Member Interview with Kate Krebs, Director of External Affairs, Closed Loop Partners

Why is sustainability important to your business?

As a result of our current linear economy, we are using about 1.6 earths ; meaning we’re
using about 60% more of the earth’s resources than it can regenerate every year. By
2050, with an increased global population and a resulting rise in consumption, that
“overshoot” could get to 3-4 earths, which is clearly unsustainable. Our work at Closed
Loop Partners is focused on accelerating the transition to a circular economy––one in
which we use and manage resources responsibly and eliminate the concept of waste to
build a more sustainable way of living. Representing an extensive network of Fortune
500 corporations, institutional investors and family offices we are a circular economy-
focused investment firm and innovation center working to advance a new economic
model focused on a profitable, sustainable and waste-free future. By helping reduce our
dependence on the extraction of finite natural resources, and minimizing waste at end-
of-life, we keep valuable materials in circulation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
By reworking the fundamental flow of materials in our economy, the circular economy
offers an economically attractive, socially just and environmentally sustainable way to
meet our global climate commitments.

How do you realize your vision of sustainability/what successes can you point to?

Closed Loop Partners invests across the value chain, building an ecosystem that
connects entrepreneurs, industry experts, global consumer goods companies,
technology companies, material science companies, retailers, financial institutions and
municipalities––knowing that collaboration is at the core of advancing sustainability. To
date, Closed Loop Partners’ investments have kept 3.6 million tons of materials in
circulation and avoided 6.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Our vision and
track record of successfully deploying capital toward circular solutions has enabled the
shift away from inefficient, linear, extractive supply chains and toward more efficient,
waste-free circular systems. The circular economic model continues to show us what is
possible. Through collaborations across our ecosystem, our team continues to build on
the firm’s momentum, growing our portfolio to over 60 investments to accelerate the
circular economy.

What public policy priorities are of greatest importance to you at this time and why?

Building the necessary infrastructure that will shift from a linear to a circular economy
requires strategic investments by both the public and private sector. Closed Loop
Partners has supported Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as a policy tool that
would provide recycling/recovery system funding, set clear operational standards, and
education and outreach for consumers. CLP supports EPR operations under a producer-
run not-for-profit (PRO) which is guided by an advisory board and overseen by a state
agency. The PRO collects and manages producer funds, with all revenues dedicated to the operation and oversight of the collection and processing of recyclables, the
establishment of refillable systems and the education and outreach efforts. CLP believes
EPR will relieve local governments of the budget burden to support all recovery
programs efforts in their jurisdiction. CLP believes EPR will increase efficiency and
recovery of tons. CLP has engaged with Congressional leaders on the Senate
Environment and Public Works committee as they draft recycling legislation specifically
targeted to rural areas of the country that are underserved and have sparse
populations. Building the appropriate infrastructure – a hub and spoke system for
instance – makes economic and environmental sense so materials can be recovered,
sorted and aggregated to send to end markets.

How does being part of ASBN help you to fulfill your goal(s)? 

We can accelerate momentum toward the circular economy when we collaborate and
align around important sustainability issues. Transforming longstanding linear business
models and production systems requires the participation of the value chain from end-
to-end. Through our partnership with ASBN, we can continue to build important
partnerships, learn from experts and align toward shared goals to build a more
sustainable, waste-free future.
Check out our 2021 Impact Report to learn more about our work, outcomes and opportunities.
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