How recently did you become a member of the team at WasteTrade?

Since the 15^th of February 2024.

How long have you been working in the waste management and recycling industry?

I have been in the recycling industry for more than four years. However, I have seen and experienced the challenges corporations deal with when it comes to their mass production waste streams for more than six years, in industries such as textiles, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), manufacturing, and packaging.

Reflecting on your career so far, what are some pivotal experiences that have shaped your professional journey?

Some different experiences that have shaped my career are:

1. Having the privilege to start my career at the number one sports brand, Nike EHQ, which instilled in me the ethos of thinking big and operating in a high-performance culture. Working in a diversified environment with individuals from around the world provided invaluable lessons and different perspectives on concepts such as personal growth and professional adaptability. Besides this, I honed skills in critical thinking, data management, inventory management, and navigating the complexities of multinational corporations.
2. In my previous roles, I dealt externally with large FMCG multinationals, manufacturers, and petrochemical companies undergoing the transition towards becoming more circular and otherwise meeting their sustainability targets. Despite public claims, many of these corporations face geopolitical and supply chain challenges and get stuck in bureaucratic processes or educational gaps. This experience underscores the importance of agility, perseverance, and innovation in driving meaningful change within the industry.
3. Additionally, my time living in Singapore brought me a unique experience in my career, with successes, challenges, and many lessons learned. I supported our team in scaling up operations to more than 60+ full-time employees in Asia, adapting to the culture and accelerating the pace of growth. I was responsible for building a robust plastic recycling network across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Working and managing a talented team and overcoming numerous difficulties have accelerated my professional development and resilience.

What inspired you to pursue a career in waste management and recycling?

Witnessing the stark contrast between Europe’s advanced waste management system and the environmental challenges faced in Asian, African, and South American regions made this into a personal mission for me. As well as this, I believe there are still many opportunities in the coming years to bring waste management into a circular economic model where all stakeholders can have a win-win situation.

Before you started at WasteTrade, what were your initial expectations of both the team and the company?

Based on what I had seen of WasteTrade, I was expecting their team to have a strong ambition to be a disruptor in the waste industry. I was anticipating working with an enthusiastic team who have a solid drive, mission and determination to establish WasteTrade as the global marketplace for waste.

Can you share your first impressions of WasteTrade since joining and whether they matched your expectations?

The first impressions were positive. The team is talented and determined to achieve their vision, embodying a shared commitment to significantly impact the recycling industry.  Personally, I resonate with the vision of the company. To continuously challenge ourselves, taking on the role of David against Goliath in the fight against waste pollution.  Also, I see opportunities for us to keep challenging ourselves and maintain the focus for a more remarkable outcome for our business.

What are your thoughts on the WasteTrade project and its vision for the future of recycling and waste management?

WasteTrade’s vision for a global marketplace in the recycling industry resonates strongly with the market’s needs. Many corporations do not know how to start bringing out the value in waste or do not have time to deal with the logistical and compliance challenges that accompany ethical waste management operations. I see us not only facilitating the transactions of material between recyclers and waste generators, but also as being catalyst for transformational change. A change that brings about collaboration between companies, linking technology, engineering and innovation, positioning WasteTrade at the forefront of sustainable development.

Drawing from your wealth of experience and expertise, how do you envisage yourself applying your skills and knowledge in your new role as Sales Director at WasteTrade?

As Sales Director at WasteTrade, I will leverage my international experience and relentless drive for growth and results in active users and distributors to establish strategic partnerships that use the platform regularly. I aim to amplify our impact via material transactions, collaborations, and industry footholds, bringing WasteTrade forward as the leader on the global stage of sustainable practices.

Looking ahead, how do you envision your growth alongside WasteTrade’s development in the coming years?

As WasteTrade continues to evolve, I envision my growth paralleling the company’s global expansion. Technology, Innovation and Financial Sustainability will be critical sectors for me to grow in to develop digital solutions that give waste value within a closed-loop model. WasteTrade will have a representative hub in each continent dealing with our current material portfolio and expanding into more sustainable waste materials. We will broaden our clientele to include more manufacturers, FMCG and multinationals who need reliable supply lines of quality recycled materials to support their sustainability targets for the coming years. We will also engage with the right financial partners for sustainable growth.

In the context of global challenges in waste management, what strategies do you believe are essential for driving sustainable practices within the industry?

The industry itself is always very price sensitive; the sustainability perspective is, therefore, wondering if it is always the most beneficial option. Nevertheless, we cannot continue denying the importance and urgency of sustainable business practices. We need to work together to make our sustainability approach beneficial for all parties involved.  We must embrace collaboration and foster instrumental partnerships across our industry, from material suppliers to buyers, from financial institutions to governmental bodies, and technological partners. Governments are essential in supporting the drive for sustainable practices and environmental impact mitigation.

How do you see technology and innovation playing a role in advancing the goals of the wider recycling industry?

Technology is crucial for our growth and the advancement of our goals. WasteTrade’s technology builds trust in the waste management and recycling industry, for example, through our reliable compliance and haulage services. A more pivotal role of technology will be in the automated measurement of CO2 emissions; this is where Think Carbon will come to play an important role. As well as this, blockchain-based tracking systems that ensure accurate monitoring and non-editable records of the movement of waste and recycled materials from one continent to the other will be a big development within the industry. Advancing technology will facilitate data-driven decision-making, allowing all stakeholders involved to identify market trends, optimise the process of moving materials from sellers to buyers, and implement targeted campaigns to improve recycling rates and minimise environmental impact.

What role do you believe education and awareness play in enhancing recycling rates and waste management practices among businesses and the general public?

Education is the most essential instrument in our industry. What is the impact of the material we use, and what happens after we use it? It fosters a culture of sustainable solutions instead of environmental problems. Europe’s waste management systems are very advanced compared with other continents; we can support the widespread adoption of sustainable behaviour by empowering global businesses and governmental institutions with knowledge about best waste management and recycling practices.

What message would you like to convey to people around the world about the importance of recycling and waste management?

We must keep transforming ourselves and understand that we can change each form of waste into valuable resources, creating a more sustainable and circular economy.

“Difficulties may arise, but with knowledge and commitment, we can still make a sustainable difference worldwide.”