Mark Dorfman

Mark Dorfman is biomimicry chemist and senior principal with Biomimicry 3.8. His work centers on the premise that living organisms, by necessity, have developed sophisticated, highly effective, life-friendly chemistries that can inspire provocative, high-performing, sustainable technology for modern society.

Mark applies the design principles of nature’s time-tested chemical strategies to develop innovative solutions to the toxic chemical and material challenges of the 21st Century. He couldn’t image a better way to spend the work week!

Mark has worked closely with clients such as Estee Lauder, Colgate, Ashland Chemical, Natura, Johnson and Johnson, WD-40, Coca-Cola, Levi’s, Conoco-Philips, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Kimberly-Clark, Patagonia, UC Berkeley’s Center for Green Chemistry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on a set of challenges as diverse as nature herself.

Mark has been a featured speaker the GreenBiz Forum, The Guardian’s Making Green Chemistry Mainstream event, Greener Electronics Council summit, Chemical Manufacturer’s summit, Outdoor Industry Association’s Sustainability Working Group meeting, Textile Exchange conference, and the Green Chemistry and Commercial Council’s Innovation Roundtable. He has shared his work, including the wonderful fact that Nature is Alive with Chemistry, on numerous occasions, most recently during the 2016 Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference.

Prior to joining Biomimicry 3.8, Mark worked in the nonprofit sector researching and writing case studies on industrial chemical pollution prevention and waste water management practices. These research efforts influenced the creation of federal and state public policies including the Federal Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, the New Jersey Pollution Prevention Act of 1991, and the Federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000.

Mark is a board member of the BiomimicryNYC regional network, where he helps to cultivate a community of nature-inspired practice in the New York City metropolitan region in conjunction with The Biomimicry Institute’s Global Biomimicry Network. He also sits on the Science Advisory Board of Pantheon Enterprises, a chemical company at the forefront of sustainability in Phoenix, Arizona. He brings nature into his NYC home by maintaining three distinct aquatic environments.