It takes a lot of work to create a new economic system.
We need you to help us build a circular economy in Philadelphia.
Working groups help us to advance our efforts in a number of different areas, including our three market focuses (built environment, food systems, and textiles), activating vacant land in support of the circular economy, and outreach to grow our membership. Working groups are open to members and non-members alike, and they provide a focused way to volunteer and spend your time working on meaningful initiatives. Find out more about our working groups below.
If you’re interested in joining one or more of our working groups, please contact us for more information about getting involved.
Working Groups
Built Environment
This working group focuses on circularity throughout the building process including construction and demolition recycling, building deconstruction, using recycling building products, and advocating for adaptive reuse of buildings and materials. This committee works with contractors, developers, architects, planners, designers, advocates, preservationists, salvage companies, demo companies, recycling companies and city government to achieve our goals.
Current Projects and Areas of Focus
- Advocating for a city-funded deconstruction pilot project
- Educating architects, developers and contractors on incentives for adaptive reuse and processes for streamlined deconstruction
- Advocating for a construction and demolition recycling ordinance in Philadelphia
Food Systems
This working group focuses on circularity throughout Philadelphia’s food system by identifying and developing circular practices in regards to food recovery, composting, reusable food packaging and other needs identified by members. The working group will also work to lift up food businesses, organizations and individuals that are using circular principles to reduce waste and create resiliency in our food systems.
Current Projects and Areas of Focus
- Reusable to-go food container market transformation by increasing tech, entrepreneurism, incentives and regulations to spur more use of reusable to-go food containers by businesses.
- Promoting and expanding composting throughout Philadelphia
- Advocating for reductions of single use food packaging
- Supporting and increasing food recovery efforts in Philadelphia
Textiles
This working group focuses on circularity in the fashion and textiles industry, including the design and manufacturing processes, pre-consumer and post-consumer collection for reuse and recycling, sorting, recycling and downcycling, and tracking systems and other technology to support circularity. This committee works with designers, manufacturers, reuse organizations, collection and logistics companies, recycling companies and city government to advance textile circularity goals.
Current Projects and Areas of Focus
- Quantifying the scope, scale and composition of textile waste in the region
- Identifying and building local markets for recycled fibers
- Analyzing the economics and identifying financial resources to support textile recycling in the region
- Developing an advocacy and outreach plan for textile recycling
- Supporting Textile Recycling Task Force initiatives
Vacant Land
This working group focuses on creating and increasing opportunities for circular businesses by leveraging vacant land in Philadelphia. With over 10,000 publicly owned vacant lots, there is a great opportunity to leverage this underutilized resource in Philadelphia to support circular businesses. Duties of the working group will be to draft policy proposals for temporary vacant land use, match vacant parcels with circular businesses’ needs, work with City Council and land holding agencies to create land use agreements and ensure that community is engaged in project development so they can partake in the benefits.
Current Projects and Areas of Focus
- Working with city land agencies on vacant land proposals for circular economy pilot projects
Member Ambassadors
This working group focuses on leveraging the commitment to circularity and networks of our members to increase the membership of Circular Philadelphia. Member Ambassadors will be supplied with informational resources, membership/sponsorship documents and talking points to engage new individuals and organizations to get them to sign up as members or, in certain instances, as sponsors of Circular Philadelphia to help us grow. This working group will primarily interact over digital communication channels like Slack to create and maintain momentum and meet organization goals.
Current Projects and Areas of Focus
- Reviewing and refining the member ambassador engagement docs
- Identifying potential individuals and organizations to engage
- Setting goals for membership and sponsorships
- Setting incentives for members to engage on this work
INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR BOARD?
We are seeking individuals who are interested in taking a more active role in shaping the direction of Circular Philadelphia. Contact us for more information about becoming a board member.