Reflections from the mindfulMATERIALS Cross-Forum Summit 2025: Building a Sustainable Future Together

As the founder of Ecomedes, I’ve always believed that technology has the power to transform how we approach sustainability in the built environment. That’s why attending the mindfulMATERIALS (mM) Cross-Forum Summit in Minneapolis on October 9-10, 2025, felt like a pivotal moment—not just for me personally, but for the entire industry. This third annual gathering brought together nearly 70 leaders from 65 organizations, including manufacturers, architects, designers, contractors, and sustainability advocates. We convened in a stunning historic venue with exposed brick walls, elegant chandeliers, and an atmosphere buzzing with collaborative energy. The summit wasn’t just another conference; it was a catalyst for turning fragmented efforts into unified action toward a greener, more responsible built world.

mindfulMATERIALS, often referred to as the “UN of Sustainable Materials,” is an organization dedicated to embedding transparency and accountability into every stage of a building product’s lifecycle. Their mission is clear: to prevent unintentional harm from material choices by fostering a shared understanding of sustainability impacts. This includes everything from sourcing and production to end-of-life considerations. In 2025, mM and its Forums are laser-focused on building the infrastructure needed to scale smarter material decisions across the globe. The Cross-Forum Summit exemplified this, serving as a platform for radical collaboration, where diverse stakeholders aligned on tools, data, and strategies to drive systemic change.

The event’s theme revolved around the Common Materials Framework (CMF), a groundbreaking initiative that provides a shared language for product sustainability. Organized around the five impact areas of the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Architecture & Design Materials Pledge—human health, ecosystem health, climate health, social health & equity, and circular economy—the CMF brings clarity to a complex landscape of certifications, standards, and data. It’s designed to reduce risk, improve decision-making, and enable consistent evaluation of materials’ environmental and social footprints. At the summit, we witnessed firsthand how this framework is evolving from concept to reality, with significant strides in tools like the mM CMF Airtable and the upcoming CMF Implementation Toolkit.

Day 1: Igniting Collaboration and Vision

Day 1 kicked off with an electric vibe, as participants gathered for networking, breakout sessions, and presentations that set the stage for deeper dives. Surrounded by industry leaders, innovators, and sustainability champions, the energy was palpable. We explored collaborative frameworks for a greener built environment, with discussions centered on aligning standards, sharing verified data, and scaling impact across the ecosystem.

A highlight was the preview of the CMF Implementation Toolkit, poised for its official launch at GreenBuild later this year. This toolkit, built collaboratively with mM Forum members and partners, serves as a roadmap to a more connected, consistent, and scalable sustainable materials ecosystem. Born from years of collaboration among manufacturers, AECO (architecture, engineering, construction, and operations) firms, ecolabel standards organizations, and NGOs, it turns alignment into action. By helping every stakeholder speak the same language, share verified data, and scale impact, the toolkit addresses the fragmentation that has long plagued the industry.

We also delved into the mM CMF Airtable, a dynamic, open-source database that has seen remarkable progress. This Airtable serves as a centralized repository for CMF-aligned data, allowing users to track, prioritize, and implement sustainability metrics in real time. Over the past year, the community has made great strides in populating and refining this tool, incorporating feedback from diverse stakeholders to ensure it’s user-friendly and comprehensive. For instance, updates have included enhanced prioritization features (like CMF Prioritization v1.0) and additional resources for implementation, making it easier for organizations to integrate CMF into their workflows. Seeing the Airtable in action during sessions reinforced how it’s democratizing access to sustainable material data, empowering even small firms to make informed choices without overwhelming resources.

As the day progressed, breakout groups tackled topics like data ecosystems in practice, fostering overnight epiphanies that would carry into Day 2. The venue’s industrial-chic setting—with its brick walls and arched windows—mirrored the blend of tradition and innovation we were discussing: honoring the built environment’s history while pushing toward a sustainable future.

Day 2: From Insights to Actionable Next Steps

Building on the momentum from Day 1, Day 2 started bright and early with a nourishing breakfast and a recap of Thursday’s discussions, including those “overnight epiphanies” that often spark the best ideas. The agenda was packed with forward-thinking sessions, beginning with the BBB Collective’s presentation on “CMF and Data Ecosystem in Practice.” This group, representing a coalition of building industry leaders, showcased real-world applications of the CMF, demonstrating how shared infrastructure can drive verifiable impact across the supply chain.

Next came the Toolkit Launch Plan session, which was nothing short of electric. We mapped out the rollout at GreenBuild and beyond, discussing how this open-source resource will debut on November 5, 2025, at GreenBuild’s Building Materials Summit and online. The toolkit includes practical guides, such as the CMF Reference Guide, prioritization tools, and implementation resources tailored for partners and contributors. Facilitated feedback sessions followed, where participants sharpened the collective vision through interactive dialogues. These moments highlighted the summit’s collaborative spirit—everyone from ecolabel certifiers to manufacturers contributed insights to refine the toolkit’s usability.

The morning continued with advancing industry awareness of the CMF Toolkit, emphasizing education and outreach strategies to broaden adoption. We then dove into “Future Vision and Next Steps: What’s in Store for 2026-28,” a forward-looking discussion that outlined a roadmap for sustained progress. This included plans to expand the Data Ecosystem v1.0, which is grounded in the CMF and enables manufacturers to digitize and share product data through aligned schemas. By making this data accessible within existing platforms, it bridges gaps between stakeholders, turning siloed information into a connected network.

The day wrapped up by noon, leaving us inspired and equipped with actionable plans. It was clear: we’re not just talking about sustainability; we’re actively building it through tools like the CMF Airtable and Toolkit.

The CMF’s Evolution: Strides in Airtable and the Upcoming Toolkit

At the heart of the summit was the CMF itself, which has matured significantly since its inception. As a unified language for sustainable building products, the CMF organizes data around key impact categories, making it easier to compare and select materials that align with goals like reducing toxicity, promoting circularity, and supporting social equity. The mM CMF Airtable has been instrumental in this evolution. This collaborative database, hosted on Airtable’s platform, allows real-time updates and contributions from the community. Recent strides include integrating AECO-firm resources, additional CMF resources, and tools for partners and contributors. 

Looking ahead, the CMF Implementation Toolkit represents the next leap forward. Set for release at GreenBuild, it provides a comprehensive roadmap for adoption. Features include prioritization frameworks, implementation toolkits, and guides for joining the movement. By grounding everything in the CMF, the toolkit ensures that data is consistent, verifiable, and scalable—addressing pain points like inconsistent labeling and data silos. This isn’t just about compliance; it’s about empowering the industry to make decisions that benefit people and the planet.

Ecomedes’ Commitment: Powering the Movement as a Tech Partner

At Ecomedes, we’re deeply committed to supporting this hardworking community of organizations across the entire industry. As a climate tech company, our platform helps enterprises, architects, designers, and project developers reduce costs, time, and environmental impact through optimized building product purchasing. We digitize vast amounts of product data, making it searchable, filterable, and actionable—directly aligning with mM’s goals.

We’re proud to be a key tech partner in this movement, integrating the CMF into our enterprise-grade cloud software. This means users can access CMF-aligned data seamlessly, evaluating materials based on holistic criteria like human health, ecosystem impacts, and circularity. For instance, our tools allow manufacturers to upload verified data, architects to filter by sustainability metrics, and owners to track project-wide impacts. By digitizing the CMF, we’re helping scale its adoption, ensuring that sustainable decisions become the norm rather than the exception.

We have embedded the mM CMF framework throughout our central platform Products.ecomedes.com, with almost 400,000 building products searchable by the five impact categories on the platform. These advancements have reduced the time and effort needed to evaluate materials, fostering greater transparency and accountability.

Our involvement goes beyond technology; it’s about fostering collaboration. At the summit, we contributed to discussions on data ecosystems, sharing how our platform can serve as a hub for CMF implementation. We’re invested in the long haul, supporting initiatives like the Airtable refinements and Toolkit rollout. This commitment stems from a shared vision: a built environment where every material choice contributes to a healthier world. Ecomedes is here to provide the digital backbone, enabling the community to turn frameworks into tangible futures.

Looking Ahead: Turning Frameworks into Lasting Impact

As I reflect on the mindfulMATERIALS Cross-Forum Summit, I’m filled with gratitude for the connections forged and insights gained. This event underscored the power of collective action in an industry often siloed by competing interests. With the CMF Airtable’s advancements and the Toolkit’s imminent launch, we’re on the cusp of a transformation—one where sustainable materials are not just aspirational but accessible and integrated.

To the mM community and all stakeholders: thank you for your tireless work. At Ecomedes, we’re excited to continue this journey, providing the tech support needed to amplify your efforts. Who’s ready to join the ecosystem and push boundaries further? Together, we can build better—for our projects, our communities, and our planet.