After 10 years in #circularity, I have compiled a list of 100 people and organizations, who I think you should follow. The list is being released in 25 posts until Christmas and acts as a #zerowaste alternative to an advent calendar.

In this nineteenth post, I am focusing on people and organizations pushing for circularity in #material use. Therefore, here are five individuals to follow, who have been consistently advocating for more circularity and better material management.

73) Cheryl Coleman is the vice president of sustainability at the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) and a board member of SERI. She previously worked as the director of the resource conservation and sustainability division at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Cheryl has over 30 years of experience in materials management – including experience in improving recycling systems for plastics, paper and packaging, reusing industrial materials, managing used electronics, as well as reducing food loss and waste. Her work is rooted in making sure resources are available to both current and future generations.

74) Jacqueline Cramer has been a driving force behind countless circular economy initiatives. She is the chairman of the supervisory board of Holland Circular Hotspot, the chairman of the Dutch Circular Textile Valley - Textielregie, and a patroness of the Plastic Soup Foundation. Throughout her career, Jacqueline has worked with government and businesses to advance corporate social responsibility, implement sustainable entrepreneurship, and move the circular economy forward. In 2022, she published the book titled “Building a Circular Future: Ten Takeaways for Global Changemakers”.

75) Janine Benyus is a leading voice in biomimicry – and she originally coined the term. In 1997, Janine published the book titled “Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature”. She is the founder of Biomimicry 3.8 and the co-founder of The Biomimicry Institute. Janine is a biologist by training and works as a “Biologist-at-the-Design-Table”. Her work looks at how mimicking nature's designs and processes can be used to create a more sustainable future. To teach others about biomimicry and inspire more sustainable action, Janine writes, gives talks, teaches seminars, and works with businesses.

76) Michael Braungart and William McDonough developed the “cradle-to-cradle design” concept. The concept mirrors nature where “everything is a resource for something else”. Michael is a chemist by training and William is an architect by training. In 2002, the two published a book titled “Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things”. Michael and William are advocates for better design and the upcycling of materials. They both teach and work with businesses to advance circular design thinking and innovation.

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