Michael S. Brown, Ph.D.
Dr. Michael S. Brown has worked at the cutting edge of sustainability for over 3 decades, leading trailblazing efforts for industry, government, and NGOs. At Brown and Wilmanns Environmental, LLC, he has collaborated in the development of innovations that include the Nike Materials Sustainability Index, the Norm Thompson Toolkit, Aveda’s Materials Guide, and the Made-By Fibre Environmental Benchmark. Mike has guided startups and mature companies in establishing effective sustainability programs and goals and in implementing management tools for tracking progress. His wide-ranging experience is particularly useful in shaping programs to fit with varying organizational values and cultures.
Prior to founding BWE, Mike created and directed the Environmental Assessment Program at Patagonia, the outdoor clothing company recognized for its state-of-the-art environmental practices. His work in state and local government agencies resulted in the development of innovative technical assistance programs for businesses, ranging from manufacturers of high-tech components and biomedical devices to auto body shops and dry cleaners. Mike received his M.R.P. and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University, specializing in environmental health policy. He is a Lecturer at UC Santa Barbara teaching courses in industrial ecology and the circular economy and has served as an Editor with the Journal of Industrial Ecology. He has written and spoken extensively on cutting-edge sustainability practices and is co-author of the book Workers at Risk.
In his free time, Mike can be found at the beach getting a surf session in (if there’s surf). Otherwise, he enjoys grabbing a coffee at a local coffee shop with his wife and a friend in downtown Santa Barbara, and maybe making a quick stop at a hidden garden to see what’s in bloom.
What makes Mike most excited about the sustainability space? He has seen firsthand how systems change can create positive change for generations to come. Growing up in Los Angeles, Mike would ride his bike home from school and cough for half an hour due to the air pollution. Today, the LA basin’s air quality has improved despite a growing population and more economic activity. From Mike’s perspective, “If that change could happen (and it did!), then I believe we have the ability to make changes that will stop and even reverse climate change and get all of us on a more sustainable path.”
