A background that began in design segued nicely into a career that focused on social science and sustainability for Leyla Acaroglu, Director of Melbourne, Australia-based Eco Innovators. Now, Acaroglu is viewed as an expert in helping designers and those in the design community seamlessly blend their work with sustainable practices.

“There is so much potential and opportunity for innovation if you look at sustainability as an opportunity rather than a problem,” Acaroglu explains. “The sustainable design-thinking approach can really result in sustainable outcomes.”

Bay Localize inspires and supports Bay Area residents in building equitable, resilient communities. The organization confronts the challenges of climate instability, rising energy costs and recession by boosting the Bay Area region’s capacity to provide for everyone’s needs, sustainably and equitably. It is Communications and Outreach Manager Corrine L. Van Hook’s mission to help spread the organization’s message.

“The impacts of climate change are real,†Van Hook says. “We are a fossil fuel-dependent economy, and it needs to get better. It’s really starting to affect communities.â€

The Wellness Forum founder Dr. Pam Popper has taken the concept of plant-based nutrition — viewed as a specific and optimal diet for human beings — and studied it as a way to avoid degenerative-based conditions like diabetes, cancer and more. Eating an optimal diet allows Dr. Popper to eat whenever she is hungry with virtually no fluctuation in her weight day to day.

“People say, ‘Is it really that simple?’ It really is,” Dr. Popper says. “Try to stay away from so much packaged and processed food. When I started looking at those labels, I realized there wasn’t even food [in those products].”

As Best Buy‘s Director of Environmental Sustainability, Scott Weislow oversees the retailer’s ongoing efforts to lessen its and its products’ environmental impact. One major innovation at Best Buy is the companywide electronics recycling program, which is second to none among national retailers. Every store features a recycling kiosk for quick drop-off of ink and toner cartridges, rechargeable batteries, wires, cords, cables, bags, gift cards and more. But, Best Buy goes far beyond the small items, offering in-store recycling collection on nearly everything it sells.

“It’s very important for [Best Buy] to maintain environmental standards and to ensure that those products don’t wind up in landfills or get sent to undeveloped countries where they can be broken down in undesirable ways,” Weislow says. “We recycle approximately 409 pounds of electronics for every minute that our stores are open.”