The City of Austin has named Heartening as the winner of the 2025 Circular Austin Showcase, a competition aimed at promoting circular business models focused on reuse and zero waste. The event was held on August 26, 2025, through a partnership between Austin Resource Recovery and the Economic Development Department.
Heartening received a $10,000 prize after being selected by a judging panel from among five finalists. Three participants from the Circular Austin Accelerator program also presented their business ideas during the event. Frontier Resource Recovery was awarded a $2,000 prize in this category. The evaluation criteria included business viability, fundability, impact on the circular economy and zero waste goals, economic impact, and social impact. All competitors received feedback from judges.
The finalists for this year’s showcase represented various approaches to sustainability:
– Cocarbon converts agricultural waste into activated carbon for water filtration using a solar-powered process that is carbon-negative.
– CRAFT operates as a public studio with shared arts and crafts resources to reduce waste.
– Heartening focuses on creating a culture of giving by distributing clothing either free or at low cost.
– Save the Good Stuff works to preserve vintage and historic building materials for reuse.
– Wanderlust Wine Co. uses sustainable packaging practices in its wine-on-tap operations.
Finalists from the Circular Austin Accelerator program included Concept 2 Consumption Fashion and Technology, which supports sustainable fashion; Frontier Resource Recovery, which produces biochar from agricultural waste to treat PFAs contamination; and Holocia, which aims to reduce plastic food packaging by establishing agricultural development districts.
Director Richard McHale of Austin Resource Recovery said his department was proud to host the fifth annual event with support from Economic Development.
“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.”
Anthony Segura, Interim Director of the Economic Development Department added: “The Circular Austin Showcase demonstrates how groundbreaking businesses are building a stronger, more resilient local economy. 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 this year’s competition were Jeff Blickman (Palm Venture Studios), Bart Bohn (ATP), Sandy Eapen (Eapen Impact), Pavi Lamahewa (Precious), and Nancy Lyon (Austin Community College’s Bioscience Incubator).
The Circular Austin Showcase is part of the City of Austin’s Circular Economy Program and connects investors with local entrepreneurs working in circular economies. The goal is to help reduce waste while supporting local business growth.
The associated accelerator program offers 16 weeks of training and coaching for entrepreneurs seeking to refine their ideas related to sustainability.
Austin Resource Recovery provides essential recycling, composting, trash collection services as well as hazardous waste disposal across Travis County. More information about their programs can be found at https://www.austinrecycles.com/.
The Economic Development Department supports growth in business sectors throughout Austin through various programs aimed at improving economic equity and sustainability. Details are available at http://www.austintexas.gov/edd.
