Speaker Profile

A passionate advocate for “doing the right thing,” Lewis Perkins has served as president of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute since 2015. Perkins previously led the Institute’s Fashion Positive initiative, which engages fashion designers, manufacturers, brands and influencers in creating Cradle to Cradle CertifiedTM materials and products with the circular economy in mind. Prior to joining the Institute, Perkins consulted with corporations and organizations on the social and environmental program development. He also served as Director of Sustainable Strategies for The Mohawk Group, a leading carpet manufacturer and the commercial division of Mohawk Industries.

Perkins’ passion for sustainability and non-profit work has included strategic roles with organizations such as The Clean Air Campaign, 360i and USWeb/CKS. He is an Ashoka and C&A Foundation Strategy Thought Partner for social entrepreneurs, a 2016 and 2017 member of the H&M Global Change Award Expert Panel, a Design Mentor for the Council of Fashion Designers of America Lexus Design Initiative – Eco Design Challenge Accelerator.

A featured speaker at the 2016 World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Consumption, Perkins has been a featured speaker at the 2009 Forbes Magazine Green Visionary Series, Sustainable Brands, LOHAS Forum, the White House Council for Environmental Quality GreenGov Symposium and the 53rd and 54th annual Grammy Awards Green Summit panels.

Perkins holds a Master of Business Administration in marketing and strategy with a focus on social responsibility from Emory University and a Bachelor of Arts from Washington & Lee University.

Lewis Perkins's Sessions