1. Building a Circular Future: Adam Baruchowicz on Textile Recycling and Social Entrepreneurship 2. From Day Trading to Circularity: Adam Baruchowicz’s Journey to Impactful Textile Recycling 3. Making Circularity Possible: Lessons in Textile Waste and Sustainable Business Models 4. The Power of Mono Material Design in Circular Economy with Adam Baruchowicz 5. How Return to Vendor Is Transforming Textile Recycling and Sustainability 6. Driving Impact in Fashion: Adam Baruchowicz’s Insights on Circular Materials and Business 7. Turning Waste into Value: Adam Baruchowicz on Scaling Circular Solutions 8. Circularity as a Business: The Evolution of Textile Recycling with Adam Baruchowicz 9. Innovating for Impact: Building a Lean, Asset-Light Circular Materials Platform 10. Lessons from a Circularity Pioneer: Advice for Entrepreneurs Entering the Sustainable Economy

circularity, textile recycling, social entrepreneurship, sustainable fashion, waste management, clothing donation, secondhand clothing, environmental justice, mono material design, recycled nylon, supply chain, impact investing, social enterprise, non-profit vs for-profit, waste diversion, community recycling, landfill reduction, upcycling, responsible sourcing, apparel industry, recycled polyester, green initiatives, business development, capital raising, eco-friendly products, material science, closed loop systems, legislative impact, commercial accounts, product innovation

Adam Baruchowitz is an experienced consultant who has helped build hundreds of impact-driven ventures around the world. Over his career, Adam has supported startups and organizations in accelerating their growth by providing strategic guidance, business development expertise, and access to a global network of investors and partners. Recognizing the challenges founders face when starting from scratch, Adam offers fractional business development and capital raising services, enabling teams to move quickly and with integrity—without the commitment or expense of a full-time hire. His approach empowers entrepreneurs to realize their visions while benefitting from his deep experience and connections.

Welcome back to Awarepreneurs, the world’s longest running podcast dedicated to social entrepreneurship! In today’s episode, we’re exploring the future of circularity and textile recycling with our guest, Adam Baruchowicz, Chief Recycling Officer at Return to Vendor. Adam’s journey began unexpectedly—from day trading and co-founding a leading Jewish culture magazine, to pioneering textile recycling solutions that have kept millions of pounds of clothing out of landfills. Host [Ward Hendon](/speakers/A) invites Adam to share the origin story behind his unlikely path, from personal tragedy to finding purpose by building grassroots recycling programs in New York City. We’ll hear how Adam’s innovative placement of clothing collection bins grew into hundreds of locations and inspired citywide initiatives for waste management and multi-stream recycling. Adam breaks down terms like circularity versus recycling, explains the challenges (and business opportunities) with mono-material design, and recounts how a global pandemic led him to co-found Return to Vendor—a materials platform rooted in regenerative nylon and bold, science-backed solutions for the fashion industry. If you’re curious about how entrepreneurship, environmental justice, and community innovation intersect, or you want to learn from someone who’s weathered market upheavals and built a resilient, forward-thinking business, this episode is for you. Join us as we discuss the practical steps for scaling impact, raising capital in the impact space, and what it will take for circularity to go mainstream in the years ahead.

Certainly! Here’s a comprehensive sequence of the topics covered in the transcript, organized with sub-topics beneath each main topic: --- ### Introduction - Welcome to AwarePreneurs and host introduction - Importance of subscribing and leaving reviews - Brief introduction of guest Adam Baruchowicz by [Ward Hendon](/speakers/A) - Overview of Adam Baruchowicz’s background and achievements ### Adam Baruchowicz’s Personal Origin Story in Recycling - Transition from day trading to textile recycling - Influence of a personal friend and business partner’s accident - Early involvement in spinal cord research and charities - Observations on clothing collection practices in Manhattan and Long Island - Starting grassroots clothing collection in apartment buildings - Challenges with building managers and space - Scaling from a few buildings to a larger network through community connection - Combining entrepreneurial and environmental consciousness - Early realization of environmental impact after watching “An Inconvenient Truth” - Shift from charitable project to for-profit business model - Discussion of for-profit vs. nonprofit dynamics in the textile recycling space ### Building and Scaling a Social Enterprise in Textile Recycling - Early days of the business: logistics, challenges, and strategies - Using partnerships and web-based requests for collection bins - Efficient, local solutions to recycling in New York City - Distribution and market channels for collected textiles - Relationship with a sorting facility and distribution pathways - Economic focus: increasing commodity value and recycling rates - Waste characterization studies and understanding of market potential ### Transition from Recycling to Circularity - Defining circularity vs. traditional recycling - Frustrations and limitations of being a recycler - Out-of-sight, out-of-mind attitudes toward waste - Market realities of textile waste - Complexities in sorting and finding value in blended materials - Macro and micro economics of waste management - Pioneering efforts and industry influence - Impact of textile collection programs on subsequent recycling initiatives in NYC (e-waste, composting, etc.) ### Birth and Vision of Return to Vendor (RTV) - The pivot to mono-material design and circularity - Introduction of mono-material concepts and regenerated nylon - Collaboration with co-founders and the interdisciplinary approach - Raising capital and validating the business model - Pre-seed and seed rounds, partnership with major VC firm - The importance of science-driven and system-driven circularity - The mechanics and infrastructure of RTV’s solution - Integrated, asset-light supply chain - Strategic partnerships across collection, spinning, recycling, and manufacturing ### Circularity in the Broader Market - Selling to enterprise and commercial B2B accounts - Applications beyond fashion (automotive, healthcare, sports) - Importance of pricing, performance, and circularity to commercial clients - Cost benefits and economic alignment of circular solutions - Industry trends and future outlook - Legislation and compliance as motivators - Parity with (or out-performance of) virgin and recycled materials ### Looking Ahead: The Future of RTV & Circularity - Vision for RTV in three years - Scaling demand, brand uptake, and partnership opportunities - Setting industry standards for responsible production, sourcing, and takeback - Expansion to other verticals and influencing consumer, corporate, and legislative behaviors ### Advice for Emerging Entrepreneurs in Circularity - How to get started in circularity as an entrepreneur - Identify a problem area that excites you - Efficiently connect dots between problems and potential solutions - Importance of community-building, learning, and borrowing successful ideas - Example models that can be replicated locally (e.g., school rummage sales for clothing) - The importance of hands-on experience and adapting solutions from other industries ### How to Connect and Learn More - Contact information for [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C) and RTV - Invitation to connect on LinkedIn and participate in conversations about circularity ### Closing - Encouragement to share the episode and apply lessons learned - Information about how to get business support from the show’s sponsor --- This structure captures the flow and depth of the discussion, highlighting both the operational journey and big-picture lessons on circularity and social enterprise.

00:00 "Day Trading Adventures to Chile"

04:12 "Passion for Spinal Cord Research"

08:42 "Inconvenient Truth's Impact"

10:47 "Thriving Amid Financial Crisis"

14:03 "Building a Social Enterprise"

18:58 Circularity vs. Recycling

22:07 "Strong Dollar Impacts Global Markets"

25:36 "Fashion's Environmental Responsibility Crisis"

27:52 "Fractional Business Growth Support"

30:24 Lake House Reflections

35:43 "Unlocking Complexity with Science"

38:51 "Learning Sales Cycle Challenges"

39:48 "Circular Solutions for Waste Materials"

42:48 "Collaboration Powers Circular Innovation"

46:47 "Advice for Aspiring Circular Entrepreneurs"

51:01 "Circular Future Waste Solution"

53:46 "Sharing Circular Economy Insights"

On today's Awarepreneurs episode, I sat down with Adam Baruchowicz, Chief Recycling Officer at Return to Vendor, who’s pioneered the textile recycling movement and recycled over 35 million pounds of clothing. We explored his journey from day trading to creating one of the most innovative circular economy platforms using regenerated nylon. Adam shared how aligning profit with positive environmental impact is the future. If you’re passionate about making business a force for good—and curious about making circularity possible today—you won’t want to miss this episode!

Excited to share some powerful insights from my recent conversation on the Awarepreneurs podcast with Adam Baruchowicz, a true pioneer in textile recycling and circularity! Adam’s journey from day trading to launching Return to Vendor—a circular materials platform—is a masterclass in aligning business with impact. He’s recycled over 35 million pounds of textiles, created grassroots building collection programs, and now is scaling innovative solutions for waste-to-value. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to make circularity possible in today’s economy, Adam’s story is essential listening. **Key Takeaways:** - **Grassroots Ideas Can Reshape Industries:** Adam started with clothing bins in NYC apartment buildings and inspired citywide initiatives, showing how even small pilots can ignite massive change. - **Circularity Goes Beyond Recycling:** True circularity means designing products with their end-of-life in mind and uniting supply chain partners around a shared commitment to close the loop—creating real business incentives to keep materials out of landfill. - **Innovation Thrives on Collaboration:** Adam’s success comes from connecting problem-solving across industries and assembling teams of scientists, designers, and funders who can turn ambitious ideas into real-world solutions. Curious about launching impact-driven ventures or bringing circularity to your industry? Check out the full episode, connect with Adam, and let’s build a sustainable future together! 🌎♻️ #CircularEconomy #ImpactBusiness #Sustainability #Awarepreneurs

**Subject:** From Day Trading to Textile Circularity: Adam Baruchowicz’s Impactful Journey 🌱 --- Hi Awarepreneurs Community, This week, we’re thrilled to bring you the inspiring story of Adam Baruchowicz, Chief Recycling Officer at Return to Vendor, in our episode: “Making Circularity Possible Today.” **From Day Trading to Circular Design** Adam’s origin story is anything but typical. He began as a day trader and magazine co-founder, but after a series of surprising life events—including a pivotal trip to Chile and powerful involvement with spinal cord injury research—Adam found his calling in textile recycling. Since 2004, he’s recycled over 35 million pounds of clothing! 🚛 **What Is Circularity—And Why Does It Matter Now?** Adam breaks down the critical difference between recycling and circularity. While recycling addresses waste at its end point, circularity is all about designing products with end-of-life in mind—from responsible sourcing to efficient takeback systems, and (ideally) remanufacturing them back into new products. Circularity isn’t just a buzzword: it’s fast becoming a business reality as brands face increasing legislative pressure and consumer demand for sustainability. **Spotlight: Return to Vendor** Adam’s new venture, Return to Vendor, is a circular materials platform pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in textile reuse. He and his co-founders are harnessing regenerated mono-material nylons to create products that can genuinely be recycled, closing the loop for fashion, automotive, healthcare, and more—all while keeping an eye on economic viability. **Top Nuggets from Adam:** - **Innovation is everywhere:** Adam urges entrepreneurs to identify everyday problems that excite them, learn from solutions in other industries, and deeply educate themselves. “A lot of it is just borrowing ideas,” he says. - **Economics meet impact:** “The business of sustainability only makes sense when the economics make sense,” Adam reminds us. Circularity must align with real-world incentives for brands, legislators, and consumers. - **Start small, think big:** The humble clothing collection bin sparked systems now used citywide for multiple waste streams. Your grassroots project could be next! **Want to Dive Deeper?** Hear the full episode for a first-hand account of Adam’s journey, the challenges of scaling impact businesses, and how circularity can become the new standard. Ready to get involved or take action in your own community? Adam is active on LinkedIn and always open to new ideas. **Listen Now and Get Inspired:** [Insert direct podcast link] If Adam’s story resonates, forward this newsletter to a friend interested in closing the loop. And if you’re working on your own impact-driven startup and need guidance, don’t miss our sponsor link at paulzelizer.com for support in business development and capital raising. Thank you for being part of the Awarepreneurs movement—together, we’re building a more conscious, circular future. With gratitude, The Awarepreneurs Team P.S. Have a circular solution or community project of your own? Reply to this email—we’d love to hear about it! --- *Let’s not just talk about change—let’s build it, one recycled thread at a time.*

🧵1/ What does it take to build a circular economy—especially in textiles? Meet [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/D), the Chief Recycling Officer behind over 35 million pounds (!) of clothing kept out of landfills and the founder of Return to Vendor, a company putting circularity into practice today. 👇 2/ [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/D) didn’t start in recycling. He was a day trader, world traveler, and even co-founded a major Jewish culture magazine. But a chance encounter and a personal tragedy shifted his path toward textile recycling and, ultimately, environmental impact. 3/ His lightbulb moment? Noticing the inefficiency of “one-bag-at-a-time” clothing pickups in NYC buildings. He convinced building managers to install collection bins—making it as convenient as possible. “Convenience has got to be at the center of it all,” says [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/D). 4/ From personal apartment projects, he scaled to 200+ buildings and became NYC’s backbone for textile recycling: green market collections, school drives, and more. But it wasn’t just about moving stuff—it was about changing how we think about waste. 5/ “People have a nostalgic attachment to clothes,” [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/D) reflects. “They hand you a bag of memories. They say bless you—even though they’re giving you money!” His insight? Waste isn’t waste. It’s value, untapped. 6/ So, what’s the REAL difference between recycling and circularity? [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/D) breaks it down: - Recycling: Being a band-aid for an industry’s broken system. - Circularity: Designing products for their own end-of-life, taking full responsibility to reconstitute materials. 7/ The breakthrough with Return to Vendor? Mono-material design using regenerated nylon—materials sourced from things like fishing nets that can be recycled again and again without losing quality. It’s asset-light, scalable, and B2B-focused. 8/ Return to Vendor isn’t just pitching “green.” Their approach is competitive on cost and performance—and designed for full take-back. Hospitals with scrubs, companies with branded uniforms, even youth sports leagues—all can tap into this circular supply chain. 9/ Want a playbook for would-be founders in circularity? [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/D) suggests: - Identify the problem that excites you (think locally and specifically!) - Learn from others, globally and across industries - Get your hands dirty: innovation comes from real-world friction and iterating 10/ Final words from [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/D): Circularity isn’t just a buzzword. It’s about aligning economics with environmental good—and the future belongs to those who design with both in mind. 🌱 RT to inspire the next generation of circular entrepreneurs! #CircularEconomy #TextileRecycling #ClimateAction #Sustainability #FounderStories

Absolutely! Here are 10 thoughtful discussion questions based directly on the content of this Awarepreneurs episode with [Ward Hendon](/speakers/A) and [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C): 1. [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C) shares how his entry into textile recycling began as a grassroots project in New York. What are your thoughts on how personal passions or unexpected events can steer someone’s career in a new, impactful direction? 2. How does [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C)’s experience with both for-profit and nonprofit models illustrate the challenges and opportunities of social entrepreneurship? Which model do you think is more effective for creating sustainable impact in recycling? 3. The concept of “circularity” versus “recycling” is central to this conversation. How did [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C) define the difference, and what implications does that have for designing future products? 4. [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C) mentions emotional attachments people have to their clothing and how it affects recycling initiatives. In what ways do you think consumer psychology can help or hinder the progress of the circular economy? 5. The early days of [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C)’s project involved a lot of convincing building managers to allow clothing collection bins. What strategies from his story might apply to overcoming resistance to sustainability initiatives in other contexts? 6. “Convenience has to be at the center” was a key lesson from [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C)’s journey. How important do you think convenience is for the success of sustainability efforts? Can you think of other examples where this was proven true? 7. Discuss the impact of economic factors, such as commodity prices and the strength of the dollar, on recycling and circularity efforts, as described by [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C). How do you think global economics shapes what’s possible in sustainability? 8. [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C) prioritizes mono-materiality and material science in his work at Return to Vendor. Why is the use of a single, recyclable material such a game-changer in the circular economy? 9. Legislative and market forces are both mentioned as drivers for circularity in big brands. What role do you see government regulation playing versus consumer demand or corporate self-motivation in advancing circular business models? 10. For aspiring entrepreneurs passionate about circularity, [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C) suggests starting by identifying a problem you care about and looking for inspiration from successful models elsewhere. What challenges or opportunities might someone encounter applying this advice in their own community or industry? Feel free to use these to spark deep conversation in a classroom, book club, or social entrepreneurship group!

1. Circularity isn’t a buzzword, it’s a game-changer. [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C) shows how designing products with end-of-life in mind transforms waste into lasting value—imagine every object you use looping back into the world instead of the landfill. 2. If you want lasting impact, align economics with ethics. [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C) started as a day trader and became a recycling pioneer by making environmental good profitable—proof that business and sustainability can go hand in hand. 3. Changing culture starts with convenience. [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C) made clothes recycling easy in NYC by placing bins where people live. Small, smart tweaks to our daily routines spark big societal shifts. 4. Collaboration matters. Circularity isn’t just a company’s job—it’s about brands, innovation, legislation, and all of us agreeing that waste has value. [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C)’s work shows we move further together than alone. 5. Want to launch a circularity project? Start by finding a local problem that excites you, like school clothing drives. Connect ideas from different industries, learn from others, and get your hands dirty—progress is about action.

In this episode, [Ward Hendon](/speakers/A) interviews [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/B), Chief Recycling Officer at Return to Vendor. Discover how he pioneered large-scale textile recycling, built a circular materials platform, raised venture capital, and made circularity possible for businesses. Learn actionable insights on the intersection of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and system-wide change in the textile industry.

1. Is the future of sustainability rooted in circularity? How can founders turn waste into economic opportunity—while making real impact? What if your business model started with the question: “How will this product end?” We explored this paradigm shift in our recent Awarepreneurs episode with Adam Baruchowicz, Chief Recycling Officer at Return to Vendor. Adam described a pivotal moment: “Design with end of life in mind—and take responsibility at end of life to reconstitute it. That’s the essence of circularity.” Our conversation unpacked the journey from recycling to building a fully circular enterprise. As Paul guided the discussion, we dove into why big brands are now prioritizing circularity—not just for compliance, but for cost savings and resilience. Key takeaway: The most successful impact ventures align strong economics with environmental solutions. As Paul says, social entrepreneurship is about “maximizing value from waste and scaling positive systems.” Curious how circular models can transform your sector? Check out the full episode and share your insights on making circularity a business advantage. 2. Did you know 6% of all waste in the U.S. is textiles—worth over $100 million per year in New York City alone? What untapped value might be sitting in your company’s waste stream? How can innovative entrepreneurs build scalable, asset-light circular solutions? We recently tackled these questions on the Awarepreneurs podcast with guest Adam Baruchowicz, a pioneer in textile recycling. Under Paul Zelizer’s leadership, we uncovered the strategies that move circularity from buzzword to bottom line. Adam noted: “We’re not just solving for fashion—we’re creating integrated, lean supply chains across sectors like automotive, healthcare, and even flooring.” Paul highlighted a strategy impact founders can adopt today: Build models that achieve cost parity or even savings compared to non-circular options, making it a no-brainer for customers and partners. What’s your biggest challenge in building sustainability into your business model? Let’s brainstorm in the comments—and don’t miss the full episode for actionable insights on launching circular ventures that scale.

1. Grassroots Beginnings Can Drive Transformative Impact: [Adam Baruchowicz](/speakers/C) built his pioneering textile recycling business from humble beginnings, leveraging personal experiences, community efforts, and problem-solving to create high-impact solutions for both charity and environmental sustainability. "And little did I know, also go down the path of environmental justice...what started as an idea grew into a little bit of a grassroots, hey, convince my building manager...and we got to like 10, 15 buildings. And it was kind of like cool little project because we had an outlet for everything we collected." 2. Circularity Goes Beyond Recycling—It’s About Systematic Change: The shift from simply recycling to true circularity involves designing products for end-of-life, aligning business incentives, and fostering collaborative solutions that link brands, recyclers, and innovators to close the loop in materials use. "Design with end of life in mind and take responsibility at end of life to reconstitute it. I think that brands should be involved in that chain. And you know, I think it's a simple sort of elegant way to approach putting products into market and maximizing value." 3. Aligning Profit and Sustainability is Possible—And Necessary for Scale: For-profit structures, scientific innovation, and an obsession with the economics of waste can create scalable, sustainable businesses that outperform traditional models and drive real industry transformation. "Frankly, being the entrepreneur that I am...you know, the option might have been to go down the nonprofit path...And also I thought there was a business here...so like, I didn't want to be limited...I've just been obsessed with trying to find ways to find the economics around this waste to value."

What if the real key to making circularity *actually possible* wasn’t in high-tech factories or new materials, but in reimagining how communities and industries handle everyday clothing waste—and turning local passion into scalable impact? These are just a few of the provocative questions we explored with Adam Baruchowicz on the latest Awarepreneurs podcast episode, hosted by our very own Paul Zelizer.