AUSTIN, TX – The City of Austin announced the winner of the 2025 Circular Austin Showcase, a pitch competition for local circular businesses focused on reuse and zero waste. Circular business models reduce the need to extract new resources from our planet by keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible. 

The event took place Aug. 26, 2025, in partnership between Austin Resource Recovery and the Economic Development Department. 

A judging panel selected Heartening as this year’s $10,000 winner, following pitches from five finalists. In addition, three participants from the Circular Austin Accelerator program pitched their business ideas during the competition, and Frontier Resource Recovery took home a $2,000 prize. Scoring criteria for both categories included business viability, fundability, circular economy/zero waste impact, economic impact and social impact. All competitors gained valuable feedback from the judges.

Finalists from the Circular Austin Showcase included:

• Cocarbon converts agricultural waste into sustainable activated carbon for water filtration. Their carbon-negative, solar-powered process eliminates expensive water transport, reduces waterborne diseases and creates local jobs.
• CRAFT is a public studio that promotes sustainability through a shared use model for arts and crafts. Their model reduces waste, prevents unnecessary consumption, and fosters an inclusive, community-driven approach to making.
• Heartening is a community-driven initiative dedicated to creating a sustainable culture of giving and reuse. They are powered by volunteers who care about giving clothing back to the community freely or extremely cheaply.
• Save the Good Stuff is committed to the preservation and reuse of vulnerable vintage and historic building materials. They aim to maintain the integrity of Austin’s built environment.
• Wanderlust Wine Co. is the world’s largest wine-on-tap winery. They are on a mission to change the world through wine by utilizing sustainable, recyclable and reusable packaging and practices.  

Finalists from the Circular Austin Accelerator program included:  

• Concept 2 Consumption Fashion and Technology is a technology ecosystem and innovation virtual collaboration. They are on a mission to make Austin the sustainable fashion capital of the world.
• Frontier Resource Recovery is turning abundant agricultural waste into biochar as a sustainable solution to treat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) contamination. The treated biosolids are safe to be reused as fertilizer.
• Holocia is transforming the local food system by creating agricultural development districts. These districts will provide Austinites with fresh, healthy food and help eliminate over 1 million pounds of plastic food packaging annually.   

Director Richard McHale of Austin Resource Recovery said his department was proud to host the fifth annual Circular Austin Showcase alongside the Economic Development Department.

“This event spotlights the incredibly innovative ways local businesses are advancing Austin’s circular economy,” McHale said. “We’re proud to recognize all of this year’s finalists for their leadership in reusing materials and moving the Austin community closer to zero waste.” 

“The Circular Austin Showcase demonstrates how groundbreaking businesses are building a stronger, more resilient local economy,” said Anthony Segura, Interim Director of the Economic Development Department. “These finalists show how Austin’s entrepreneurs are turning big challenges into bigger opportunities, shaping our economy, protecting our environment, and securing Austin’s place as a leader in sustainable growth.”

Judges for the 2025 event included:  

• Jeff Blickman, Director at Palm Venture Studios
• Bart Bohn, Partner at ATP
• Sandy Eapen, Fractional Sustainability Leader & Consultant at Eapen Impact
• Pavi Lamahewa, Managing Partner at Precious
• Nancy Lyon, Director of Austin Community College's Bioscience Incubator

The Circular Austin Showcase is a program created by the City of Austin’s Circular Economy Program. The event is focused on connecting local investors to circular economy entrepreneurs and business owners. The Showcase aims to help Austin reduce waste, help our planet and grow the local circular economy.  

The Circular Austin Accelerator program helps entrepreneurs improve their circular business ideas throughout a 16-week program. Participants received business training and coaching to help improve their concepts.

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About Austin Resource Recovery   
Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) is a department of the City of Austin. We provide essential services that protect people and our planet. We collect recycling, composting, trash, large brush, bulk items, household hazardous waste and dead animals. We also sweep the streets, offer Austin and Travis County residents a service to recycle and safely dispose of household hazardous waste and provide community outreach and education. ARR is driving the global transformation of traditional waste management to sustainable resource recovery. Learn more at AustinRecycles.com.

About the City of Austin Economic Development Department     
The City of Austin Economic Development Department (EDD) supports business growth, creative industries, and local communities. These programs build an equitable, sustainable economy to improve the lives of all Austin residents. To learn more about helpful resources, visit www.austintexas.gov/edd and subscribe to our newsletter. Connect with EDD @AustinEconDev on Facebook, @AustinEconDev on X, and @AustinEconDev on YouTube.