
Episode 33: From Sustainability to Circularity – Bridging the Gap with Verena Radulovic
Share
In this episode of Elevated Thoughts, Mike and I sat down with Verena Radulovic, Vice President of Business Engagement at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES). With decades of experience in environmental policy, business engagement, and photojournalism, Verena is a powerhouse in the sustainability space. Her unique perspective provided a compelling lens on how businesses and governments can collaborate to tackle the climate crisis while embracing innovation and adaptability.
Sustainability Through Collaboration
Verena shared insights into her work at C2ES, where her focus is on helping Fortune 500 companies align their operations with ambitious climate policies. One of her key points was the importance of collaboration across supply chains to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. From Procter & Gamble to Dow, companies are finding innovative ways to work with suppliers, address inefficiencies, and reduce their carbon footprints.
What’s driving this shift? According to Verena, it’s not just regulatory pressure or cost savings—though those play a role. Increasingly, consumers, investors, and even industry competitors are pushing businesses to take action. The younger generations—millennials, Gen Z, and even Gen Alpha—are making it clear they want to support brands that prioritize sustainability. As Verena explained, peer pressure among businesses has created a race to the top, where companies strive to outdo each other in achieving sustainability goals.
Circular Economies: Moving Beyond Waste
One of the highlights of our discussion was Verena’s passion for circular economies. In a world dominated by linear economies—where products are made, used, and discarded—circularity offers a way to minimize waste by recycling, refurbishing, and reusing materials. Mike and Verena broke down how this approach applies to electronics recycling, a field where informal and formal recycling systems intertwine across the globe.
Verena’s firsthand experiences traveling to Peru, India, and Indonesia revealed the stark contrasts in how different countries handle electronic waste. In some regions, vibrant repair communities breathe new life into discarded electronics, while in others, informal recyclers face significant challenges. The takeaway? A circular economy isn’t just about reducing waste—it’s about valuing resources, fostering innovation, and creating equitable solutions that work across borders.
Breaking Through Climate Skepticism
As someone deeply rooted in environmental advocacy, Verena often encounters skepticism about climate change. During the episode, she emphasized the importance of addressing such concerns with data and empathy. For those who believe climate change is part of a natural cycle, Verena pointed to the undeniable spike in greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on global temperatures. But more importantly, she highlighted the human element: fear of change and loss often underlie skepticism.
Mike and I couldn’t help but draw parallels between this resistance and other industries facing disruptive shifts, like the automation debate with longshoremen or the decline of coal mining jobs. Verena’s approach, rooted in compassion and practicality, emphasized the need for policies that not only address climate goals but also support communities transitioning away from traditional industries.
Looking Ahead: A Future of Possibilities
To close out the episode, we asked Verena what excites her most about the future of sustainability. Her answer was both optimistic and pragmatic. She highlighted three key areas:
- Collaborative Supply Chain Innovations: Industries like aviation, trucking, and maritime are beginning to tackle their emissions through joint efforts and creative partnerships.
- Resilience and Adaptation: Companies are starting to take a more active role in building resilience against the effects of climate change, ensuring communities can adapt to a changing world.
- New Technologies: From hydrogen power to direct air capture and sustainable aviation fuel, emerging technologies hold the promise of transforming energy systems—just as wind and solar did a decade ago.
Verena’s passion and expertise left us with a renewed sense of hope and urgency. As she reminded us, progress may be incremental, but every step forward is a building block for systemic change.
Final Thoughts
This conversation reminded me that addressing climate change isn’t about achieving perfection overnight—it’s about moving the needle, piece by piece. As Verena said, “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” Whether it’s businesses racing to lead the sustainability charge or individuals choosing to repair instead of discard, every action matters.
To learn more about Verena’s work, visit C2ES.org or explore her photography at VerenaRadulovicPhotography.com. And as always, stay tuned to Elevated Thoughts for more in-depth conversations that challenge the status quo and inspire action.