MBA alum ranks among Fast Company’s most creative people in business

Jeffrey Whitford, MBA ’12, was named one of the most creative people in business for 2020 by Fast Company, an article published by the magazine on August 4 announced.

Among five innovators lauded for “raising the standard,” Whitford was highlighted for his work with MilliporeSigma to create a green alternative to solvents.

Whitford is the head of sustainability, social business innovation and life science branding at MilliporeSigma, owned by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

“Sustainability in science is one of the final frontiers,” Whitford told Fast Company. That was his team’s inspiration to create Cyrene, a product made from cellulose that can replace two solvents common in plastics, fibers and adhesives.

In addition to his work on Cyrene, the article highlights DOZN, an “evaluation system that compares the sustainability of chemicals, including environmental hazards they pose.” Whitford and his team have also created a free, web-based version of the tool, allowing scientists across the world to use it without cost.

Whitford will be featured in the September edition of the magazine, alongside creators and entrepreneurs like Ryan Reynolds, Monica Lewinsky and Nneka Ogwumike.