Living Future Company Profile

Background

The International Living Future Institute (Living Future) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a society that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. Established in 2006 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Living Future has been instrumental in promoting regenerative design practices within the built environment. Its mission is to cultivate a living future by demonstrating that regenerative solutions are both practical and beneficial in practice and policy. Over the years, the organization has influenced more than 55 million square feet of real estate development globally, underscoring its significant impact on sustainable architecture and urban planning.

Key Strategic Focus

Living Future's strategic focus centers on making regenerative design the new standard in the building industry. The organization aims to have regenerative, resilient solutions adopted as common practice for everyone involved in creating and maintaining buildings by 2030. To achieve this, Living Future has outlined several key objectives:

Inspiration: Facilitate 15 million visitors to buildings certified under their programs and engage with 50 professional organizations globally to increase influence in the building industry.

Support for Regenerative Projects: Support 35 million square feet of diverse projects in their building programs on their path to certification, an increase of over 400% from the 8 million square feet certified to date.

Refining Pathways to Regeneration: Complete the Equity in the Built Environment Initiative and make substantial progress towards Living Building Challenge 5.0.

These objectives are part of their 2025-2027 Strategic Plan, which outlines the organization's commitment to accelerating the adoption of regenerative design practices.

Financials and Funding

As a non-profit entity, Living Future's funding primarily comes from grants, donations, and membership fees. In July 2024, the organization received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, reflecting its alignment with federal sustainability initiatives. While specific financial details are not publicly disclosed, Living Future's revenue is estimated to be approximately $26.2 million annually, with an employee count of around 81.

Pipeline Development

Living Future's primary focus is on the development and certification of regenerative building projects through its Living Building Challenge program. This program sets the most ambitious performance standards for buildings, aiming to create structures that are self-sufficient and have a positive impact on their surroundings. The organization also supports the development of sustainable materials and products through its Declare label, which provides transparency about product ingredients and their environmental impact. Additionally, the Just label promotes social equity within organizations by assessing and improving workplace practices. These initiatives collectively contribute to a more sustainable and equitable built environment.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Living Future leverages several proprietary technologies and scientific methodologies to advance its mission:

Living Building Challenge: A performance-based certification program that defines the most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment.

Declare Label: A transparency platform for building products, providing information about product ingredients and their environmental impact.

Just Label: An organizational assessment tool that promotes social equity within organizations by evaluating and improving workplace practices.

These platforms are underpinned by rigorous scientific research and a commitment to innovation in sustainable design and construction practices.

Leadership Team

Living Future is led by a dedicated team committed to its mission:

Lindsay Baker: Chief Executive Officer.

Dominic Johnson: Chief Operating Officer.

Michael Berrisford: Editor-in-Chief.

Corinna Krauskopf: Chief Development Officer.

Anjula Duggal: Vice President, Marketing & Communications.

These leaders bring a wealth of experience in sustainability, architecture, and organizational development to guide Living Future's initiatives.

Competitor Profile

In the realm of sustainable building certifications and environmental advocacy, Living Future faces competition from several organizations:

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): Known for its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, USGBC is a prominent player in promoting sustainable building practices.

Green Building Initiative (GBI): Offers the Green Globes certification, focusing on environmental sustainability in building design and operation.

BREEAM: A UK-based certification system that assesses the sustainability performance of buildings.

These organizations, along with Living Future, contribute to the advancement of sustainable and regenerative design practices in the built environment.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

Living Future collaborates with a diverse range of partners to advance its mission:

Gaia: A partner supporting Living Future's initiatives.

Perkins&Will: A global design firm collaborating on sustainable building projects.

Prologis: A logistics real estate company involved in regenerative design practices.

These partnerships enhance Living Future's capacity to drive innovation and implement regenerative design solutions across various sectors.

Operational Insights

Living Future's operational strategy focuses on expanding its influence and impact in the regenerative design sector:

Membership Growth: Aims to increase membership to 7,500 individuals, fostering a global community of advocates for regenerative design.

Educational Initiatives: Plans to achieve 14,500 education enrollments, offering courses that accelerate awareness of regenerative building practices.

Advocacy and Policy: Developing a comprehensive policy platform to advocate for systemic change in building practices.

These strategies are designed to strengthen Living Future's position in the market and amplify its impact on sustainable building practices.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Living Future's strategic roadmap includes:

Global Expansion: Defining paths for international engagement and establishing affiliate organizations to broaden the reach of regenerative design practices.

Research and Publications: Producing new industry reports and publications to disseminate knowledge and best practices in regenerative design.

Community Engagement: Enhancing community engagement through events like the Living Future Conference, which convenes leaders in regenerative design to share insights and strategies.

These initiatives position Living Future to lead the transformation towards a regenerative built environment, aligning with its vision for a socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative world.