Ushma Pandya

Ushma is co-founder and partner at Think Zero LLC, a waste reduction and diversion advisory firm. She has had a lifelong interest in waste reduction. Before the term "zero waste" was coined, she was raising awareness about consumption and waste with her schoolmates and work colleagues. She now works with companies on establishing their sustainability goals, related to waste and consumption, and implementing company wide programming to achieve their goals.

Ushma is an expert on the topics of waste management, waste reduction, zero waste, climate and waste, consumption, consumer behavior change related to sustainability, single use plastic, recycling, composting, innovation in the waste space, reuse models, local and federal policy related to waste, recycling and composting. Ushma has built Think Zero into a leading waste reduction and diversion advisory firm.

Prior to founding Think Zero LLC team, Ushma held senior management roles with American Express, Booz & Co., and Katzenbach Partners. She has advised organizations such as as the Environmental Defense Fund, the Department of Environment of the City of Chicago, and Acumen on sustainability issues. Ushma is on the Board of the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (MSWAB) and the NYC chapter of New York League of Conservation Voters and was on the Board of Sustainable South Bronx (including overseeing the for-profit subsidiary Cool Roofs that worked on cooling and greening roofs throughout NYC).

Ushma holds degrees from Georgetown University, Columbia University and Harvard University. She is certified as a TRUE Zero Waste Business Associate and a LEED Green Associate by GBCI.

Sub-specialities:
Waste reduction and diversion
Zero waste movement
Climate change and consumption
Recycling and composting