How ten years of dedication has sparked lasting industry change.
In the world of sustainable building materials, few stories resonate as deeply as the journey of someone whose passion for environmental stewardship and transparency has helped shape an entire movement. At our 10th anniversary celebration, we celebrated the contributions of Linda Sorrento whose journey embodies passion, perseverance, and a commitment to uniting diverse perspectives in the pursuit of sustainable progress.
From early experiences shaped by environmental challenges to decades of leadership advancing transparency and collaboration, her story is one of innovation and purpose. In this conversation, she reflects on the milestones of her journey, the impact of her work with mindful MATERIALS, and her vision for the future of the materials industry.
Q: Please share a little about your journey and how you became involved with mindful MATERIALS.
Linda: My journey with mindful MATERIALS (mM) began as all transformations do — through a moment of inspiration that felt personal and inevitable. While co-chairing AIA’s Materials Knowledge Working Group, I first encountered the vision for mM in 2017, when Nancy Hulsey from HKS presented her groundbreaking idea for a materials transparency label. Her passion and commitment to transparency in the industry struck a deep chord in me, resonating with the heart of my work and personal mission. In that moment, I saw how this idea could become the bridge the industry desperately needed — a way to bring clarity, accountability, and purpose into every material choice.
Later, at ILFI’s Living Product Expo, I connected with Jennifer Atlee, Jeff Frost, and Rebecca Best; I felt the pull to bring this vision to life alongside them and others who shared this commitment. Being part of mM felt like a continuation of my journey — a way to channel my experiences, my family’s story, and my passion for systemic change into something tangible.
Since then, I’ve been honored to watch mM evolve, supporting its growth with a profound sense of purpose. This award is a reminder of how meaningful this work has been and the countless people who have believed in the importance of what we’re doing. To be recognized in this way reaffirms my belief in the power of transparency and collaboration to transform our industry. I am filled with gratitude for everyone who has supported this journey. For me, mM isn’t just an initiative; it’s a movement — a testament to what we can achieve when we come together to create a healthier, more resilient future for all.
Q: What first sparked your interest in sustainability within the building materials industry?
Linda: My sustainability journey began long before my career — rooted in my experiences growing up along Lake Erie's peaceful yet quietly poisoned shores. In the 1950s and 60s, our small lakeside community, founded generations before by my family, was idyllic on the surface, but it harbored a far darker tale. During rapid industrial expansion, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and pesticides infiltrated our air, soil, and waterways, embedding themselves in the landscape we cherished. What had once been a place of pristine beauty and family legacy soon bore the scars of environmental contamination, as these pollutants manifested in devastating ways for those who called it home.
My family, seven generations strong on this land, held onto memories of a place built for connection — a summer haven my grandfather had created in the 1920s for 30 families, where endless days meant laughter, swimming, and shared experiences by the lake’s edge. But as time passed, a different reality emerged. By my generation, we began to see unsettling patterns — clusters of cancer, multiple sclerosis, and other illnesses that took root within our close-knit community. These afflictions touched every family, including my own, where I faced my battle with cancer at 23. Surviving it gave me a profound sense of purpose and a realization: I’d been given a second chance, and I couldn’t waste it. I had the chance — and the responsibility — to make a meaningful impact.
As a young interior designer in the late 70s, I brought this awareness into my career with a vision shaped by my family’s legacy and my firsthand experience with environmental injustice and nature. At Syracuse University, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring opened my eyes to the possibility of change. In the 90s, a transformative workshop by William McDonough at NYU introduced me to his Hanover Principles, which became a guiding philosophy in my work. His ideas propelled me deeper into sustainable design, eventually leading me to LEED accreditation in 2004 and a role at USGBC heading LEED for Commercial Interiors, thanks to the mentorship of my friend Penny Bonda.
This journey intensified through my board involvement in the Healthy Building Network (HBN), now Habitable, and pioneering efforts with the AIA's Materials Knowledge Working Group. Each step has been a continuation of that original, profoundly personal motivation: to create environments that honor both people and the planet, striving to ensure that no community, no family, should ever endure the pain mine did. Today, every effort I make toward sustainable materials is an act of reverence for my family’s history, my community’s resilience, and a future where health and well-being are the foundation of every material choice.
Q: What motivated you to contribute to mindful MATERIALS, and what do you see as the most significant impact of your work so far?
Linda: My primary contribution has been establishing a robust organizational framework and governance structure as the bedrock of mM’s work. This structure provides more than stability; it offers a dynamic, adaptable framework that supports the growth of initiatives, empowers members, and amplifies the collaborative impact of our partnerships. With solid governance in place, mM can set and maintain high standards for itself and guide and inspire its network, giving all stakeholders the confidence to push boundaries and explore innovative, sustainable practices. I sought to create a foundation that allows mM and its members to work from a place of strength and shared vision, positioning us to take on complex challenges with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
One of the most transformative outcomes of this collaborative work has been the development of the mM Common Materials Framework (CMF), our unifying language that aligns every part of the industry in pursuit of a shared goal: materials that are genuinely sustainable, equitable, and aligned with the health of people and the planet. The CMF acts as a guiding compass in a field where stakeholders often contend with competing standards and fragmented practices. It offers clear, cohesive direction and a foundation of trust, empowering stakeholders to make decisions that reflect a holistic commitment to sustainable progress. This framework doesn’t just streamline complex issues — it brings coherence and alignment, enabling all stakeholders to channel their efforts more effectively and accelerate our journey toward a global sustainable materials economy with easy access to all.
Through this foundational work, mM has evolved into a trusted platform where collaboration is championed, transparency is foundational, and the path forward is clearer than ever. The structure we’ve built together upholds our mission and empowers the entire industry to act with integrity, unity, and a shared sense of purpose.
Q: Can you describe a project or achievement with mindful MATERIALS you’re particularly proud of?
Linda: One achievement I’m especially proud of is the establishment of mM as a 501(c)(3) organization and creating a board structure that upholds and strengthens our mission. This foundational work has provided the stability and flexibility needed for mM to thrive as a collaborative, innovative force in the industry. Setting up a robust governance framework wasn’t just about organizational structure; it was about creating a space where diverse voices can come together, ideas can flourish, and meaningful, sustainable progress can be achieved.
The nonprofit status and board framework enable mM to operate with transparency and integrity while fostering a culture of collaboration that empowers staff, members, partners, and stakeholders to push the boundaries of sustainable practices. By building this foundation, we’ve created a platform that supports our shared goals and accelerates our collective impact, allowing mM to lead with resilience and innovation as we tackle the complex challenges of the materials economy.
Q: How do you see the materials industry evolving in the next few years, and what role would you like mindful MATERIALS to play in that evolution?
Linda: In the coming years, we’re poised for a revolution in the materials industry — one where regenerative practices and net-positive contributions to human and ecological health become the industry standard, not the exception. We’re on the edge of an era where building materials won’t just sustain life but actively enhance it, supporting resilient ecosystems and healthier communities.
I see mM stepping forward as a powerful convener, much like the U.N. Foundation’s global impact on a bigger scale, bringing together voices across sectors to unite in pursuit of a sustainable and just materials economy. Our role isn’t simply to provide resources but to forge collaborative partnerships that drive transformational change. By setting a high bar for transparency and accountability, mM can serve as the industry’s guiding compass, helping us align our actions toward shared health, equity, and sustainability goals.
In this future, mM will be more than a resource — it will be a leader in scaling sustainable practices across global markets, an anchor for regional and cultural resilience, and a beacon for holistic change in the materials world. This is about uniting an entire industry to meet the pressing demands of our time with integrity, foresight, and a commitment to leaving a positive legacy for generations to come.
Q: What are some changes you hope to see in sustainable materials practices, either within your organization or across the industry as a whole?
Linda: I envision a profound transformation in the building materials industry that redefines what we build with and how we understand and relate to those materials at every level. I hope to see a shift toward practices prioritizing circularity, regional resilience, and cultural connectivity as essential parts of our industry’s DNA. Imagine an industry where bio-based materials become the norm, supporting regenerative land practices and fostering healthy ecosystems. This shift could fundamentally reshape how we interact with the natural world, making buildings sustainable and life-enhancing.
At mM, I hope to see us raising the bar on transparency and accountability, establishing sourcing practices that are as ethical and environmentally sound as they are practical. The potential here is enormous: we’re not just working with materials but crafting the foundation for future generations to thrive. This shift will require bold leadership and deep commitment, but our industry is on the verge of achieving something monumental. It’s time to imagine materials as more than resources; they are the lifeblood of resilient, regenerative spaces supporting human and ecological health.
Q: Who or what inspires you in your work toward sustainability?
Linda: I am in awe of the pioneers whose courage and vision laid the foundation for this movement — individuals like Margaret Mead, Rachel Carson, and William McDonough, who dared to imagine a world where we live in harmony with nature. Mentors like Penny Bonda, Peter Templeton, Bill Walsh, and Bill Reed have profoundly shaped my journey, each a testament to how much a single person can accomplish when guided by purpose.
Today, I am continuously inspired by remarkable women leaders such as Annie Bevan, Lindsay Baker, Rachel Gutter, and Gina Ciganik, whose work reflects the same unyielding dedication to sustainability, planetary, and human health. These leaders have accomplished feats that once seemed impossible, and their determination lights the way for us all. This award has reminded me how much I owe to the encouragement, support, and camaraderie of an awesome mM team (Annie Bevan, Ken Bevan, Laurel Chadzynski, Alex Muller, Jack Dinning, Jen Levisen, Jeff Frost, Charlie Stevenson, Taylor Friehl), and of this greater network — a network not just of colleagues but of friends who share a vision for a better world. It is their passion, resilience, and steadfast belief in positive change that fuels my commitment to this work, and I am honored to walk alongside them on this path.
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting in the sustainable materials space?
Linda: I would encourage them to cultivate a mindset of wonder and humility — two essential qualities for navigating this evolving space. Begin with curiosity, allowing yourself to explore widely and question deeply. Sustainable change isn’t simply about understanding materials; it’s about embracing the interconnected web of human and ecological health, resilience, and regeneration. Building a strong network is vital, but listening to diverse voices and honoring the wisdom they bring is equally important.
Stay grounded in a purpose greater than yourself — a purpose that respects life in all its forms. Remember that true sustainability isn’t just about solving problems; it’s about understanding our role within the natural world and recognizing the impact of every choice. Approach this work as both a responsibility and a gift that enables you to make a positive, enduring difference for generations yet to come.
Q: As we celebrate mindful MATERIALS’ 10th anniversary, what are your hopes for the next decade of progress?
Linda: I am filled with gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead. Advances in materials science, technology, and systems are like the first pioneering step on the moon — a breakthrough that allows us to see the world in ways we couldn’t before. It’s an opportunity to approach sustainability with fresh perspectives and new possibilities, building on the foundations of pioneers like Rachel Carson. Her vision is now within reach, and it’s time to realize her words by making meaningful, regenerative choices that respect our planet and its people.
In the coming years, I want to see mM continue as a guiding force in this journey, leading the industry with transparency, accountability, and collaboration. This award has reinforced my commitment to this vision and reminds me of the power of our community to create lasting change. I am deeply honored to be part of this movement, working alongside dedicated individuals who share a vision for a healthier, more resilient world.
Q: Are there specific goals or initiatives you’re excited to work on in the coming years with mindful MATERIALS?
Linda: As I look to the future, I find myself in a moment of transition — stepping back to make space for the next generation to lead. Being the seventh generation on my family’s land in Western New York has given me a deep sense of stewardship and continuity. Just as I inherited this legacy, I recognize the importance of passing on the torch, allowing new voices to shape the path forward.
I believe that our work in sustainable materials is not just about the present; it’s about laying the groundwork for those who will come after us. This journey is part of a larger story that extends beyond any single generation. The initiatives we undertake today, like advancing regenerative materials and regional resilience, are gifts to the future — a way of ensuring that our choices contribute to a healthier, more harmonious world for generations to come.
With this perspective, I am profoundly honored by this award, as it represents my efforts and the collective dedication of a community that values continuity, responsibility, and hope for a better world. Thank you for recognizing the significance of this journey. It’s a privilege to contribute to a legacy in a small way that I hope will inspire those who come after us to continue building, protecting, and innovating with the same commitment to our shared future and planet.
Connect with Linda → https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindasorrentofasidleedfellow/
Comments