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10 career tips for early-stage sustainability pros from Trellis 30 Under 30 alumni

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19 Jun, 2025

This post was originally published on Green Biz

Source: Green Biz

As companies pull back on climate commitments (at least publicly) and trim their workforces, it’s a challenging time for sustainability professionals at every career level — but particularly those just starting out. 

The employment rate for recent college graduates aged 22-27 was almost 6 percent as of March, compared with 4.2 percent for the general population. ESG and sustainability teams are not immune to layoffs, and many professionals are reassessing their skill sets to land and keep a job.

To mark the 10th anniversary of Trellis 30 Under 30 list — featuring rising stars in the climate sector — we reached out to the 270 people featured on earlier editions of the list and asked them this question: What one tip do you have for an early-stage sustainability professional? Here are responses from 10 past honorees.

‘Be agile’

Devin Carsdale (2017)

Then: Sustainability compliance auditor for consumer goods purveyor Inter IKEA Group

Now: Associate director of sustainability at pharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb, specializing in sustainable procurement and Scope 3 emissions

Advice: “Be amenable to taking on any number of tasks. As you grow in this space it is critical to be agile and a jack of all trades. This means project management, data analytics, change management, reporting and more!” 

‘Take care of yourself’

Christina Copeland (2016)

Then: Manager of disclosure services at sustainability reporting service CDP  

Now: Assistant vice president for sustainable finance reporting and strategy at insurer Great-West Lifeco 

Advice: “Take care of yourself. Working in sustainability can bring a lot of psychological baggage — the anxiety from knowing how bad it can be, feeling like you need to do more and are complicit just because you’re a human living in society. Find your community, your creative release, get professional support if you think it will be helpful. “

‘Ask what makes you come alive’

Lisa Curtis (2016)

Then: Founder and CEO of Kuli Kuli Foods, which makes organic, superfood snacks from drought-tolerant moringa trees planted to combat deforestation

Now: Curtis still leads the company, which counts Walmart among its retail partners

Advice: “I strongly believe in the Howard Thurman quote of ‘Don’t ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive because what the world needs is more people who have come alive.’ Start by understanding the type of work that gives you energy — the work that you could do even if no one paid you to do it — and then figure out how to get paid for it.”

‘Don’t wait for permission’

Phil De Luna (2019)

Then: Program director for the Energy Materials Challenge Program with National Research Council Canada

Now: Chief science and commercial officer for Deep Sky Alpha, a Canadian direct air capture innovation and testing center that has raised more than $90 million

Advice: “As someone who has navigated the intersection of science, entrepreneurship and policy, my advice is: Don’t wait for permission — start building now.​ Sustainability challenges are multifaceted, and addressing them requires proactive engagement. Build your network, seek mentorship and don’t hesitate to pursue innovative ideas.​ Remember: Impactful change doesn’t come from waiting for the perfect moment; it comes from taking the first step and learning along the way.”

‘Stay curious and adaptable’

Franck Gbaguidi (2023)

Then: Director of sustainability at Eurasia Group, a political risk research and advisory group. 

Now: Practice head for global sustainability, biodiversity and water at Eurasia

Advice: “Stay curious and adaptable. Sustainability is constantly evolving — from the early CSR days to the ESG boom to today’s anti-ESG wave. Those who thrive are lifelong learners who anticipate shifts and shape the agenda, not just follow it. That mindset will position you to lead through whatever phase comes next.”

‘Don’t chase trends’

Pedro Alexandre Martins (2024)

Then: Senior sustainability source manager at meal kit company HelloFresh 

Now: Senior engagement manager at Capitals Coalition, which helps companies consider natural capital, social capital and human capital alongside financial metrics as part of decision-making

Advice: “Figure out where you thrive on the transformation spectrum. Change happens in startups, corporations, civil society and advocacy spaces — but the paths and pace differ. Don’t chase trends. Test what energizes you most! Systems change needs diverse builders; find where your purpose and skillset align best.”

‘Ask questions’

Hardik Miyani (2022)

Then: Senior energy and commissioning engineer at building sustainability and efficiency firm Baumann Consulting

Now: Miyani, named Young Energy Professional of the Year in 2024 by the Association of Energy Engineers, is the energy and decarbonization manager at Baumann

Advice: “Build a strong foundation by mastering the basics of energy systems and data analysis, but always stay curious — ask questions, seek mentors, and connect your work to real-world impact. Sustainability is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on measurable progress, not perfection.”

‘Learn from the past’

Kaity Robbins (2024)

Then: Senior program manager of waste diversion at Whole Foods Market

Now: Same 

Advice: “Approach every situation with curiosity first. It’s essential to acknowledge and learn from our past. Understanding why things are done certain ways provides the knowledge needed to chart better paths forward.”

‘Engage with seasoned professionals’

José Miguel Salazar Hernández (2020)

Then: Senior specialist for corporate sustainability at CSRone, an ESG consulting firm in Taiwan

Now: Manager for ESG, sustainability and climate change services with PwC Spain 

Advice: “Sustainability careers cycle along regulations and investor views, which are currently facing a scale back. This phase is temporary, as fundamentals shall endure. Climate, nature and human rights will remain key financial risks and opportunities. Newcomers should engage with seasoned professionals to get sufficient context and perspective of where to focus priorities.”

‘Be brave and be loud’

Emily Sambuco (2023)

Then: Lead catastrophe analyst and atmospheric scientist with the corporate enterprise risk management team at  Liberty Mutual Insurance

Now: Same

Advice: “Be brave and be loud. Leverage your expertise — whether in climate, sustainability, environmental science, whatever — and advocate for scientific and data-driven decision-making within your organization. Communicate, educate and build relationships. Your experience is unique and valuable; you can integrate sustainability into your teams and organizations.”

[Join more than 5,000 professionals at Trellis Impact 25 — the center of gravity for doers and leaders focused on action and results, Oct. 28-30, San Jose.]

The post 10 career tips for early-stage sustainability pros from Trellis 30 Under 30 alumni appeared first on Trellis.

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Taking the electronic pulse of the circular economy

Taking the electronic pulse of the circular economy

31 Jul, 2025

In June, I had the privilege of attending the 2025 E-Waste World, Battery Recycling, Metal Recycling, and ITAD & Circular Electronics Conference & Expo events in Frankfurt, Germany.

Speaking in the ITAD & Circular Electronics track on a panel with global Circular Economy leaders from Foxway Group, ERI and HP, we explored the evolving role of IT asset disposition (ITAD) and opportunities in the circular electronics economy.

The event’s focus on advancing circular economy goals and reducing environmental impact delivered a series of insights and learnings. From this assembly of international expertise across 75+ countries, here are some points from the presentations that stood out for me:

1. Environmental impact of the digital economy

Digitalisation has a heavy material footprint in the production phase, and lifecycle thinking needs to guide every product decision. Consider that 81% of the energy a laptop uses in its lifetime is consumed during manufacture (1 tonne in manufacture is equal to 10,000 tonnes of CO2) and laptops are typically refreshed or replaced by companies every 3–4 years.

From 2018 to 2023, the average number of devices and connections per capita in the world increased by 50% (2.4 to 3.6). In North America (8.2 to 13.4) and Western Europe (5.6 to 9.4), this almost doubled. In 1960, only 10 periodic table elements were used to make phones. In 1990, 27 elements were used and now over 60 elements are used to build the smartphones that we have become so reliant on.

A key challenge is that low-carbon and digital technologies largely compete for the same minerals. Material resource extraction could increase 60% between 2020 and 2060, while demand for lithium, cobalt and graphite is expected to rise by 500% until 2050.

High growth in ICT demand and Internet requires more attention to the environmental footprint of the digital economy. Energy consumption of data centres is expected to more than double by 2026. The electronics industry accounts for over 4% of global GHG — and digitalisation-related waste is growing, with skewed impacts on developing countries.

E-waste is rising five times faster than recycling — 1 tonne of e-waste has a carbon footprint of 2 tonnes. Today’s solution? ‘Bury it or burn it.’ In terms of spent emissions, waste and the costs associated with end-of-life liabilities, PCBAs (printed circuit board assembly) cost us enormously — they generally achieve 3–5% recyclability (75% of CO2 in PCBAs is from components).

2. Regulating circularity in electronics

There is good momentum across jurisdictions in right-to-repair, design and labelling regulations; recycling targets; and voluntary frameworks on circularity and eco-design.

The EU is at the forefront. EU legislation is lifting the ICT aftermarket, providing new opportunities for IT asset disposition (ITAD) businesses. To get a sense, the global market for electronics recycling is estimated to grow from $37 billion to $108 billion (2022–2030). The value of refurbished electronics is estimated to increase from $85.9 billion to $262.2 billion (2022–2032). Strikingly, 40% of companies do not have a formal ITAD strategy in place.

Significantly, the EU is rethinking its Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) management targets, aligned with upcoming circularity and WEEE legislation, as part of efforts to foster the circular economy. A more robust and realistic circularity-driven approach to setting collection targets would better reflect various factors including long lifespans of electronic products and market fluctuations.

Australia and New Zealand lag the EU’s comprehensive e-waste mandated frameworks. The lack of a systematic approach results in environmental degradation and missed positioning opportunities for businesses in the circular economy. While Australia’s Senate inquiry into waste reduction and recycling recommended legislating a full circular economy framework — including for imported and local product design, financial incentives and regulatory enforcement, New Zealand remains the only OECD country without a national scheme to manage e-waste.

3. Extending product lifecycles

Along with data security and digital tools, reuse was a key theme in the ITAD & Circular Electronics track of the conference. The sustainable tech company that I lead, Greenbox, recognises that reuse is the simplest circular strategy. Devices that are still functional undergo refurbishment and are reintroduced into the market, reducing new production need and conserving valuable resources.

Conference presenters highlighted how repair over replacement is being legislated as a right in jurisdictions around the world. Resources are saved, costs are lowered, product life is extended, and people and organisations are empowered to support a greener future. It was pointed out that just 43% of countries have recycling policies, 17% of global waste is formally recycled, and less than 1% of global e-waste is formally repaired and reused.

Right to repair is a rising wave in the circular economy, and legislation is one way that civil society is pushing back on programmed obsolescence. Its global momentum continues at different speeds for different product categories — from the recent EU mandates to multiple US state bills (and some laws) through to repair and reuse steps in India, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The European Commission’s Joint Research Commission has done a scoping study to identify product groups under the Ecodesign framework that would be most relevant for implementing an EU-wide product reparability scoring system.

Attending this event with the entire electronic waste recycling supply chain — from peers and partners to suppliers and customers — underscored the importance of sharing best practices to address the environmental challenges that increased hardware proliferation and complex related issues are having on the world.

Ross Thompson is Group CEO of sustainability, data management and technology asset lifecycle management market leader Greenbox. With facilities in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, Greenbox Group provides customers all over the world a carbon-neutral supply chain for IT equipment to reduce their carbon footprint by actively managing their environmental, social and governance obligations.

Image credit: iStock.com/Mustafa Ovec

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