Global Sustainable Brands Community Leaders to Gather in San Diego for Purpose-Driven Brand Innovation Conference

Sponsors, Speakers and Participants from Puma, Darden Restaurants, Target, Microsoft, Philips, Bloomberg, Coca-Cola Among 1,500 Gathering in San Diego, CA on June 3-6, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Members of Sustainable Brands®, a global community of business, sustainability and brand innovators from over 50 countries focused on how brands can succeed by shaping a better future, are set to convene for their largest annual community gathering at Sustainable Brands '13 (SB '13) June 3-6 this year. The U.S. conference takes place in San Diego, CA where for the 7^th year, businesses, solutions and service providers, NGOs, academics and entrepreneurs will convene to collaborate on enabling successful purpose-driven innovation. The theme for this year’s community gathering, From Revolution to Renaissance, focuses on shifts in society and highlights breakthroughs in market innovations that are helping reinvigorate global economies and building healthy natural systems.

“While some are still arguing the merits of a focus on environmental and social innovation, members of the Sustainable Brands community are moving forward to imagine and validate breakthrough examples of lower impact products and services that point the way to a future we can look forward to”

“While some are still arguing the merits of a focus on environmental and social innovation, members of the Sustainable Brands community are moving forward to imagine and validate breakthrough examples of lower impact products and services that point the way to a future we can look forward to,” said KoAnn Skrzyniarz, Founder of Sustainable Brands. “As our conversation expands around the world, we look forward to getting our community together in June to share new insights and ideas, as well as to discuss how we can continue to eliminate obstacles to shaping a flourishing future.”

Morning plenary sessions will highlight transformative ideas and address market trends and drivers that are shaping the future of business in the 21^st century. Six afternoon breakout streams focus conversation around core areas of innovation, including: Business Strategy & Metrics, Employee Engagement & Organizational Change, Supply Chain & Manufacturing, Product & Service Innovation, Consumer Insights & Behavior Change, and Communications. Sessions encourage interactive discussion among participants designed to share not just ‘The What’ on the forward edge of brand innovation, but also ‘The Why’, and ‘The How’ as well. Some sessions will serve as community dialogue starters geared to address obstacles faced by many and surface on the spot ideas about how these might be overcome.

Community members set to share learning and start conversation include Natasha Davidson, Area Marketing Manager at Philips, who will talk about sustainable innovation in emerging markets; Kim Lopdrop, Sr. VP Business Development at Darden Restaurants, will tee up a discussion about how brands are adding value through innovative investments in ecosystem services; and Wood Turner, VP Sustainable Innovation at Stonyfield Farms, will talk about whole systems shift in the food industry. Additional program and speaker information can be found on the conference website, which is being updated on a regular basis with new conversation topics and participants.

Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities

To provide sustainability, brand and design professionals with the tools they need to deliver solid business results, the Sustainable Brands Solutions Expo at SB’13 will provide an array of new materials and packaging solutions, supply chain management tools, waste to resource solutions, carbon and water measurement tools, behavior change technologies, and more. Space is still available for sustainable product and service providers to showcase their offerings in the Expo hall. Visit www.SustainableBrandsExpo.com for more information.

About Sustainable Brands

Sustainable Brands® is the premier global community of brand innovators who are shaping the future of commerce worldwide. Since 2004, our mission has been to inspire, engage and equip today’s business and brand leaders to prosper for the near and long term by leading the way to a better future. Digitally published news articles and issues-focused conversation topics, internationally-known conferences and regional events, a robust learning library, e-learning, and peer-to-peer membership groups all facilitate community learning and engagement throughout the year. Sustainable Brands is hosted by Sustainable Brands Worldwide, a division of Sustainable Life Media headquartered in San Francisco, CA.