William Mcdonough Email & Phone Number

Charlottesville, Virginia, Us

William McDonough advises corporations, governments, non-profits and other organizations on ideas, product concepts and solutions to a wide range of sustainability issues. His values-driven approach helps organizations embed sustainable growth principles into their culture and advance progress toward their positive vision. Specific services include advising executives, consulting, developing strategic products, assisting in branding, education and communications regarding Cradle to Cradle® design thinking and circular economy innovation.

Charlottesville, Virginia, Us

Through MBDC, William McDonough advises major brands on applying the concepts of the 2002 book he co-authored, "Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things" to product development. McDonough consults on the core concepts of biological and technical nutrients that can be returned to the soil or upcycled endlessly, with clean water, renewable energy and social fairness. The assessment of products includes five categories of analysis – material health, material reutilization, energy and carbon management, water stewardship and social fairness – to determine the level of product certification. The work is transforming how companies design, manufacture, distribute and upcycle, powering the circular economy and a positive future for all.

Charlottesville, Va, Us

Under William McDonough’s leadership, the architecture firm is the first choice for clients looking for “a building like a tree,” place-specific, high-performance and cost-effective designs. McDonough has a long history of leadership in architecture, design thinking, green buildings and circular economy, including having designed the United States’ precedent-setting net-zero energy building – Oberlin College’s Lewis Center. Recent corporate building projects include 333 Brannan, Dropbox’s headquarters in San Francisco, and Plantronics’ European headquarters in The Netherlands. Among his diverse corporate achievements are notable landmark buildings in the sustainability movement including Ford’s River Rouge plant in Dearborn, Michigan; Herman Miller’s GreenHouse factory and offices in Holland, Michigan; Hero MotoCorp’s Garden Factory in Neemrana, India; Nike’s European headquarters in Hilversum, The Netherlands; and the Gap’s corporate campus at 901 Cherry in San Bruno, California – now YouTube’s headquarters.

Amsterdam, Nl

William McDonough is co-founder of Fashion for Good, a joint-industry initiative launched in 2017 which aims to transform the global apparel chain into a force for good using Cradle to Cradle® and The Five Goods™ to define its quality. As part of the initiative, McDonough helped to create the world’s first recyclable/compostable t-shirt for the global retailer C&A.

San Francisco, Ca, Us

William McDonough co-founded the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute to scale up and expand the rigorous product certification program which has been developed and implemented by MBDC. McDonough donated an exclusive license for the certification program and methodology to the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and the Institute now administers the program and manages the Product Standard as an independent, third-party, not-for-profit organization.

Stanford, Ca, Us

William McDonough serves as an adjunct professor to Stanford University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. McDonough became the subject of Stanford University Libraries’ first Living Archive in 2012.

Ithaca, Ny, Us

Selected by Cornell University, William McDonough served a six-year term of appointment with the A.D. White Professors-at-Large program delivering public lectures and specialized seminars.

Charlottesville, Va, Us

GreenBlue was founded by William McDonough to convene industry groups around Cradle to Cradle® issues.

William McDonough created the coalition to bring parties of interest in products and packaging together to articulate strategies, product development concepts, standards, policy frameworks and potential recycling logistics.

Charlottesville, Va, Us

William McDonough served as dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia.

Master Of Architecture (M.Arch.)

A.B. Visual Studies, Visual Studies, Art History, Comparative Literature