PODCAST: Empowering Circularity: Sustainability and Textile Recycling at Goodwill with Sydney Munoz

Episode Title: Advancing Textile Circularity and Sustainability at Goodwill Industries

Guest: Sydney Munoz, Manager of Sustainability, Goodwill Industries International

Summary

In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Sydney Munoz to discuss her journey in sustainability, her leadership at Goodwill Industries International, and the organization’s impact on circularity, textile recycling, and community empowerment. Sydney shares her background in sustainability, her experience in nonprofit and university sectors, and her current role supporting over 150 local Goodwill organizations across the US and Canada. The conversation highlights Goodwill’s mission-driven approach, innovative recycling initiatives, and partnerships that advance sustainability in textiles, plastics, and electronics.

Key Topics Discussed

• Sydney’s educational and professional journey in sustainability, including her work at university sustainability centers, Revolve, and the American Solar Energy Society
• Goodwill Industries International’s mission, reach, and impact: supporting 3,300 stores and donation centers, serving 2.1 million people annually, and helping nearly 400 people find jobs each day
• The role of Goodwill in the circular economy: promoting reuse, recycling, and waste reduction for over 125 years
• Textile circularity and recycling initiatives: building capabilities for textile-to-textile recycling, conducting fiber content studies, and creating the largest database of post-retail textile recyclability
• Plastic film recycling partnership with Trex: transforming donated plastic bags into composite decking, diverting hundreds of thousands of pounds of plastic from landfills
• Collaborative models for regional textile collection, sortation, reuse, and recycling, including partnerships with Reju and WM
• Electronic waste management: partnership with Dell Reconnect to provide free e-waste recycling at over 2,000 locations, diverting more than 620 million pounds of e-waste since 2004
• The importance of traceability studies to inform reuse and recycling strategies and shape industry standards

Resources Mentioned

• Goodwill Industries International
• Reju (polyester recycler)
• WM (waste management partner)
• Dell Reconnect (e-waste recycling partner)
• RE-volv (nonprofit solar financing organization)
• American Solar Energy Society

Contact

Listeners interested in Goodwill’s sustainability efforts or scheduling a tour of their operations can reach out to Sydney Munoz via email (contact details provided during the episode).

Closing Thoughts

Cory and Sydney emphasize the importance of mission-driven sustainability, innovation, and collaboration in advancing the circular economy. Sydney shares insights on Goodwill’s leadership in textile and plastic recycling, the organization’s commitment to community impact, and the bright future of circularity in the industry. Listeners are encouraged to support reuse, recycling, and sustainable practices in their communities.

Thank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors!

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