Gil Friend
Encyclopedia
Gil Friend is a business consultant, author, system ecologist, and strategist in sustainable business
, clean technology
, and communications. He is widely considered one of the founders of the sustainability movement, and was named by the International Society of Sustainability Professionals to their first Sustainability Hall of Fame, acknowledging “those people that have contributed the most to the emerging field of sustainability” (along with Ray Anderson
, Amory Lovins
, Karl-Henrik Robert
and Bob Willard).
from Antioch University
, has a black belt in Aikido
, and is a seasoned practitioner of “The Natural Step
” environmental management system.
From 1992 through 1998, he wrote a column for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate
entitled The New Bottom Line, focusing on business and the environment.
In 2010, Friend authored the book, "The Truth About Green Business" (FT Press
, providing a business handbook for sustainability strategy and implementation.
Friend also maintains a blog on these subjects, Strategic Sustainability and contributes to Worldchanging
, GreenBiz and other blogs on sustainability and business issues.
Other publications (partial list):
He was a founding board member of the Sustainable Business Alliance, and currently serves on the boards of directors of Open Data Registry, Inc. and Ecological Building Network , and the advisory boards of CleanFish, WattBot, Green World Campaign and the Green Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
’s Clean Tech Advisory Council, and was named one of the Bay Area’s “Top 25 movers and shakers in CleanTech” in 2009 and 2010.
Friend served in the California Governor’s Office, developing early sustainability policies and programs. He was a founding board member of Internet pioneer Institute for Global Communications
, founder and Executive Director of Foundation for the Arts of Peace, and cofounder and codirector of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a leading urban ecology and economic development “think-and-do tank,” where he pioneered the current “green roof” trend more than 35 years ago.
In 2006, Tomorrow Magazine called him “One of the country’s leading environmental management consultants — a real expert who combines theoretical sophistication with hands-on, in-the-trenches know-how.”
Sustainable business
Sustainable business, or green business, is enterprise that has no negative impact on the global or local environment, community, society, or economy—a business that strives to meet the triple bottom line. Often, sustainable businesses have progressive environmental and human rights policies...
, clean technology
Clean technology
Clean technology includes recycling, renewable energy , information technology, green transportation, electric motors, green chemistry, lighting, Greywater, and many other appliances that are now more energy efficient. It is a means to create electricity and fuels, with a smaller environmental...
, and communications. He is widely considered one of the founders of the sustainability movement, and was named by the International Society of Sustainability Professionals to their first Sustainability Hall of Fame, acknowledging “those people that have contributed the most to the emerging field of sustainability” (along with Ray Anderson
Ray Anderson
Ray Anderson may refer to:*Ray Anderson , light heavyweight boxer*Ray Anderson *Ray Anderson , jazz trombone and trumpet player...
, Amory Lovins
Amory Lovins
Amory Bloch Lovins is an American environmental scientist and writer, Chairman and Chief Scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute. He has worked in the field of energy policy and related areas for four decades...
, Karl-Henrik Robert
Karl-Henrik Robèrt
Karl-Henrik Robèrt, M.D., Ph.D. , is a Swedish cancer scientist and an important figure in the worldwide sustainability movement. He is known for The Natural Step, a framework that lays out the system conditions for sustainability, that arose from his consultations with municipalities, businesses,...
and Bob Willard).
Education
Friend holds an M.S. degree in Systems EcologySystems ecology
Systems ecology is an interdisciplinary field of ecology, taking a holistic approach to the study of ecological systems, especially ecosystems. Systems ecology can be seen as an application of general systems theory to ecology. Central to the systems ecology approach is the idea that an ecosystem...
from Antioch University
Antioch University
Antioch University is an American university with five campuses located in four states. Campuses are located in Los Angeles, California; Santa Barbara, California; Keene, New Hampshire; Yellow Springs, Ohio; and Seattle, Washington. Additionally, Antioch University houses two institution-wide...
, has a black belt in Aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
, and is a seasoned practitioner of “The Natural Step
The Natural Step
The Natural Step is a non-profit organization founded in Sweden in 1989 by scientist Karl-Henrik Robèrt. Following publication of the Brundtland Report in 1987, Robèrt developed The Natural Step framework, setting out the system conditions for the sustainability of human activities on Earth;...
” environmental management system.
Writing
He is coauthor of "Biofuels Development and Soil Productivity" (1982); and has contributed chapters to several books, including "Worldchanging: A User’s Guide to the 21st Century", "Sustainable Enterprise Report", "Sustainable Enterprise Fieldbook", "Sustainable Food Systems", and "Stepping Stones".From 1992 through 1998, he wrote a column for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate
Los Angeles Times Syndicate
The Los Angeles Times Syndicate and the Los Angeles Times Syndicate International are newspaper syndicates which sold more than 140 features in more than 100 countries around the world....
entitled The New Bottom Line, focusing on business and the environment.
In 2010, Friend authored the book, "The Truth About Green Business" (FT Press
FT Press
FT Press , the book publishing imprint related to the Financial Times newspaper, creates books in the areas of General Business, Finance and Investing, Sales and Marketing, Leadership, Management and Strategy, Human Resources, and Global Business. FT Press is the publishing partner for Wharton...
, providing a business handbook for sustainability strategy and implementation.
Friend also maintains a blog on these subjects, Strategic Sustainability and contributes to Worldchanging
Worldchanging
Worldchanging is an American non-profit online magazine and blog about sustainability and social innovation. At 19/09/2011, it was taken over by Architecture for Humanity....
, GreenBiz and other blogs on sustainability and business issues.
Other publications (partial list):
- “The Natural Step”, in Stone Soup for the World, Conari, 1998
- Mining and Sustainability: Strategic Horizons, Natural Logic, 1998
- Building an Environmental Economy. with Ernest A. Lowe. City of Berkeley, 1993
- Applied Industrial Ecology (contributor), Change Management Center, 1993
- "Working Together: Community Self-Reliance in California," State of California, 1981
- "Biofuels Development and Soil Productivity," Office of Planning & Research, State of California, 1982;
- "Closing the Circle: Waste Management, Nutrient Cycles and Regional Food Systems,” Mazingira, 1978
- "Energy, Agriculture and Neighborhood Food Systems," with David J. Morris. Institute for Local Self Reliance, Washington DC. 1974
- "Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Science". Colonial Times, Washington DC. 1973
Business
In 1999, he founded Natural Logic Inc., a strategic advisory firm helping companies design, implement and measure profitable sustainability strategies. Friend currently holds the position of President and CEO.He was a founding board member of the Sustainable Business Alliance, and currently serves on the boards of directors of Open Data Registry, Inc. and Ecological Building Network , and the advisory boards of CleanFish, WattBot, Green World Campaign and the Green Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician who is the 49th and current Lieutenant Governor of California. Previously, he was the 42nd Mayor of San Francisco, and was elected in 2003 to succeed Willie Brown, becoming San Francisco's youngest mayor in 100 years. Newsom was re-elected in 2007...
’s Clean Tech Advisory Council, and was named one of the Bay Area’s “Top 25 movers and shakers in CleanTech” in 2009 and 2010.
Friend served in the California Governor’s Office, developing early sustainability policies and programs. He was a founding board member of Internet pioneer Institute for Global Communications
Institute for Global Communications
The Institute for Global Communications or IGC Internet is an institution that provides Internet presence for groups deemed "progressive" for example, the Andrea Dworkin archive.IGC Internet is a project of the Tides Center....
, founder and Executive Director of Foundation for the Arts of Peace, and cofounder and codirector of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a leading urban ecology and economic development “think-and-do tank,” where he pioneered the current “green roof” trend more than 35 years ago.
In 2006, Tomorrow Magazine called him “One of the country’s leading environmental management consultants — a real expert who combines theoretical sophistication with hands-on, in-the-trenches know-how.”