How ReMA’s Sustainability Network Helps Members Advance Their Business Journeys

During Brad Rutledge's almost 14 years with the MX Holdings family of companies, he worked in the aluminum trading, casting, extrusion, fabrication, and recycling subsectors. After a nine-year tour of the manufacturing side of the business, Rutledge was invited back to headquarters to create a new analyst role that had not yet existed at the firm.

The deeper Rutledge dove into industry trends, the more he realized that the absence of a sustainability platform was hindering the organization's growth prospect in almost every sector they wanted to participate in.

"Around that time, in 2023, ReMA was creating a webinar for sustainability topics," Rutledge said. "Each presentation taught me something I didn't know I needed to know, and over the course of the series, my knowledge far surpassed my own expectations. Ultimately, the webinar series taught me, a layperson, everything I needed to know to get a sustainability program off the ground."

The Sustainability Webinar Series was born from ReMA's Sustainability Network-a council that brings together all interested ReMA members once a quarter to share ideas and knowledge with one another related to the field of sustainability. The Network also informs ReMA's sustainability programming, such as selecting the topics for the Sustainability Webinar Series and 2023's ESG Workshops.

"At each meeting we have one of the network members present a project they're working, a program that's been successful, or they may share a recent sustainability report," said Natalie Messer Betts, ReMA's Assistant Vice President of Sustainability. "For the second half of the meeting we pick a topic, and everyone goes around the room to share their company's approach to that issue. The meetings are very open and provide a lot of insights for network members."

The ReMA Sustainability Network is headed by co-chairs Abbie Webb, Vice President of Sustainability at Casella, and Stephanie McLarty, Head of Sustainability at Quantum Lifecycle Partners.

"Different recycling businesses within ReMA are coming at the sustainability world from different points in their journey, some are far along, and some are just getting started," Webb said. "I think its powerful to have a space where we can sit together, compare notes, and discuss how we're solving problems and bring new ideas back to our companies. It's a great way for everyone to advance together."

For McLarty, one of the major benefits of the Sustainability Network is the networking aspect, and connecting with other members who share the same interest in sustainability.

"I walk away feeling inspired," she said. "Another benefit I've found is that I'm able to put faces to names more easily. For example, Quantum has two major shareholders and each of their sustainability people are in the Sustainability Network. When I realized this, I reached out to them, introduced myself, and set up meetings to get to know them better."

James "Dude" Hunter, Director of Compliance and Safety at Comal Iron & Metals has been attending the sustainability webinars and meetings since 2023.

"Things change quickly in the sustainability space, so it's important to stay up to date," he said. "The folks from ReMA and their lobbyists bring us the latest information and news, break it down, and explain how it could impact us as recyclers. As a small company, it's also helpful to hear from larger companies on their sustainability endeavors on a big scale."

ReMA-member companies learning from one another is one of the Sustainability Network's primary goals. Initially, ReMA members who had a lot of knowledge and experience in sustainability could provide information and resources for companies who hadn't yet started their sustainability journey. Over the years, the network has grown more collaborative.

While there is a lot of available information about sustainability, what sets ReMA's Network, and the educational sessions like webinars that the Network contributes to, apart is the focus on how sustainability shows up in the recycled materials industry.

"You can only fix the problems you know about," Hunter said. "If you don't know about an issue, then you might be held in compliance or you might just be missing an opportunity for your company. I always learn something new from the webinars that I can take back to my company."

To join the Sustainability Network, reach out to Assistant VP of Sustainability Natalie Betts, [email protected]. You can also add the Network to your Committees within your ReMA member profile on the ReMA website. The 2025 Sustainability Webinar Series continues on November 18 and is free for all members.

Photo by Karsten Würth on Unsplash