Circular Materials Economy: From Trillion-Dollar Waste to Business Value - 10 Big Ideas to Transform Supply Chains for a Regenerative Future

Join the Supply Chain Queen and Dr. Garry Cooper,
neuroscientist-turned-circular economy pioneer, for an
eye-opening discussion about transforming the trillion-dollar
waste economy into business value through circular materials
practices. 


In this episode of the Supply Chain Revolution's "10 Big Ideas to
Transform Supply Chains for a Regenerative Future " series,
discover how companies are moving beyond recycling to create true
circular materials economies. Dr. Cooper, CEO and Founder of
Rheaply, shares insights from 10 years of building one of the
country's largest reuse networks, revealing why the global
circularity rate has actually declined despite increased
awareness. 


Key Insights: 


Why there's literally a trillion-dollar economy of unused
materials beneath our feet 

How businesses can generate immediate ROI from materials
they're currently throwing away 

The infrastructure gap preventing circular economy adoption
and how technology is solving it 

Why reuse and repair should come before recycling in the
circular hierarchy 

The critical importance of designing products for multiple
lifecycles from the start 

The mindset shift from seeing "waste" as problems to
recognizing valuable assets 



What You'll Learn: 


Practical KPIs that matter for circular materials
implementation 

How leading companies are capturing value from products
across multiple lifecycles 

Why designing for reuse from the start is essential for true
circular materials economy 

Technology solutions making circular materials tracking and
verification possible 

The business case beyond sustainability: faster sourcing,
reduced costs, supply chain resilience 

Future trends: take-back programs, carbon accounting
integration, and mainstream adoption 



Dr. Cooper shares compelling stories from the frontlines of
circular economy implementation, including how Northwestern
University labs sparked a reuse revolution and why companies are
paying millions to throw away materials that other projects
desperately need. 


This isn't theoretical sustainability talk – it's a practical
guide to unlocking hidden value in your supply chain while
building a regenerative future. 


Perfect for supply chain leaders, procurement professionals,
sustainability executives, and anyone interested in turning waste
streams into revenue streams. 


Connect with the Supply Chain Revolution: Subscribe for
the full "10 Big Ideas" series exploring how to transform supply
chains for a regenerative future. Follow the Supply Chain Queen
on LinkedIn for additional insights and resources. 


About Dr. Garry Cooper: Dr. Cooper is the CEO and Founder
of Rheaply, a technology platform that enables
organizations to track, manage, and exchange resources to reduce
waste and create value. With a background in neuroscience and a
passion for systems thinking, Cooper has spent over a decade
building one of the country's largest reuse networks.