Founding Member Spotlight

Paula Kwasniewska

If you’ve stopped by Circular Philadelphia’s table at an event recently, there’s a good chance that you talked to Paula.  Since the beginning, Paula has been enthusiastically volunteering her time to spread the word about the circular economy and Circular Philadelphia’s work to all Philadelphians.  She is one of the best ambassadors for Circular Philadelphia’s work, and we are very grateful for her membership.

Why did you join Circular Philadelphia?

Circular Philadelphia has the potential to achieve equality, sustainability, and carbon neutrality. I want to be part of this new era that delivers better outcomes for organizations, people, and the environment.

What kind of work do you do and/or interests do you have?

I’m an assistant project manager at a sustainability consulting firm, helping businesses, organizations and municipalities on sustainability planning and implementation. I recently graduated from Penn School of Liberal & Professional Studies, where my studies focused on community organization, sustainable practices, and climate mitigation.

What does a circular economy mean to you?

It means being able to make the absolute most of the material resources available by applying the reduce, reuse, recycle principles of sustainable development. With clever design and efficient material recovery, a balance can be achieved between progress and sustainability that is not seen in the waste-dominated world we live in today.

What advice would you give to someone to help move the circular economy forward?

Be mindful of the companies you purchase from and educate yourself on ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. These are crucial first steps to joining the circular economy. Also, don’t be afraid to take part in disrupting industry business models. Disruption is necessary if anything is going to change.