Sustainable systems pioneer Lewis Perkins is the president of Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), the nonprofit dedicated to identifying, funding, scaling, and measuring the apparel and footwear industry’s proven environmental impact solutions. Perkins is dedicated to building programs and systems designed to activate brands, manufacturers, financiers, and innovators to do their part to decarbonize the industry. 

With over two decades of expertise in sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and philanthropy, Perkins formerly served as president of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII) where he founded and led the Institute’s Fashion Positive initiative. Prior to joining the C2CPII, Perkins served as director of sustainable strategies for the commercial sector of Mohawk Industries, a leading carpet manufacturer. 

Perkins has been tapped as an advisor and consultant to innovative environmental initiatives and programs such as the Earthshot Prize, Google’s Circular Economy Accelerator Program, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Fibres Initiative, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana’s Sustainable Fashion Awards, the Global Change Award at the H&M Foundation, and CFDA Sustainability Design Mentorship, among others. He has also participated on the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Consumption and lent expertise as a keynote speaker at esteemed events including Aspen Ideas: Climate, Reuters, Global Fashion Summit, Economist Impact, COP27, Vogue Forces of Fashion, and more. 

Perkins holds a Master of Business Administration in marketing and strategy with a focus on social responsibility from Emory University and a Bachelor of Arts from Washington & Lee University, from which he received the Distinguished Alumni Award.