With more companies embracing the triple bottom line, finding a career that matches your values is getting easier. Here are a few ways to start looking.

Whether you work at a vegan restaurant or in a solar company that wants to help lower our carbon footprint, many opportunities exist to find a sustainable job.

Be Open-Minded About Opportunities

Meg Widholm never saw herself giving back through work and was even skeptical at her first opportunity. “When my friend sent me the listing, I anticipated not doing it. I feared there would be a lot of problems, but I did a ‘ride along’ to learn more, and I liked what the job entailed.”

Widholm would soon discover that her work as a driver for the Mainline’s Mother Compost was quite enjoyable.

“After being in tech for 20 years and being sedentary, the first few weeks of the job kicked my ass,” Widholm recalls. She does the collection runs, collecting the customer’s give-gallon buckets and tipping them into the compost bin. However, she welcomed the change both physically and as a way to feel like she’s making a difference for the environment.

Mother Compost was founded in 2018. It started with founder Gwenn Nolan asking ten friends to try composting. Now, the company has 500 subscribers and has diverted close to half a million pounds of food waste from landfills.

Widholm also runs Mother Compost’s Tiktok pages, which invite others to learn about composting to increase that number.

Find a way to turn your passion green

Bok is a haven for many creatives, including those passionate about eliminating waste from landfills. Brooklyn-based Fab Scrap opened a Bok space in 2021 dedicated to finding homes for old clothing and textile scraps from the public along with brands and warehouses in the fashion industry.

Even when the company isn’t hiring (for a sorter), it offers internship opportunities that fashion students can take advantage of. During their time at Fab Scrap, they can leave with ideas for being more responsible designers, like avoiding fabrics made with Spandex, Lycra, or elastane, which always end up in a landfill.

Raising sustainability awareness at work

This doesn’t necessarily mean getting people to sign petitions in Rittenhouse Square (unless that’s your thing).

Many nonprofits around the city are dedicated to causes such as clean air, water, and more. The Clean Air Council has a place to find jobs on their organization’s website, and so does PennEnvironment. Various skills can be applied within those organizations, and even the most introverted person can find a home.

Skills like graphic design, research, copywriting, and grant writing are necessary for the visibility and functioning of nonprofit organizations. 

How to connect further for sustainable careers

Still looking for more positions?

Follow your favorite sustainable businesses to find out more about job openings on social media. LinkedIn is a great source and can notify you of jobs that match your interests.

Another route? Get offline and connect in person. Green Philly events (like the upcoming EcoFair) are also helpful for finding green jobs and networking with like-minded individuals. The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia has a job board that lists businesses with a mission that leans towards sustainability, equity, and less waste.

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Tonya Russell covers mental health, culture, and wellness. She is an avid runner, yogi, and traveler, and she resides in the Philadelphia area with her four fur babies and fiancé. Follow her on Instagram (@_ajourneytofit_) and Twitter (@thetonyarussell). View all posts by Tonya Russell