Two Opportunities to Connect with Maren Costa in Calgary: Film & Panel (March 18) + Keynote at Explore Circularity Day (March 19)
The Recycling Council of Alberta will welcome internationally recognized climate justice advocate and design leader, Maren Costa, for two powerful public events focused on changing the narrative around consumerism, corporate accountability, and the environmental impacts of the textiles industry.
From an evening film screening and panel discussion on March 18 at the Calgary Public Library to a keynote address at Explore Circularity Day at the Calgary Zoo, these back-to-back events offer unique opportunities to engage with one of the most influential voices at the intersection of design and climate action.
March 18: Free Film Viewing & Panel
Calgary Public Library
On March 18, join us for a free public screening and panel discussion featuring Maren Costa, who appears in the Emmy Award–winning Netflix documentary Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy.
The film examines the hidden costs of modern consumerism — exposing how marketing strategies, overproduction, and fast consumption cycles drive environmental degradation and climate impacts around the globe. Costa offers an insider perspective shaped by her years working within one of the world’s most influential corporations.
Following the screening, Maren will participate in a candid panel conversation exploring:
- The role of design and marketing in shaping consumer behaviour
- The global environmental footprint of textiles and fast fashion
- Corporate climate commitments — and where they fall short
- What meaningful systems change looks like
- Diverse geographical and industry perspectives from across the fashion, textiles and electronics industry
Other panelists include:
- Laura Cristinzo (Circularity Manager, Fashion Takes Action)
- Mortimer Capriles (Director of Sustainability and Innovation, Goodwill Industries of Alberta)
- Clayton Miller (VP Business Development, Recycling, Quantum Lifecycle Partners LP)
This free event offers an accessible entry point into critical conversations about consumption, accountability, and circularity. Please register!
March 19: Keynote at Explore Circularity Day
The conversation continues on March 19 at Explore Circularity Day hosted at the Calgary Zoo, where Maren will deliver a keynote address expanding on the themes introduced in the film.
As Amazon’s first Principal User Experience Designer, Maren helped shape human-centred design at scale and earned 16 patents during her tenure. But after witnessing the widening gap between corporate climate pledges and meaningful action, she co-founded Amazon Employees for Climate Justice (AECJ).
Through worker mobilization and public advocacy, AECJ helped catalyze landmark commitments — including Amazon’s Climate Pledge and the establishment of the $10 billion Bezos Earth Fund.
Today, Maren serves as Board President of AECJ and U.S. Advisor to WorkForClimate.org, continuing her work to empower employees and shift corporate systems toward climate responsibility.
At Explore Circularity Day, attendees can expect bold insights into:
- Who are the leaders in textiles circularity?
- What are the innovative technologies supporting textile circularity?
- What are the investment opportunities?
- What’s happening around the world for textile circularity?
- Are grass roots or industry-led initiatives needed more?
- What might an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach to managing textiles look like in Canada/AB?
Why These Events Matter
Textiles are one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally. The events challenge us to rethink not only what we buy, but how systems are designed — and who has the power to change them. These events offer a rare opportunity to hear directly from local, national and international leaders who are shifting the linear system into a circular economy for textiles.
Join the conversation.
Be part of the shift toward circularity.