Hall of Fame Inductees

Green burial is a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact that aids in the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat.

Plastic pollution and poverty are intertwined. Plastic Bank empowers communities to use plastic waste as currency for access to secure income and life-improving benefits. This incentivizes collection, helps to alleviate poverty, and gives new life to old plastic for reintegration into products and packaging. We call this Social Recycling, and you can be part of it!

Good Planet Innovation is catalyzing a paradigm shift in the entertainment and advertising industries toward sustainable and regenerative production and event practices. As they transform the model for creative production, they are also inspiring conscious consumer behavior by integrating eco-friendly, healthy, and ethical products and behaviors into major movies and television shows.

Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, an ecologist and pioneer of the term "biological diversity," is honored for his lifetime achievements. He served as President of the Amazon Biodiversity Center, Senior Fellow at the UN Foundation, and professor at George Mason University. His work significantly influenced environmental science and policy globally.

Climate Action 100+ is an investor-led initiative to ensure the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action on climate change. With some 700 investors responsible for managing $68 trillion in assets, Climate Action 100+ is working with companies to improve climate change governance and financial disclosures.

TerraCycle partners with many manufacturing facilities around the world to recycle large quantities of difficult-to-recycle waste, as well as small, unusual waste streams like personal protective equipment.

Greenwave helps fishers across the country and around the world plan their own ocean gardens. We are regnerative ocean farmers creating jobs and protecting the planet, growing good local food for local communities and working to make a living on a living planet.

AquaRecycle is leading the way in the reuse of water and energy that would otherwise be wasted. Our flagship product is the only patented system for sanitizing and recycling laundry water for hotels, hospitals and other large facilities. We’ve complemented that with a method for recapturing the heat from their dryers. Both fit perfectly among today’s green-building initiatives.

The Plastic Pollution Coalition was created from the non-profit environmental incubator Earth Island Institute. The organization creates and maintains a global coalition of businesses, organizations, and individuals that collaborate to prevent toxic damage from plastic pollution.

Dr. Michael E Mann is a distinguished climate researcher and director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center. He is the author of several books and over 200 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Mann was a Lead Author on the Observed Climate Variability and Change chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third Scientific Assessment Report in 2001.

Michael Ben-Eli's work in applying cybernetics and systems thinking to management is groundbreaking, notably through his acclaimed Five Sustainability Principles. As an associate of R. Buckminster Fuller, he researched advanced structural systems and global resource management. Today, he focuses on sustainability and sustainable development, continuing to influence these critical areas.

Castoro Cellars owns seven vineyards in Central California, farming organically and investing in solar energy. They promote health and wellness through the Beaverstock festival and other community activities, emphasizing environmental and human health in collaboration with Mesa Vineyard Management.

T4T (Trash for Teaching) is a Los Angeles nonprofit that diverts unused, clean materials from landfills to classrooms. They provide recycled materials and educational workshops, helping students creatively solve problems in subjects like physics and biology.

Alpine Bank has provided top banking services in Colorado for 43 years. A model of sustainability, it invests in renewable energy, reduces resource use, and offers green loans. The bank also supports environmental education and promotes sustainable living.

Beneficial State Bank, operating in California, Oregon, and Washington, promotes equity by supporting underserved communities. It finances local businesses and nonprofits focused on environmental protection and social justice, embodying its economic philosophy through a unique "beneficial banking" model.

LittleFootprint Lighting, based in Santa Cruz, creates LED task lamps from recycled e-waste plastic and steel. Made in America, their products support local economies and reduce transportation costs. Their innovative design minimizes landfill waste and virgin material use, reducing the carbon footprint of task lighting while maintaining aesthetics.

For over seventy years, the Rodale Institute has pioneered and advocated organic farming through research and outreach. They conduct independent research on soil health, weed management, and more, while training farmers, offering organic produce to hospitals, and providing veterans with farming training. Rodale remains a leader in organic farming innovation.

The Make It Right Foundation, founded by Brad Pitt in 2007, builds sustainable homes in U.S. communities, starting in New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina. Homes feature green technologies like solar panels and involve community input during planning and construction.

Brendan Brazier, a former professional triathlete and two-time Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion, is a leading expert on plant-based nutrition. He co-founded Vega, offering premium nutritional shakes and bars, blending a passion for clean nutrition with innovative products, education, and an inspiring workplace.

New Belgium Brewing, an employee-owned, B-corporation, honors nature in every aspect of business. A Platinum Zero-Waste Business, they divert 99.9% of waste from landfills, generate on-site power, and use Smart Grid technology. They efficiently manage water, internally tax energy for green improvements, and support waterway protection and restoration.

John Shegerian, co-founder of several successful companies focused on education, health, and environmental sustainability, is recognized for founding Electronic Recyclers International (ERI). A prominent speaker and award-winning green business leader, he has also influenced state policy on reducing gang violence and has employed former gang members through his companies.