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

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Aug 1, 2025

Join Garry Cooper, CEO and Founder of Rheaply and a visionary in the circular economy, as he reveals the hidden potential of the trillion-dollar waste economy. He discusses how businesses can transform unused materials into immediate ROI, the critical importance of designing products for multiple lifecycles, and why reuse should precede recycling. With insights on the infrastructure gaps that hinder circular economy adoption, Garry emphasizes the need to shift perspectives on waste, recognizing it as an opportunity for value creation.

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INSIGHT

Circularity Rate Declines

Despite increased awareness and technology, the global circularity rate is declining.
This paradox highlights the challenges beyond awareness, including systemic issues and infrastructure gaps.

ANECDOTE

Origin Story of Ripley

Dr. Garry Cooper started Ripley by creating a reuse system on his own lab floor to share unused scientific materials among labs.
This initial effort inspired building one of the biggest reuse networks in the country around sharing valuable assets rather than waste.

INSIGHT

Trillion-Dollar Waste Economy

There is a trillion-dollar economy of unused materials thrown away yearly, representing untapped value.
Viewing waste as valuable assets transforms the mindset and unlocks economic potential.

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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.