US BCSD and Sustainable Surplus Exchange Partner Up to Launch the San Diego Materials Marketplace
In a key strategic move for both Sustainable Surplus Exchange (SSE) and the US Business Council for Sustainable Development (US BCSD), the organizations have partnered up to launch a new Materials Marketplace project in San Diego.
Sustainable Surplus, a 501 (c)(3), based in San Diego, “turns corporate excess into community assets,” according to Executive Director, Sue Prelozni. "SSE handles the internal surplus, everything from office supplies and furniture to computers and lab equipment, and redistributes them to schools, nonprofits and start-up organizations."
The Materials Marketplace aims to create a closed-loop, collaborative network of businesses, organizations and entrepreneurs in San Diego County where one organization’s waste becomes another organization’s raw material. In addition to diverting waste from landfills, the recovery activities will generate significant cost savings, energy savings, and create new jobs and business opportunities.
San Diego joins a number of other existing and emerging Materials Marketplaces located throughout the US – Austin, Detroit, Tennessee, Ohio and others. The US BCSD targeted San Diego after learning about the parallel mission of SSE to divert still useful product from the landfill.
“We’re thrilled to be working alongside Sustainable Surplus in this groundbreaking new project,” said Daniel Kietzer, Program Manager for the US BCSD. “Many San Diego businesses and organizations are challenging the traditional take-make-dispose model; the Materials Marketplace is an important enabler to move this new circular thinking into action.”
Local Businesses Early Adopters
Several local companies have joined the combined efforts of the organizations to launch the San Diego Materials Marketplace. Among them are Bottles and Wood, Republic Waste Management and Stone Brewing Corporation.
“It made sense for Bottles & Wood to join,” explained Zelda Waxenberg, CEO. “We utilize reclaimed materials sourcing, mostly glass and wood, then transform the reclaimed materials into furniture, lighting, serving ware, and other products for the hospitality and décor industries.” The B&W business model supports the circular economy and the goal to divert still usable materials away from the landfill and into the hands of community.
San Diego’s largest craft-brewery, Stone Brewing, is a leader in sustainability. “This is excellent timing to launch a raw materials marketplace in San Diego as it underlines our city’s goals toward reduced greenhouse gas emissions and zero waste,” said Pat Tiernan. “We strongly support sustainable manufacturing practices at Stone and invite the opportunity of discovering additional ways to strengthen our commitment.”
More information about the San Diego Materials Marketplace can be found at this website: http://sandiego.materialsmarketplace.org. Interested participants may contact Sue Prelozni at sue@sustainablesurplus.org or Daniel Kietzer at kietzer@usbcsd.org.
About Sustainable Surplus
Sustainable Surplus Exchange, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, supports hundreds of educational, charitable, military and start-up organizations through the redistribution of donated surplus assets from commerce – everything from office supplies to furniture, computers and lab equipment. We reduce the carbon footprint of waste by diverting still-useful items from the landfill.