Founding Member Spotlight

All Together Now PA

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All Together Now PA (ATN PA) is a non-profit organization working to unite Pennsylvania’s rural and urban communities to build just, regenerative, and resilient regional economies that are self-reliant in basic needs, in order to increase community wealth and equity, reduce and sequester carbons, and prepare for climate change. Circular Philadelphia collaborates with ATN PA on a number of initiatives to build the circular economy in a way that supports regional economies throughout the Commonwealth.

Why did you become a founding member?

ATN PA and Circular Philadelphia are very aligned when it comes to our goals and mission of creating sustainable communities that combat climate change.

What does a circular economy mean to your organization?

A circular economy means that we consider the end life of products and how they can be reused in ways which avoid landfills, are sustainable, regenerative, and will uplift communities by creating jobs and promoting self-reliance.

How is your organization practicing circularity?

At ATN PA we incorporate circularity in everything we do. We work to support local economies by helping to build local supply chains in basic needs, taking into consideration the end life of any products we’re promoting and the impact it has on our earth and climate.

Our Clothing and Textile Coalition is working to address Philadelphia’s textile waste issue by creating more circular solutions which will divert waste from landfills and create jobs in our community . The coalition is also working to build statewide textile supply chains that include systems for end of life upcycling, a critical part of supply chain development which is often overlooked.

How can others advance the circular economy?

Take steps to reduce consumption by considering what you are buying, how long you will need it, how often you will use it and where it will go when you no longer want it. When you go to buy something, instead of just asking yourself how you will use them in the moment, start to ask yourself if the products can be reused, how they will break down, and if they have, are, or will pollute the earth either during manufacturing, while you’re using them or at the end of their life, and then ask yourself do you really need this?