Join MBDC at EnvironDesign8

Once again, MBDC will participate in EnvironDesign, now in its eighth year, on April 21st in Minneapolis. William McDonough and Michael Braungart will give the Friday morning keynote presentation (and participate in GreenBlue's workshop on Wednesday—see below). MBDC will also have a booth in the Product Learning Center.

We hope you will join us for the conference, which is always a highlight of the year.

Learn more and register at http://www.environdesign.com.

Register Soon for GreenBlue Workshop at EnvironDesign8 with William McDonough and Michael Braungart

In just a few weeks, GreenBlue will be conducting a workshop at the EnvironDesign conference. The workshop, Introduction to Cradle to Cradle Design, will include presentations, exercises, and case studies on cradle-to-cradle strategies and methods for sustainable design. It will also include a conversation with William McDonough and Michael Braungart.

Register soon by contacting GreenBlue's Ken Alston at 434-817-1424 x303, or ken.alston(at)greenblue.org.

Find out more at http://www.isdesignet.com/ED/ED8/pre_a-conf.html

Madrid's Instituto de Impresa to Launch "Centre for Eco-Intelligent Management"

As reported in the March 15th issue of the Financial Times, Madrid's Instituto de Impresa is creating the Centre for Eco-Intelligent Management, to develop the business case for sustainability in management and product development. The Centre will share its knowledge with the Instituto de Impresa's MBA and executive education programs, and with wider audiences. The Centre will be chaired by William McDonough.

Read the Instituto's press release at http://www.ie.edu/weben/insti/news2.asp?id_noticia=193&area_ppal=2

Announcing SoL's Business Innovation for Sustainability Forum

The Society for Organizational Learning's Sustainability Consortium is hosting its first annual Business Innovation for Sustainability Forum: Leadership, Learning, and collaboration for People, Planet and Profit on October 11-14, 2004 in Dearborn, Michigan. This Forum is designed for those interested in using sustainable business practices as a means for driving innovation, efficiency and economic growth as well as environmental and social prosperity.

At this world-class event, business and academic experts will address sustainable business challenges from an organizational learning perspective. Participants will be given both the conceptual framework and practical tools to begin integrating sustainable practices into their organization. This Forum will serve as a catalyst for accelerated learning and thinking on sustainability through innovative best practices, compelling case studies, interaction with leaders in the field and by working in small group sessions with peers. The event will cover five general themes: Organizational Capacity Building and Leadership, Tri-Sector Collaboration, Energy & Climate Change, Water & Agriculture, and Products, Materials, & Manufacturing.

For more information about the SoL Sustainability Consortium and the Business Innovation for Sustainability Forum, visit http://www.solonline.org/events/SustainabilityForum/ or contact SoL at 617-964-2221.

New Darden Business School Executive Education Program on Sustainability in Business

June 14-18, 2004
Darden Graduate School of Business Administration
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

As businesses are being held increasingly accountable for the economic, social, and environmental consequences of their activities, this new reality is creating exciting opportunities for innovation and change. The lesson is that new intellectual filters, through which we understand society-nature-economy interdependencies, can dramatically enhance both top- and bottom-line growth.

Led by Darden professors F. Richard Brownlee II and Andrea Larson, this program will include William McDonough, Michael Braungart, and other leading thinkers and practitioners of sustainability in business.

Learn more, including a special introductory pricing offer, at Darden's website: http://www.darden.virginia.edu/exed/programs/index.aspx?stage=sem&id=29

Thanks for staying in touch with MBDC. We wish a happy Spring to everyone.

Phil Storey

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Phil Storey
MBDC, Manager of Communications
phil.storey@mbdc.com