💬 “Every item should find its best home from a circularity perspective.” — Steve Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries

In Episode 12 of our Concordia Summit Series, we sit down with Steve Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries International, to unpack what really happens behind the scenes at one of America’s largest reuse and donation systems — and how Goodwill is positioning itself for the future of circularity.

From what happens the moment you drop off a bag of clothes, to how long items stay on shelves, to the rise of resellers and new fiber-sorting technologies, Steve breaks down the full lifecycle of a donated item — and why it matters for our planet.

👉 What you’ll hear:

• How Goodwill processes, prices, and moves donated goods through a 4-week retail cycle
• What happens when items don’t sell — and how “by-the-pound” outlets keep materials in circulation
• Why resellers are now one of Goodwill’s most important shopper groups
• The staggering reality that 85% of U.S. textiles end up in landfills
• How advanced sorting technologies could unlock high-volume, fiber-specific circularity
• Where Goodwill fits as EPR legislation and textile recycling evolve across states
• Why keeping goods “in their highest and best use” is both an economic and environmental win

This episode was recorded at the 15th Annual Concordia Annual Summit in New York City. ________________________________________

About The Green Hour Podcast

The Green Hour Podcast is a global platform that connects sustainability leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to share insights on sustainable solutions. With a growing audience across six continents, The Green Hour continues to be at the forefront of global conversations on environmental action.

🌎 Website: https://thegreenhourpodcast.com/

🎥 Watch on YouTube:

🎥 Watch more from the Summit Series ’25: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyjdkjacNUyEFCys09rl4OiibZgERPLdB&si=MXsAgXTmWFzzoWY1