Gallery: Green Design Predictions for ...

Zem Joaquin - Founder & Editor-in-chief, Ecofabulous.com

With all of the uncertainty and anxiety that dominated the last few years, I hope we will see a rebirth and a renewed confidence. There is an opportunity to do more with less and celebrate organizations and individuals who are making those choices. In 2012 I also think you will see more companies, like Levi’s, who are finding ways to reduce their water consumption and work directly with farmers to help them become stewards of the land that they grow cotton on, while improving the lives of those workers. In 2012 you will see Cradle to Cradle products and innovations developing internationally. We have had some major challenges defending the clean air act during the past few years, but thanks to the EPA and groups like Mom’s Clean Air Force we are holding ground and it is my hope that, with grassroots persistence, we will find protection in 2012. I predict, despite immense political pressure, we will prioritize the air we breathe and consequentially our health. Finally, in 2012, I predict that the obsession with hyper-local will continue to spread and we will chose to source things that are grown, manufactured and/or embellished close to home.