How do informal systems, waste reduction, and climate action come together in real-world circular economy solutions?

Join us for a conversation with Silvia Petrova, an environmental and sustainability expert with over 20 years of experience designing and implementing programs across waste reduction, plastic pollution prevention, land governance, and forestry in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Drawing on her recent work with USAID on circular economy and plastic pollution initiatives in the Global South, she will share insights into the role of women in the informal waste sector and the waste-reduction opportunities that can deliver measurable climate impact and advance circularity.

Through real-world examples, we’ll explore:

• Why women informal waste collectors are critical but often overlooked climate actors
• What opportunities enable upstream waste reduction and diversion
• How these actions deliver a climate impact
• What sustainability professionals need to know when designing inclusive circular economy waste programs

This conversation is ideal for climate and sustainability professionals working in or entering the circular economy, waste reduction, and inclusive climate solutions space.

About the Speaker:

Silvia Petrova is an environmental sustainability expert with over 20 years of experience working with government agencies and NGOs across more than 30 countries. Her work spans circular economy and waste reduction, plastic pollution prevention, land tenure, and forest carbon emissions, with a focus on translating local practice into scalable climate solutions. She now helps businesses and organizations with designing practical, inclusive strategies for waste reduction and climate resilience and is a certified Zero Waste Associate.