Svanika Balasubramanian

Svanika Balasubramanian is a social entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of rePurpose Global, the first plastic credit platform dedicated to simplifying planetary action for individuals and companies of any size, anywhere. Balasubramanian's journey to founding the company began during her undergraduate studies at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she and her co-founders developed their senior thesis on the informal waste management economy. They received research grants and spent their holidays conducting fieldwork in Asia's largest landfills and dumpsites. Observing the limitations of achieving widespread impact through nonprofit work alone, Balasubramanian was motivated to explore business models capable of scaling environmental impact, which became the foundation for rePurpose Global.

Balasubramanian recognizes that the global plastic crisis is also a humanitarian issue. She has noted that the global economy has shifted the burden of plastic waste onto low-income, exploited communities, resulting in an unregulated and often corrupt informal waste sector that involves millions of people from impoverished backgrounds. The challenge for rePurpose Global has been to build a platform that identifies, finances, and scales innovation to address the plastic waste crisis. As pioneers of verified plastic recovery, rePurpose enables companies to select from curated projects in locations such as coastal Indonesia and whale breeding grounds in Colombia. These initiatives remove plastic from the environment, deliver waste management services to more than 1 million people, and recover over 100 million pounds of plastic across 11 countries.

Under Balasubramanian's leadership, rePurpose Global has become a significant presence in the sustainability sector. The platform's impact projects have helped more than 500 companies measure, reduce, and address their plastic footprints, while also providing safer and more dignified opportunities for marginalized waste workers. Approximately 300 brands, including Johnson & Johnson, Clorox, Thrive Market, and Burt's Bees, have collaborated with rePurpose. The company has attracted investment from organizations such as Emerson Collective, Left Lane Capital, and Pear VC. Balasubramanian is also an advocate for policy change, serving as a co-convener in negotiations around the United Nations Global Plastic Treaty.

Balasubramanian's work has been recognized in business and sustainability circles. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, World Economic Forum SDG Champion, One Young World Lead2030 Champion, and Halcyon Fellow. She has also been named to Inc.'s Female Founders 250 list and recognized as a CNBC Changemaker. Balasubramanian has received recognition in Edie's 30 Under 30 Class, which highlights sustainability and net-zero professionals. A frequent commentator on social entrepreneurship and sustainability, she has appeared on platforms including the Nobel Prize Summit, the United Nations, World Economic Forum, Sustainable Brands, and SOCAP. Balasubramanian is known for her expertise at the intersection of environmental action and corporate responsibility.