The fifth annual Opportunity Green sustainable business conference kicked off Wednesday evening at Los Angeles Center Studios to a VIP reception. Adrian Grenier and Peter Glatzer were on hand as recipients of the 2011 Eco-Maverick Awards for founding SHFT, a site that is “curating the culture of today’s environment.” On Thursday morning green design thought leaders including Yves Behar, Gavin McIntyre, and Aron Bosworth, also took to the stage, speaking to this year’s theme “Accelerate” while presenting their best ideas alongside stories from CEOs, entrepreneurs, government officials, and other agents of social change.

The atmosphere was one of friendly camaraderie as attendees gathered at Stage 6 for opening remarks from co-hosts Boise Thomas of the Discovery Network’s eco-lifestyle show Planet Green and Sierra Club Green Home founder Jennifer Schwab. The duo encouraged us to hold hands while they repeated the Opportunity Green Manifesto, which was printed on bamboo with eco-friendly ink and put on display at registration. This conference is not business as usual.

Today’s agenda included Global Game Changers & Cultural Icons with Don Cheadle, Jeremy Heimans, and Leslie Cordes; Green Product Innovation and New Business Models with Ian Yolles, Andrew Williamson and Annie Lescoart; The New Art of Collaboration with Tim Kostigan, Tensie Whelan, Lewis Fix, and Sue Igoe; as well as workshops on biomimicry, branding and corporate responsibility, design thinking, and opportunities in the mobile landscape.