Lunch and Learn - Materials & Sustainability: Building a Circular Future with Julia Freer
- Date
- 2025-08-28
- Location
- Parking is available in the building, entrance on University St (of note: there are EV chargers!) Also consider using Spothero. The closest Link Lightrail Station is the Symphony Station.There is a bike room located on the C/D level of the garage. It’s inside the double doors by the elevator (email seattle@9zero.com for the door code), Seattle, WA, USA
- Host
- Community
About this event
Materials shape nearly everything around us, but too often we only think about them at the point of purchase or disposal. This Lunch and Learn offers a practical way to step back and look at the full lifecycle of materials through a sustainability lens, with Julia Freer guiding the conversation on what it takes to build a more circular future. If you care about climate, waste, design, operations, or the choices organizations make every day, this is a timely room to be in. Expect a thoughtful midday session that connects big-picture sustainability goals to the real decisions that influence how materials are sourced, used, recovered, and reused. About the Event This is an in-person Lunch and Learn focused on materials, sustainability, and circularity. The session is designed to bring people together around a topic that sits at the center of climate action: how we move beyond linear systems of take, make, and waste toward models that keep materials in use for longer. With Julia Freer leading the discussion, the event creates space to explore how circular thinking can influence products, buildings, systems, and community decisions. Rather than treating sustainability as a vague aspiration, this conversation is grounded in one of the most tangible places change happens: the materials we choose and the systems that support them. Because it is a Lunch and Learn, the format is approachable by design. You can step out of the usual workday rhythm, learn something useful, and connect with others who are thinking seriously about climate and sustainability without needing to commit to a full-day program. This is also a community-oriented gathering. Alongside the learning component, there is a clear opportunity to meet people across sustainability, climate, and built-environment-adjacent work who are asking similar questions and looking for sharper ways to act on them. What to Expect Expect a midday session that balances learning, reflection, and conversation. The core of the event will center on the relationship between materials and sustainability, with a focus on what circularity looks like in practice and why it matters now. You can likely expect the flow of the event to include: Welcome and settling in for an in-person lunchtime gathering A featured talk or guided discussion with Julia Freer on materials and circular systems Examples and frameworks for understanding how material choices connect to climate outcomes Time for audience engagement, whether through questions, discussion, or informal exchange Networking and community connection before or after the main session The conversation should be valuable whether you are deep in the sustainability field or still building your understanding of circularity. The topic naturally spans multiple perspectives, from design and procurement to operations, policy, and behavior change, so attendees can expect a cross-disciplinary lens rather than a narrow technical talk. Because the event is in person, there is also something important that virtual events often miss: the chance to pick up on nuance, ask follow-up questions in real time, and have side conversations that turn ideas into next steps. If you have been wanting a more grounded discussion about sustainability than headlines and high-level ambition statements usually offer, this format is well suited to that need. Why Attend If you work on sustainability, climate, design, real estate, construction, operations, product decisions, or organizational strategy, materials are not a side issue. They are a core lever. Understanding how material systems work is essential for reducing waste, cutting emissions, and building processes that make long-term sense environmentally and economically. This event is especially useful because it focuses on a topic that is both strategic and practical. Circularity can sometimes sound abstract until it is tied to actual material flows, decision points, and tradeoffs. A session like this helps translate the concept into something more usable, whether you are making decisions yourself or trying to influence them within a team or organization. You may leave with: A clearer understanding of what a circular approach to materials actually involves Better language for discussing sustainability tradeoffs and opportunities New ideas you can apply to projects, programs, operations, or partnerships Stronger connections with others working across climate, community, and sustainability A more informed perspective on how everyday material decisions shape larger environmental outcomes There is also real value in being in the room with people who care about similar issues. Sometimes the biggest shift does not come from a single insight, but from hearing how others are approaching the same challenge from different angles. This Lunch and Learn creates that kind of environment: focused, relevant, and open to exchange. Practical Details When: Thursday, August 28 at 12:00 PM PDT Format: In person Location: Seattle, USA The venue is accessible by several transportation options, which makes it easier to fit this event into the middle of the day. If you are driving, parking is available in the building, with the entrance on University St. There are also EV chargers available on-site. If you prefer transit, the closest Link Light Rail station is Symphony Station. If you are coming by bike, there is a bike room located on the C/D level of the garage, inside the double doors by the elevator. For the bike room door code, email seattle@9zero.com ahead of time. A few additional logistics to keep in mind: Consider using SpotHero if you plan to drive and want to arrange parking in advance Plan to arrive a few minutes early so you have time to park, lock up your bike, or get settled before the session starts Since this is a lunchtime event, it is well suited to people looking for a meaningful professional learning break in the middle of the workday If you have been looking for a smart, grounded sustainability conversation that respects your time and gives you something useful to take back into your work, this is a strong one to prioritize.
Who should attend
This is for you if you want a sharper, more practical understanding of how materials connect to sustainability and circular systems. - You work in **climate, sustainability, ESG, or impact-focused roles** and want stronger insight into a core area of environmental decision-making. - You are in the **built environment, design, architecture, construction, real estate, or facilities world** and see how material choices influence waste, carbon, and long-term value. - You help shape **procurement, operations, product, or organizational strategy** and want to think more critically about lifecycle impacts and circular approaches. - You are a **founder, operator, or team leader** trying to make smarter sustainability decisions without relying on vague talking points. - You are part of the **local climate and sustainability community** in Seattle and want to meet others who care about practical solutions, not just big ideas. - You are **curious but not yet an expert** and want an accessible in-person session where you can learn, ask questions, and build your network at the same time.