From Waste to Justice: Tackling Plastic, Fast Fashion, and the Future of a Circular Economy
Plastic pollution and textile waste aren’t just environmental issues—they are public health crises, equity issues, and deeply entangled with global systems of extraction, exploitation, and inequality. From microplastics in our blood to the devastating environmental toll of fast fashion, the waste crisis is reaching a tipping point. But what if this is the moment we finally act?
This session explores the emerging field of waste-to-resource through a climate, health, and justice lens, asking what it would take to truly eliminate our dependency on plastic, confront the impacts of fast fashion, and build a circular economy that works for people and planet. We'll examine solutions like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), community-led recycling models, and the integration of women and informal waste workers into sustainable systems. Participants will also explore how to shift policy, funding, and consumer behavior to drive scalable, equitable, and systemic change.
Key Questions:
What would it take to truly eliminate global plastic dependency—and are we finally ready to care enough?
How can we shift from fast fashion to fair fashion, and who bears the cost of our throwaway culture?
What are the most promising models for a just, inclusive circular economy, especially for marginalized waste workers and women in the Global South?
How can tools like EPR support both waste reduction and social protection?
What’s the role of philanthropy, public policy, and industry in transforming the waste-to-resource ecosystem?
This session brings together activists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and funders to connect the dots between pollution, inequality, and climate justice, and to imagine a future where waste is not just managed—but transformed into opportunity.
Session Co-Leaders:
Ambriel Pouncy is a social innovation executive merging sustainability, tech, and culture in fashion.
Elizabeth Aderinola is a sustainable fashion specialist supporting global apparel brands with ethical compliance.
Gladys Mwamba founded Plastic for Change to create jobs and tackle pollution at the DRC-Zambia border.
Helen Buckland leads community-driven rainforest conservation at the Sumatran Orangutan Society.
Sam Bencheghib co-founded Sungai Watch to remove plastic from Indonesia’s rivers and upcycle waste.