Last night I had the chance to attend the 2025 Circular Austin Showcase, an event that celebrates innovation, collaboration, and bold ideas for building a zero-waste future. Hosted by Austin Resource Recovery and the City of Austin Economic Development Department, the showcase brought together entrepreneurs, investors, city leaders, and community members who all share a passion for sustainability. It was an evening that reinforced Austin’s reputation as a city where creativity and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
Spotlight on Circular Innovation
The event focused on its finalist pitches — eight businesses sharing how they’re tackling real-world waste and resource challenges. Each idea pushed the boundaries of what’s possible when we rethink our relationship with materials.
- Cocarbon is using agricultural plant waste to produce activated carbon for clean water filtration. Their carbon-negative, solar-powered process provides safer water and eliminates the need for costly water transport while creating local jobs.
- CRAFT showed how a public studio model can reduce waste by making art supplies and workshops more accessible. Instead of single-use consumption, they foster creativity through shared resources.
- Save the Good Stuff is tackling the preservation and reuse of historic building materials, ensuring Austin’s architectural history isn’t lost to landfills.
- Wanderlust Wine Co. is proving that even the wine industry can adapt, using wine-on-tap systems with reusable packaging to cut down on waste and emissions.
The showcase also featured the Circular Austin Accelerator program, which included exciting early-stage concepts such as sustainable fashion technology, agricultural development districts for reducing food packaging waste, and new biochar applications. Together, these pitches highlighted a diverse array of ideas that balance business with environmental impact.
Celebrating the Winners
Two businesses especially stood out to the judging panel and were recognized with cash prizes to further their work.
- Heartening, the $10,000 grand prize winner, is creating a culture of giving by making clothing donations freely available or extremely affordable to community members. What struck me most was the way they combine environmental impact with social equity to reduce textile waste while making clothing accessible to those in need.
- Frontier Resource Recovery received a $2,000 award for their innovative use of biochar to treat PFAS contamination in water. Their model not only addresses a major pollution challenge but also creates safe fertilizer as a byproduct, closing the loop in a way that benefits both people and the planet.
Both winners are proof that circular solutions can be practical, scalable, and deeply impactful. These aren’t just “green” ideas — they’re business models with the potential to transform industries and communities.
Why This Matters for Austin
Austin has always been known as a city of makers, dreamers, and doers, and the Circular Austin Showcase reflects that spirit. The circular economy is more than just recycling — it’s a complete reimagining of how products are designed, shared, and reused to minimize waste. By supporting businesses that prioritize reuse and zero waste, Austin is not only protecting the environment but also fueling local economic growth.
Events like this matter because they provide entrepreneurs with visibility, resources, and the chance to connect with investors who believe in their mission. They also remind the community that solving big challenges like waste reduction requires collaboration across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. As someone who has worked in sustainability communications for years, I found it refreshing to see such a broad coalition of ideas, each with the power to reshape daily habits and industries.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 Circular Austin Showcase wasn’t just about recognizing winners, it was about sparking momentum. Each finalist walked away with valuable feedback, new connections, and the encouragement to keep pushing their ideas forward. The accelerator program will continue nurturing early-stage innovators, and I have no doubt we’ll be hearing more about these companies in the years ahead.
Personally, I left the event feeling hopeful and inspired. It was a reminder that while the challenges of waste and resource use are complex, the solutions are already emerging right here in our city. Austin continues to lead by example, showing that when innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability intersect, the results can truly transform communities.
Here’s to supporting these trailblazers as they work to make a circular economy not just a vision for the future, but a lived reality for Austin and beyond.
*Content was generated with AI based on my notes and direction, then edited and refined by me for accuracy.
