Skip to Content
Report an accessibility problem

Presented by

2022 Schedule of Events

Event 2022 Date Link
GreenBiz 22 February 15-17
Chain Breakers Summit February 18
Sustainability Weekend February 18-20

GreenBiz, one of the founding partners of the Sustainability Solutions Festival, returns to the Valley of the Sun Feb. 15-17. Amidst challenging times, the sustainability profession is evolving — with new concerns, opportunities and concepts emerging faster than ever. Join the dynamic GreenBiz 22 community of more than 1,000 professionals to explore the latest trends, learn from your peers and form valuable connections at the J.W. Marriott Camelback Inn in Scottsdale.

ASU speakers and presentations at GreenBiz include the following:

  • February 15 at 3:30 p.m. – Navigating The Great Resignation and The Great Reshuffle in the Sustainability Profession Marsha Gonzaga, assistant director of career services at the ASU College of Global Futures, joins a panel led by Ellen Weinreb of the Weinreb Group, to explore the current talent market from two perspectives – the employee and the employer. For individuals looking for a senior ESG or sustainability role, we will delve into the attributes of a successful candidate, the specific areas of opportunity, especially in the financial sector, and the expectations of “chiefs” in this growing field. For companies, the panel will identify and illustrate key strategies for attracting and retaining talent, including culture and a commitment to diversity.
  • February 15 at 3:30 p.m. – Teaming Up To Tackle Plastic Waste: How Cross-Industry Partnerships Can Ignite Long-Lasting Change In this panel featuring Leah Gerber, founding director for the ASU Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, you’ll hear how one company is leveraging the power of sports to create innovative recycling models by recycling stadium cups into products, as well as the role education plays in building up future leaders and utilizing core competencies to work toward a waste-free world.
  • February 16 at 1:30 p.m. – University Partnerships that Drive Innovative Corporate Sustainability SolutionsIn this session we will hear from the leaders of institutes at ASU, University of Minnesota, and the University of Washington about corporate collaborations that are making a difference, and how their universities and others are changing and could be your next best collaborator.
  • February 17 at 10:30 a.m. – By Design: Creating Circular Products How can circular design principles improve the sustainability metrics of your products? Join this session to break down the criteria and guidelines needed for designing circular electronics, apparel, consumer goods, and more.

Chain Breakers: Supply Chain Transparency and New Technologies

Join us for a panelist of speakers with a wealth of experience in supply chains and expansive knowledge about what companies are doing to make their supply chains more sustainable. This discussion will spark a solutions focused conversation that highlights what is currently working and identifies what is still needed to make more progress. Topics covered include the following:

  • The technologies and/or approaches that have helped companies keep track of their value chain, the regulations that have helped and the obstacles that they face in creating a more ethical and/or transparent supply chain.
  • How transparency can help them create ethical supply chains and the practices that can enable businesses around the world to do better.
  • Panelists:

  • Nicole Darnall (Moderator), Foundation Professor of Management and Public Policy as well as Director and Co-Founder of ASU’s Sustainable Purchasing Research Initiative. Her research assesses the impact the absence of state coercion and appropriate incentives have on encouraging organizations and individuals to behave more sustainably.
  • Hitendra Chaturvedi, Professor of Supply Chain Management at W.P. Carey, entrepreneur, celebrated author, and subject matter expert on global supply chain strategy, green/sustainability in supply chain, digitizing traditional supply chains, and reverse logistics.
  • Mila Henn, Managing Partner at Zekeko, a logistics and supply chain company, with years over 30 years of supply chain and operations experience across multiple industries including manufacturing, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.
  • Zach Gamza, Owner of Empower Coffee Roasters, a Mesa-based coffee roaster that focuses its responsible sourcing around women-owned and run farms, fair prices, and community empowerment.
  • This event is free to all.

    Sustainability Weekend
    Presented by Arizona Science Center

    Discover how to live life more sustainably at Arizona Science Center’s Sustainability Weekend! From Saturday, February 19 through Monday, February 21, explore topics like ocean acidification, water and wildlife conservation, composting and recycling, alternate forms of energy, and the art of upcycling.

    All weekend long, engage with hands-on activities roaming the Center, themed hourly demonstrations and virtual offerings on the Science Center’s social media channels.

    There’s more to learn about sustainability and conservation at the Science Center! Add on our feature exhibition, Survival of the Slowest, highlighting wildlife conservation efforts, and our Irene P. Flinn Giant Screen Theater show, The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness, exploring one of the wildest places on Earth—and how to protect it.

    This schedule is subject to change.

    In addition to the events above, please join us for…

    28 Days of Sustainability Calendar The details for each day’s activity can be found on our Instragram feed. Check in each day to learn more and be sure to tag us!

    (re)imagine our global future – TOGETHER!

    As the Sustainability Solutions Festival embarks on its eighth year, the world remains focused on defeating a global pandemic. Today, students are learning in new ways, communities are coming together to support one another and businesses are continuously adapting to the changing demands. For 2021 and in recognition of the changing world around us, the Sustainability Solutions Festival, through a virtual platform, will engage the public and industry alike in exciting new ways to design a healthy and prosperous future.

    Building upon the notion that in 2020 and into the futures that we are all in this together, the theme of this year’s Sustainability Solutions Festival is “Togetherness.” Sustainability solutions emerge when we work together, bringing our diverse thoughts, energies, talents and backgrounds to the table to co-create. Together we can build a future in which the everyone and our plant may thrive. The Festival’s many forums and events include:
    • Conferences
    • Community gatherings
    • Film screenings

    Sustainability Solutions Science Fair

    The 2021 Sustainability Solutions Science Fair is a virtual opportunity open to researchers, innovators and engineers age 12-18 from around the world. Arizona State University, in partnership with Wells Fargo Foundation and the Rob and Melani Walton Foundation, are calling for projects that drive change for good and develop thriving communities. Awards of up to $2,500 in cash prizes and mentorships in advancing the application of sustainability solutions are up for grabs. How do you plan to help shape tomorrow, today?

    Become a sponsor

    The Sustainability Solutions Festival provides organizations an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to a better, healthier planet. In its first two years, the Sustainability Solutions Festival has engaged more than 41,000 people of all ages and backgrounds and made more than 10 million impressions across traditional and digital media. Multiple sponsorship levels are available, as well as custom solutions to best align your organization with the Festival audience that includes global business leaders, local influencers and diverse families from across the greater Phoenix area.

    Become a partner

    The Sustainability Solutions Festival invites community organizations, museums, educators, cultural institutions and corporations across Arizona to join us as hosts of impactful events that develop and accelerate sustainability solutions. Submit your event to be included in the Sustainability Solutions Festival and help engage a broader audience and make the planet a better place for everyone.

    For partnership or general inquiries, contact:

    Katelyn Armbruster
    Program Manager, Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service, Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation
    Katelyn.Armbruster@asu.edu

    For media inquiries, contact:

    Jason Franz
    Assistant Director, Strategic Marketing and Communications, Knowledge Enterprise
    Jason.Franz@asu.edu
    480-727-4072
    The Sustainability Solutions Festival is supported through funding from the .