After 10 years of working in #circularity, I have put together a list featuring 100 people and organizations, who I think you should follow. The list is being released across 25 posts until Christmas. I therefore like to think of it as an unconventional #zerowaste alternative to an advent calendar — packed with little stories and wisdoms as we close out this year.

In this fourteenth post, I am focusing on people and organizations pushing circularity forward through #community building.

53) Apoorva Arya is the founder of the Circular Innovation Lab ApS. She is an expert in mobilizing stakeholders – including micro, small and medium enterprises as well as industry associations – to take action towards creating circular value chains. Through the Circular Innovation Lab, she works with businesses, governments, and policymakers to reduce waste, enhance resource efficiency, advance circularity, and create systemic changes. Her think tank specializes in electronics, food, plastics, and textiles. In these sectors, it actively pushes for the global adoption of circular economy practices using collaboration, data-driven insights, and innovation projects.

54) Chris Whyte co-founded Africa Circular with the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN). Africa Circular works with local experts and communities to strengthen the circular economy in Africa. The non-profit has three core goals. These are to identify and connect circular economy experts in Africa, to support the development of these experts through knowledge resources, and to build institutional capacity through circular economy practices.

55) Kelvin Wong is the co-founder of Terra SG Pte Ltd and Circular Asia. Terra SG is a social enterprise focused on sustainability and eco-education, and Circular Asia acts as a catalyst for the circular economy in Singapore and Asia. The initiative works with corporations and businesses, with schools and institutions, with government bodies, as well as with communities and the broader public to move circularity forward. Kelvin believes that youth, communities, and the everyday actions of people who care are core for driving systemic change.

56) Jumoke Olowookere founded African Creative Sustainable and Synergy Hub and The Waste Museum. In her museum, the former visual arts teacher transforms trash into treasures and raises awareness around waste management. Jumoke’s aim is to save waste from landing on the landfill or in the ocean, while delighting museum visitors with the art she makes from recycled materials. Her museum acts as a community platform, where young people can learn to turn waste into functional, durable, and affordable products and where other artists can display their artwork made from waste.

🔔 Stay tuned to to see the whole list of 100 people and organizations to follow unfold on LinkedIn, our blog, and our app.