil society organizations and universities working on sustainability today," said Kara Hurst, CEO of The Sustainability Consortium.
The GreenBiz Forum, now in its sixth year, is centered around the publication of the "State of Green Business Report," an annual assessment of global sustainable business metrics and trends. The Forum brings together thought leaders and sustainability executives to define the trends, challenges, and opportunities in sustainable business today.
Participants in the GreenBiz Forum and TSC members will be registered to attend the "Green Carpet Un-Gala" on the evening of February 19, hosted by ASU's Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives. The Un-gala will be an unconventional celebration of sustainability solutions and champions.
"This week will bring together brilliant minds, best practices and emerging ideas to collectively advance sustainability. We are thrilled to partner with GreenBiz Group and the Sustainability Consortium on the first annual Sustainability Solutions Festival," said Patti Reiter, Director of the Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives.
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 daily e-newsletter GreenBuzz; webcasts on topics of importance to sustainability and energy executives; research reports, such as the annual State of Green Business; the GreenBiz Executive Network, a membership-based, peer-to-peer learning forum for sustainability executives from Fortune 1000 companies; and conferences such as the GreenBiz Forum and VERGE. For more information, visit GreenBiz.com.
The Sustainability Consortium is an organization of diverse global participants that work collaboratively to build a scientific foundation that drives innovation to improve consumer product sustainability. TSC develops transparent methodologies, tools, and strategies to drive a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social, and economic imperatives. The Sustainability Consortium advocates for a credible, scalable, and transparent process and system. The organization boasts over 90 members from all corners of business employing over 57 million people and whose combined revenues total over $1.5 trillion. TSC is jointly administered by Arizona State University and University of Arkansas, with additional operations at Wageningen University in The Netherlands and has recently launched an office in China. For more information, visit www.sustainabilityconsortium.org.
The Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives are the result of a $27.5 million investment in Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability by the Walton Family Foundation. Within the Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives, diverse teams of faculty, students, entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators collaborate to deliver sustainability solutions, accelerate global impact, and inspire future leaders through eight distinct initiatives. For more information visit sustainabilitysolutions.asu.edu.
The Global Institute of Sustainability is the hub of Arizona State University’s sustainability initiatives. The Institute advances research, education, and business practices for an urbanizing world. Its School of Sustainability, the first comprehensive program of its kind in the U.S., offers transdisciplinary degree programs to create practical solutions for environmental, economic, and social challenges. For more information, visit sustainability.asu.edu.
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Media contacts:
Shana Rappaport
Director of Engagement, VERGE, GreenBiz Group
(925) 330-1854
Elizabeth Kessler
Marketing Coordinator, The Sustainability Consortium
(480) 965-3810
Jason Franz
Senior Manager, Strategic Marketing and Communications, Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives
(480) 727-4072