Presented by: Alexander von Bismarck and Andrea Johnson

As we move buildings toward sustainability, we must also encourage the building materials industry to do the same. What comprises responsible industry? Using the U.S. Lacey Act plant provisions as a platform, this session will help building design and construction professionals understand U.S. regulations that chart the course toward industry that practices social, environmental and economic sustainability.

Take the Session

M04: Video Playback

Note: by clicking on this link you will be directed to Cascadia's secure server for registration and payment. Sessions are $75 for Cascadia members, and $90 for non-members. By registering and purchasing this session, you will have 60 consecutive days to view the content.

Take the Quiz

M04: Responsible Industry Quiz

Note: Taking the quiz is intended for individuals seeking the Living Building Leader designation. The quiz is now comprised of 20 questions. You are entitled to take the quiz once, which requires an 80% passing score. Any score below 80% precludes the session from being counted towards your Living Building Leader designation. Please prepare accordingly.

References

Coming soon!

Presenters

Alexander Von Bismarck - Executive Director, Environmental Investigation Agency

Von Bismarck has over ten years of experience in international environmental science, investigations and policy. He has conducted research in ecology and the impacts of climate change at Harvard University and the New England Aquarium. He also served in United Nations and World Bank, and lead 2006 United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) study to identify options to control the illegal trade of ozone depleting chemicals.

Von Bismarck led an investigation into the illegal logging in Honduras; he testified at a congressional hearing on proposed U.S. legislation that would criminalize the trade in illegal timber and wood products. Von Bismarck joined EIA in 1995 as an investigator and campaigner; he has been part of EIA's international investigative team to expose criminal syndicates moving illegal timber throughout Asia and Latin America. In 2004 he uncovered shipments of baby-cribs made of illegal timber entering the United States.

Andrea Johnson - Director of Forest Campaigns, Environmental Investigation Agency

Andrea plays the lead role in crafting the program’s overall strategy – in close consultation with EIA’s Executive Director, Alexander von Bismarck – and in making the day-to-day decisions about how to implement this strategy. Andrea graduated from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in 2005 with a Master's in Environmental Science focused on social science and advocacy. She received her B.A. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard University in 1998. She speaks fluent Spanish and Bahasa Indonesian.

Along with EIA’s Executive Director, Andrea has played and continues to play an integral role in coordinating the broad environmental, labor and industry coalition that EIA has forged to support effective implementation of the “plant provisions” enacted into U.S. federal law in May 2008 via a revamped Lacey Act. She also was the primary author of EIA’s 2007 report, “No Questions Asked”—which provided powerful rationale for the U.S. government to amend the Lacey Act to cover illegally sourced timber and wood products.