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Who We Are

Driven By Purpose, Inspired by Progress

Bringing together diverse backgrounds and expertise from the public sector, nonprofits, businesses, and consultancies, we are a passionate group of changemakers.

Mission

Our mission is to redesign human systems for the good of people and the planet by developing innovative, scalable solutions. 

At Delterra, we focus on the world’s most complex systemic environmental challenges, where incentives, information, and infrastructure are misaligned, making them appear too hard, too complex, or too costly to fix. To start, we’re tackling the broken recycling system in the global South.

Our Vision

We envision a world where human activities protect and restore a healthy planet. 

Today, we are reimagining and redesigning the recycling systems in Argentina and Indonesia. Over the next few years, we plan to scale our operations to other countries struggling with the growing waste crises across Asia, Latin America, and Africa. 

In the coming years, we aim to add other initiatives to our portfolio, all with the mission of developing innovative scalable solutions that redesign human systems for the good of people and the planet.

Founding Story

2018
McKinsey & Company founded McKinsey.org, a private corporate foundation, to develop and incubate innovative approaches to the world’s most complex environmental and social challenges.

2019
McKinsey.org launched Rethinking Recycling to help cities and communities transform their recycling and waste management systems, effectively improving environmental outcomes and boosting circularity while benefiting health, livelihoods and the economy.

2021
Having reached an inflection point where we were ready to further accelerate our impact, Rethinking Recycling transitioned out of McKinsey.org to become the flagship initiative of Delterra, a new independent environmental nonprofit. McKinsey & Company continues to support Delterra’s work and remains our Founding Partner.

2022
We are rapidly scaling our work in Indonesia and Argentina, with our flagship program Rethinking Recycling on track to reach 1.5M people with recycling and waste management services. Meanwhile with our second program, Plastic IQ, we are helping companies in Indonesia and Brazil rethink their packaging strategies with circularity in mind.

Our Values

Deliver impact commensurate to the crisis

  • We design for inclusion and act with the urgency that sustainability challenges demand.

Serve as an ecosystem force multiplier

  • We work hand in hand with partners to scale what works.

Cultivate a high-performing, inclusive culture

  • We inspire and support each other to do our best work.

Working Principles

Our impact-driven approach is guided by a set of principles that help us create real change at scale.

1. We go beyond theory to create practical solutions

We rapidly test, learn, and iterate our solutions on the ground to create proven impact in the real world that affects real lives, because changing systems means first understanding the human and economic dynamics at the heart of it all.

2. We leverage partnership for impact

From technology to implementation partners, corporations to governments, entrepreneurs to activists, we team up with those who are best placed to drive and scale change for maximum efficiency and impact.

3. We commit to the biggest picture

To create change that matters, we look at the broader circular economy and refocus our resources as needed. We think about how to make the greatest impact from end to end, designing scalable solutions for real people.

4. We adopt an inclusive approach

An inclusive approach is essential to creating effective human systems as well as contributing to a more just and equitable society. We unite diverse perspectives and lived experiences, from global business leaders to local community members.

5. We bring a track record of high performance

We bring strategic and analytical rigor to every problem we solve. We bring creativity and persistence to consistently deliver results in the face of broken systems and inevitable setbacks.

Impact

At Delterra, we measure our progress and ambition against our core success metric: environmental impact. These numbers highlight our ability and ambition to deliver system-wide change on large-scale environmental problems while improving people’s lives.

 

By 2025, we are on track to deliver:

8M
People in municipalities connected to improved waste and recycling systems
100K
Tons of waste diverted from landfills
250K+
Tons in C02e reduction from municipal solid waste in areas where we work

How We Think

As an independent nonprofit, we combine our purpose-driven mission with the rigorous problem-solving approach of our founding partner McKinsey & Company and the pragmatism of the community organizers with whom we collaborate.

The result: real people working together to create real change across the ecosystem.

We are Delterra.

Team

Delterra is a 60+ person team with global and program leadership comprised of McKinsey alumni and non-profit veterans. In addition to our core team, we work alongside waste workers, community leaders, and local organizations in our on-the-ground operations in Argentina and Indonesia.
Shannon Bouton
President & CEO
Ella Flaye
Director of People
Esther Carter
Director of Programs, Rethinking Recycling
Gwen Davidow
Director of Operations
Jeremy Douglas
Director of Global Partnerships
Mike Stockman
Director of Programs, Circular Innovation
Alina Jurcola
Plastic IQ Program Manager
Crystal Scott
Senior Associate
Kathryn DeWolfe
Senior Associate
Lisa Prévert
Communications Lead
Patricia Villarreal
Finance Lead
Valerie Kutsch
Fellow, Chief of Staff
Anahí Valdés Viñuales
Finance Senior Associate
Bettina Rolandelli
People Senior Associate
Catalina Boix
Project Lead
Cecilia Olmedo Martínez
Senior Coordinator
Florencia Martinon
Senior Associate
Francisco de Pino
Senior Associate
Joaquín Otsubo
Senior Associate
Josefina Alexandra Sullivan Porras
Associate
Julia Arroyo
Senior Associate
Juan Pedrazzi
Project Lead
Julieta Vallejo Brunner
Senior Associate
Marianela Recofsky
Associate
Mariana Mangiarotti
Senior Communications Associate
Mariela Pascua
Senior Associate
Melisa Wilkinson
Project Lead
Michael Lang
Associate
Noelia Curtido Gauto
Coordinator
Reinier van der Lely
Program Manager
Rocío Álvarez
Finance Associate
Sebastian Ratero
Project Lead
Ade Awang Surya
Agent
Aditya Rachman
Program Manager
Aditya Rizki
Senior Coordinator
Arum Sabrina
Senior Project Lead, People
Ayu Winastri
Senior Coordinator
Brian Obie
Change Agent
Dewa Made Juli Santika
Coordinator
Dian Hikmayanti
Senior Coordinator
Djun Saripurnawan
Senior Coordinator
Faradesi Ardialisa
Senior Project Lead, Partnerships
Glenn Mardianto Prasetya
Digital Senior Associate
Hadohoan (Doan) Simaremare
Operations Associate
I Made Cahya Narayana
Senior Coordinator
I Nyoman Sukarja
Affiliated Waste Worker
Indra Setiawardana
Project Lead
Inten Gianina
Senior Coordinator
Juliati Ng
Project Lead
Laura Harjanto
Senior Associate
Maung Sutikno
Project Lead
Metilova Sitorus
Senior Coordinator
Mufti Almufarid
Associate
Muhammad Syaukat
Institutional Senior Coordinator
Oming Nyoman Wibawa
Agent
Pasek Supande
Agent
Rafael Roca Gonzales
Senior Program Manager
Sathya Deva
Senior Associate
Sintha Aryaningrat
Senior Coordinator
Siswoyo
Affiliated Waste Worker
Siti Hotimah
Affiliated Waste Worker
Tethy Cahyati
Associate
Tika Diagnestya
Senior Associate
Tri Dewanti Handayani
Senior Education Associate
Trisna Putu
Senior Coordinator
Tomo Soleh
Affiliated Waste Worker
Try Wahyuni
Agent
Widi Ginanjar
Senior Coordinator
Wija Kusumastuti
Project Lead
Lola Woetzel
Chair of the Board
Monique Maissan
Board Member
Phillia Wibowo
Board Member
Rob Kaplan
Board Member
Verónica de la Cerda
Board Member

Our Partners

Our partner-first philosophy is built on the belief that we can only realize our ambitions together. The support of our partners and sponsors makes the impact we’re driving possible.
Amcor
Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home and personal-care, and other products. Amcor works with leading companies around the world to protect their products and the people who rely on them, differentiate brands, and improve supply chains through a range of flexible and rigid packaging, specialty cartons, closures, and services. The company is focused on making packaging that is increasingly light-weighted, recyclable and reusable, and made using an increasing amount of recycled content. Around 46,000 Amcor people generate $13 billion in annual sales from operations that span about 225 locations in 40-plus countries.
Dow
Mars, Incorporated
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a global, family-owned business, Mars is transforming, innovating, and evolving to make a positive impact on the world.  Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of quality snacking, food, and pet care products and services, we employ 140,000+ dedicated Associates. With more than $45 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including Ben’s Original™, CESAR®, Cocoavia®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, KIND®, M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, and WHISKAS®. We are creating a better world for pets through our global network of pet hospitals and diagnostic services – including AniCura, BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, Linnaeus and VCA™ – using cutting edge technology to develop breakthrough programs in genetic health screening and DNA testing. For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com.
Minderoo Foundation
Minderoo Foundation Established by Andrew and Nicola Forrest in 2001, Minderoo Foundation is a modern philanthropic organization seeking to break down barriers, innovate and drive positive, lasting change. Minderoo Foundation is proudly Australian, with key initiatives spanning from ocean conservation and ending slavery, to collaboration against cancer and building community projects.
P&G
P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit https://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. For other P&G news, visit us at https://www.pg.com/news
Alliance to End Plastic Waste
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste is an international non-profit partnering with government, environmental and economic development NGOs and communities around the world to address the challenge to end plastic waste in the environment. Through programmes and partnerships, the Alliance focuses on solutions in four strategic areas: infrastructure, innovation, education and engagement, and clean up. As of January 2021, the Alliance has more than 50 member companies and supporters representing global companies and organisations across the plastic value chain. For more information, visit: www.endplasticwaste.org
Amcor
Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home and personal-care, and other products. Amcor works with leading companies around the world to protect their products and the people who rely on them, differentiate brands, and improve supply chains through a range of flexible and rigid packaging, specialty cartons, closures, and services. The company is focused on making packaging that is increasingly light-weighted, recyclable and reusable, and made using an increasing amount of recycled content. Around 46,000 Amcor people generate $13 billion in annual sales from operations that span about 225 locations in 40-plus countries.
Beiersdorf
Website
Climate and Clean Air Coalition
Dow
Global Methane Hub
GS1
Website
IPRO
Website
Minderoo Foundation
Minderoo Foundation Established by Andrew and Nicola Forrest in 2001, Minderoo Foundation is a modern philanthropic organization seeking to break down barriers, innovate and drive positive, lasting change. Minderoo Foundation is proudly Australian, with key initiatives spanning from ocean conservation and ending slavery, to collaboration against cancer and building community projects.
Plastic Smart Cities
Plastic Smart Cities is a WWF initiative working with cities worldwide to keep plastic out of nature. Since 2018, the initiative supports cities and coastal centres that are taking bold action to stop plastic pollution. WWF is working with 25 pilot cities to achieve a 30% reduction in plastic leakage by 2025, through better waste management and advancing circular economy. Together, we aim to achieve 1000 plastic-smart cities globally to join this movement by 2030. For more information, visit plasticsmartcities.org.
Walmart.org
Together, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation generally provide more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind to support programs that align with their philanthropic priorities. They focus on areas where we can do the most good - combining the unique strengths of the business alongside our philanthropy.
Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty
Website
C40
C40 is a network of nearly 100 cities working to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis and create a future where everyone, everywhere can thrive. Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using a science-based and collaborative approach to help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. Around the world, sustainable urban waste management practices can improve public health and economic opportunity. When approached holistically, waste and sustainable materials management can help cities reduce 15-20% of their emissions through reduction, avoidance, recycling, treatment and offsetting. C40 supports cities to take significant steps towards a future without waste by reducing waste generation, increasing diversion and reducing disposal, reducing GHG emissions through sustainable waste and regenerative materials management, and deploying tactics to enhance sustainable consumption and the circular economy. Additionally, support is provided to accelerate policies and actions that increase waste minimization, reduction and resource recovery and treatment. C40 delivers support through two waste-related networks and the Advancing Towards Zero Waste Declaration.
Circulate Capital
Circulate Capital is an investment management firm that is dedicated to incubating and financing companies, projects, and infrastructure that prevent the flow of plastic waste into the world’s ocean while advancing the circular economy in South and Southeast Asia. Circulate Capital is an independent organization backed by many of the world’s leading multinational corporations.
Climate and Clean Air Coalition
Council for Inclusive Capitalism
Website
EcoSattva Environmental Solutions
Innovation Alliance for a Global Plastics Treaty
Website
Rare’s Center for Behavior & the Environment
Rare’s Center for Behavior & the Environment (BE.Center) is the world’s first center dedicated exclusively to behavioral science and design for the environment. With a diverse team of world-class behavioral and social scientists, designers, and trainers, we connect research and insights from behavioral and social sciences and design thinking to practitioners on the frontlines of our most urgent environmental challenges.
Ocean Plastics Leadership Network
Website
PREVENT Waste Alliance
Initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the PREVENT Waste Alliance was launched in May 2019. It serves as a platform for exchange and international cooperation. Organisations from the private sector, academia, civil society and public institutions jointly engage for a circular economy.
The Circulate Initiative

The Circulate Initiative is a non-profit organization committed to solving the ocean plastic pollution challenge by supporting the incubation of circular, inclusive and investible waste management and recycling systems and generating insights that accelerate investment and scale.

The World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.
The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Almado
Almado is an Argentina-based consultancy and social enterprise that helps organizations develop strategies and solutions to social challenges that have high social, environmental and economic impact and return on investment. Almado brings deep experience and relationships from working with both informal settlement communities, as well as private sector and impact investors. By collaborating with other cooperatives, city governments, and social enterprises, Almado hopes solutions like this can be quickly scaled up across and beyond Argentina.
Badung Regency
Website
Bali Government
Website
Bintix

Bintix Waste Research is a Hyderabad, India-based company and works in the field of waste management and recycling. Bintix believes that the optimal use of technology-driven operations optimisation is a key towards making waste management a more sustainable endeavour, both at the generator level (e.g. households) and at the processor-level (e.g. waste management entities). Bintix’s existing software has been field tested for nearly 2 years now and has been fine-tuned extensively across a customer base consisting of 5000+ customers in several cities/regions and has helped meticulously track and recycle>200 MT of waste into more than 30 streams.

City of Buenos Aires – Secretariat of Social and Urban Integration
The Secretariat for Social and Urban Integration of the City of Buenos Aires is undertaking an ambitious project to transform Barrio 31, one of the oldest informal settlements in the city, by improving access to education, health and economic opportunities; and ensuring basic services and adequate housing. The project also focuses on improving public spaces and developing innovative strategies to encourage better economic, cultural and social integration between Barrio 31 and other areas of Buenos Aires.
Clean Oceans through Clean Communities
Clean Oceans through Clean Communities (CLOCC) is an initiative by Avfall Norge, with ISWA as implementing partner. CLOCC is supported by Norad, and is a part of the Norwegian government’s development programme to reduce marine plastic pollution and microplastics. CLOCC’s partners include InSWA (Indonesia Solid Waste Association), Rethinking Recycling Academy and SYSTEMIQ. CLOCC’s objective is to reduce marine plastic pollution through improving waste management on land.
Conexión Reciclado
Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment Affairs (Indonesia)
Website
EcoBali
Established in 2006, ecoBali is a waste management company working in the south of Bali, Indonesia. The organization works to encourage a zero-waste lifestyle and promote responsible waste management through the collection, recycling and composting of waste. It operates its own Material Recovery Facility,conducts educational programs in schools and communities, and designs and markets eco-friendly products. EcoBali has developed tailored programs in waste management (including Waste Banks), environmental education and sustainable lifestyle, and has established extended producer responsibility programs together with companies such as Tetra Pak, The Body Shop, AQUA and Bali Buda.
ECOPEK
Website
Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Indonesia)
Website
Ministry of National Development Planning (Indonesia)
Website
Ministry of Public Works and Housing (Indonesia)
Website
Olavarría

Olavarría is located in the center of the Province of Buenos Aires and was founded on November 25, 1867. It has numerous green spaces and a large park that borders the Tapalqué Stream. Due to its strategic position, it has a great influence that has favored its growth. There is a balance between the harmony of a town and the hustle and bustle of a big city, generating an ideal environment to rest and/or to be able to choose to enjoy several activities to do and to feel new experiences in the free times. That is why the management of the environment and the improvement in the quality of life of its population is a strategic issue for the city.

Recicleiros
Website
RIL – Red de Innovación Local
RIL (from their name in spanish Red de Innovación Local) is a non-partisan and non-profit civil association that works with local government teams with the objective of enhancing their management capabilities and strengthening their transformative power to improve the quality of life of their citizens and help them develop. RIL works in Argentina with more than 1,400 local officials from 280 cities, 69 cities from other 11 countries in Latin America and 20 cities from Europe and Africa. The cities that are part of the network have access to programs and tools to turn into collaborative, innovative, efficient, sustainable, and digital cities.
Second Muse
Second Muse believes that economies are easily shaped and influenced in their infancy, so they start by supporting entrepreneurs and the ecosystems around them. They do this by engaging participants and organizations through a mix of innovation programming (hackathons, incubators, accelerators), supporting ecosystem development, and designing and distributing investment funds.
SweepSmart
Website
SYSTEMIQ
SYSTEMIQ is a systems change company that partners with business, finance, policy-makers, and civil society to make economic systems truly sustainable. We combine high-level research with high-impact, on-the-ground work. We’re a “think-and-do” tank that sparks good disruptions and operates with purpose at our core.
Waste 4 Change
Waste 4 Change is focused on changes in the Responsible Waste Management Ecosystem Based on Collaboration and Technology Towards the Implementation of a Circular Economy and a Waste-Free Indonesia
McKinsey & Company
McKinsey & Company is a global management consulting firm committed to helping organizations create positive, enduring change in the world. Our approach to social responsibility includes empowering our people to give back to their communities, operating our firm in ways that are environmentally sustainable and socially responsible, and working with our clients to serve all stakeholders to achieve holistic impact. Since 2018, McKinsey & Company has supported Rethinking Recycling through its foundation, McKinsey.org.