When Torey Carter-Conneen, CEO of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and Daniel Martin, Managing Director of Development, stepped into our Port Orchard manufacturing facility, it marked more than just a factory tour—it represented the deepening partnership between landscape architects and manufacturers working toward shared sustainability goals.
Led by Christopher Lyon, President of Tournesol, and featuring a comprehensive facility walkthrough with Port Orchard Plant Manager Kerry Townson, the visit provided an invaluable opportunity for industry leaders to witness firsthand how Tournesol's manufacturing processes align with the landscape architecture community's evolving priorities around climate action and sustainable design.
A Strategic Partnership in Action
"The goal is to see the work that our partners are doing," Carter-Conneen explained during the visit. "Tournesol and other product manufacturers that our members are specifying from are just as vital to the work that our organization is focused on."
This collaboration extends beyond traditional vendor relationships. As part of ASLA's Vision 2030 strategic framework, launched in 2020, the organization recognized that creating more sustainable and resilient spaces requires manufacturers and designers to work as partners, rather than separate entities, in the supply chain.
Climate Action at the Manufacturing Level
Now is a pivotal moment in our industry's evolution toward sustainability. ASLA's Climate Action Plan, developed in 2022 by a high-profile Task Force and 17-member Advisory Group, outlines a bold vision for 2040 with 71 specific actions to be taken by 2025. Our President, Chris Lyon, has been actively involved in developing this plan as part of the Corporate Member Committee, working to align manufacturers with ASLA's climate goals.
Lyon credits ASLA's Vision 2030 initiative as a driving force behind Tournesol's sustainability efforts. The partnership has encouraged the company to think beyond traditional manufacturing approaches and embrace innovations that support both environmental goals and business growth.
Tournesol's partnership with ASLA runs deep. Beyond hosting facility tours for local ASLA chapters, such as the Northern California Chapter, we've been a long-time sponsor and active participant in ASLA conferences. At the 2024 ASLA Conference in Washington, D.C., we not only showcased our latest products but also sponsored the "Game Changers" climate competition, highlighting innovative approaches in landscape architecture.
"We released the Climate Action Plan where we brought manufacturers and members together, having conversations about how we do this work together"
— Torey Carter-Conneen
The ambitious plan seeks to transform landscape architecture practice by 2040, achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions in projects and operations while increasing carbon sequestration. The plan's second phase will include a commitment program helping landscape architects track project emissions and compare the environmental impact of different product choices.
Beyond Simple Emissions Calculations
During the facility tour, Lyon shared insights into the complexities of true sustainability measurement. "Everything's about emissions, and it's not," he observed. "There's emissions and then there's—oh, by the way, we're going to use Ipe wood from 100-year-old trees in the rainforest. That's not part of the climate action plan."
This kind of nuanced understanding is exactly why ASLA and the ASLA Fund released "Collaborating with Industry Partners on Climate Action and Biodiversity: A Guide to Conversations Among Landscape Architects, Vendors, and Product Manufacturers" in 2023. The guide, curated by ASLA's Climate Action Committee and Corporate Member Committee, provides over 70 questions landscape architects can ask manufacturers about materials, processes, and sustainability practices.
The visit also revealed the real-world challenges manufacturers face when supporting designers' sustainability goals. Lyon discussed Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and the complexities of lifecycle assessments: "They came back and said, 'Here's your number.' I said, 'That number is insane.' They told us since this is a 25-year product and a typical building lasts 75 years, you'd have to replace it three times." Tournesol chose to remove the replacement phase from the EPD to focus on the actual carbon embodied in the product rather than the application.
This highlights a critical gap between theoretical sustainability accounting and real-world product performance—exactly the kind of challenge that collaborative industry partnerships can address.
Building Relationships Through Shared Experience
One of the most valuable aspects of the in-person visit was witnessing the manufacturing reality behind design specifications. Standing together on the factory floor, ASLA leaders gained direct insight into the challenges and opportunities that shape product development.
Carter-Conneen recognized this industry-wide challenge, noting that "everybody says the same thing throughout the process. A landscape architect will say, 'Bring me in earlier,' and you're saying, 'Bring us in earlier.'"
The factory visit demonstrated how face-to-face collaboration between manufacturers and designers can prevent costly redesigns and delays while supporting better sustainability outcomes. Being able to see, touch, and understand the manufacturing process fosters a shared understanding that extends far beyond project specifications.
Industry Education and Evolution
The ASLA leaders also learned about the varied priorities across the landscape architecture community. Lyon shared findings from Tournesol's customer surveys: "We ask designers, 'Are you concerned with climate action?' And it's generally about fifty-fifty. About 50% say, 'Yeah, we're really concerned about this. We will specify you because you have this EPD.' And others will say, 'That's nice--an EP-what? Why do we care about that?'"
Experiencing Manufacturing Innovation
Plant Manager Kerry Townson's hands-on facility tour allowed the ASLA leaders to experience Tournesol's commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices firsthand. Walking through the production areas, they witnessed material recycling processes and quality control measures that extend product lifecycles—seeing how manufacturers can contribute to sustainability goals not just through end products but through responsible production methods and material stewardship.
One standout example Lyon and Townson shared was Tournesol's transition from traditional sandblasting to recycled metal shot for surface preparation. This innovation dramatically reduced both the materials consumed and waste sent to landfills. The metal shot process utilizes a byproduct of manufacturing that can be recycled multiple times. Remarkably, Tournesol actually receives payment when the spent shot is recycled, turning waste into revenue while supporting circular economy principles.
Carter-Conneen noted how the manufacturing process itself contributes to embodied emissions: "You showed us the whole process today, and you figured out a way to sort of recycle something. All of that—their emissions and embodied emissions—have to be calculated and thought about. We weren't counting that part before."
The Power of In-Person Connection
As the visit concluded, the value of bringing industry leaders together in a working manufacturing environment became clear. Face-to-face engagement builds understanding and shared commitment that can't be replicated through virtual meetings or trade show conversations. Whether developing more comprehensive sustainability metrics, improving communication throughout the supply chain, or creating products that truly support designers' visions, progress occurs when manufacturers and practitioners collaborate to share knowledge.
The Port Orchard visit strengthened Tournesol's role as a partner in creating sustainable, resilient landscapes. With ASLA's upcoming conferences in LA (2026) and Chicago (2027) and ongoing involvement in climate action initiatives, this partnership continues to develop through personal connection and shared commitment to sustainability goals.
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