Sustainable Industries magazine sold to cofounder

Sustainable Industries, the West Coast’s leading green business magazine and media property, has been sold by Celilo Group Media Inc. to Sustainable Media Inc., a newly formed company wholly owned by Sustainable Industries Co-Founder Brian Back.

“It is an exciting and important time for Sustainable Industries,” Back said. “The magazine’s growth and success over the past five years is a tribute to the talent and leading-edge thinking at Celilo Group Media, and I am thrilled to assume full ownership of this dynamic product we’ve created. I look forward to continuing our alliance with Celilo Group Media as pioneers and peers in the independent green media movement.”

The sale, which closed in January 2008, includes the monthly print and digital business magazine Sustainable Industries, the Web site sustainableindustries.com and the annual Sustainable Industries Economic Forum events. Financial details of the sale were not disclosed.

“The green business landscape has completely changed since we started this magazine five years ago,” says Celilo Group Media President Nik Blosser. “I am thrilled we were able to launch such an important publication and brand, and I look forward to reading Sustainable Industries and attending their events for a long time to come.”

Sustainable Industries was launched as a monthly business newsletter in February 2003. The City of Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment and Office of Economic Development, Washington Department of Ecology and Oregon Economic and Community Development Department were the publication’s founding sponsors.

Published as a regional B2B magazine for a growing audience of green business leaders, Sustainable Industries has received several national awards, including the first Aveda Award for environmental performance in the magazine industry, two Independent Press Award nominations from Utne magazine, and a Folio Eddie Award for excellence in magazine feature writing. It's new parent company, Sustainable Media Inc., is based in San Francisco, with key employees in Seattle and Portland. In addition to its Sustainable Industries media properties and events, the company also assists clients with authentic green business custom publishing solutions.

Founded in 1999, Celilo Group Media is a leading green media firm with a mission of expanding the marketplace for sustainable products. From offices in Portland, Seattle, Oakland and St. Paul, Minn., the company produces regional green media under the EcoMetro brand, including coupon and resource guides Chinook Book, Blue Sky Guide and EcoMetro Guide and the online community EcoMetro.com. The company also offers custom publishing, marketing and strategy consulting services to leading governments, non-profits and mission-driven corporations, particularly in the area of renewable energy.