A warm welcome back to “Women in Circularity,” where we shine a light on women moving us toward a circular economy. This month, I was pleased to connect with a leader in textile reuse and recycling operations: Beth Forsberg. Beth is the senior vice president and chief sustainability officer at Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona, with oversight of sustainability operations in the nonprofit’s San Francisco and Monocacy Valley, Maryland, regions. Goodwill is dedicated to ending poverty through workforce development and is supported by a network of popular thrift shops. Beth has 30 years of experience in the nonprofit thrift sector where oversight has included donated goods revenue, collections, retail, e-commerce, recycling and salvage.
After years on the operations side of reuse and recycling, you recently made the switch to the strategic side of sustainability. What aspects of your career have you brought to this new role?
I believe that to truly influence impact, both operational exposure and experience are critical. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the mission over the past 30 years as it has enabled me to use just about every aspect of my diverse career in one way or another. My passion and curiosity about the people, the products and the process has allowed me to integrate all my experiences as I continue to learn and explore sustainability in its current space while innovating and incubating ideas for growth and adaptability into the future.
In what ways does your work at Goodwill of Northern Arizona contribute to advancing circular economy principles?
A key principle of the circular economy is keeping materials and products in use. Rev. Edgar J. Helms, who founded Goodwill in 1922, said that “Goodwill Industries should not only save the waste in men and things but ought also to use the waste.” I reference this quote with regularity as it demonstrates that Goodwill’s primary function has always been to keep materials and jobs as local as possible. In today’s world where sustainability is a driving force, it is our responsibility to honor the waste hierarchy by prioritizing reuse and identifying alternative recycling and other end markets wherever reuse is not feasible.
Can you share a recent project that you found especially transformative, and what made it stand out?
Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona’s partnership with Arizona State University on the Circular Plastics Microfactory has been a truly eye-opening experience for me. I was still new in my role within sustainability when this initiative launched. When we opened the microfactory and it began to garner so much attention, many industry leaders really opened my eyes to the value of our feedstock outside the original salvage model. There is such an opportunity to circularize products through material recovery and our clean feedstock.
From your perspective, what do you see as the next major evolution in the circular economy?
There is an unprecedented amount of collaboration that is occurring across not only the industry but also within the Goodwill network. Goodwill operates regionally and through sustainability, we are collaborating to increase our reach. This collaboration is starting to realize a new model for collecting, processing and redistributing materials. Additionally, through external partners like Waste Management and Association of Plastic Recyclers, we are poised for an even greater impact.
What guidance have you received that had a lasting impact on how you approach your life?
I have had roles throughout the years that were traditionally held by men, and I was told very early on that it was okay to be brave and bold. Within that framework, there is just as much opportunity to succeed as there is to fail, and there is a genuine approach to both. This confidence in bravery, coupled with my curiosity, has led to an impactful career and the opportunity to create real change.
MaryEllen Etienne is the creator of “Women in Circularity.” Etienne works on the Market Transformation and Development team for the U.S. Green Building Council. She has over 20 years of experience in sustainability and is a champion of the circular economy.
