#MeetTheTeam – Solène Fargeix

Meet the Team Zero Waste Europe - general

It’s time to discover and learn more about the people behind Zero Waste Europe’s work and magic! In addition to the ZWE Changemakers series, where you can learn more about our member organisations, we invite you to get a closer look at our staff, what they do, and what inspires them to work for a zero waste future.

This time, we sat down with Solène Fargeix, Business Development Manager of the Mission Zero Academy (MiZA), who has been part of the wider ZWE team since July 2023.

How did you come to join the Mission Zero Academy?

I spent eight incredible years in China, focusing mainly on business development for various consulting services, including everything from construction project management to helping companies establish their presence in the country. After that time, I decided it was time to move closer to home, but I was also actively searching for a role that had a higher purpose. I wanted my work to align with my personal beliefs, especially those related to the environment. When I found the job description for the Mission Zero Academy, it just clicked naturally.

What motivated you to work for Mission Zero Academy?

I think my motivation is a combination of a few things. First off, I just love that I get to apply my business development skills to actually help shape the Academy and the organisation itself; that hands-on impact is very rewarding.

And then there’s the working environment. I definitely thrive more in a smaller setting, so being part of this women-led, agile organisation is a perfect fit for me. I get to make more of a difference than I ever could at a larger-sized company.

But the biggest piece is personal. Being born in the 90s, I feel like I’m part of a generation that grew up with things being less disposable, and now I think we’re just a bit out of control when it comes to waste and consumption. Knowing that my work at MiZA directly tackles that problem and helps build real solutions? That’s what keeps me going.

What would you say is the most interesting part of your job?

I think there are two main things. On one hand, the most rewarding part is being the bridge – connecting our expert consultants, whom we call our mentors, with our clients. Finding the exact right fit for their challenges, no matter where they are on their zero waste journey, and being that first link in the chain that leads them to success, is genuinely fun.

And on the other hand, honestly, it’s the variety! Since we’re a small organisation – just two full-time people (for now) – my role is naturally a bit all over the place. I can jump from business development, to marketing, to being the CRM developer, and even handling some finance, all in one day. It’s the perfect role for someone creative like me because I get to put a unique spin on everything. It’s challenging, but it’s definitely satisfying to be everywhere all at once.

What are the biggest challenges that you face in your work?

I think the biggest challenge right now is that we’re unfortunately still facing a lot of misconceptions about what ‘zero waste’ truly means. Many people think it’s an extreme, unattainable goal.

But that’s where our real value comes in – it’s actually our core role to teach people the right things and educate them on what the zero waste journey looks like, whether they are individual changemakers, a large business, or even a municipality. Turning those misconceptions into clear, actionable understanding is the hurdle we jump every day.

What is an aspect of your work that you find fun?

The part I find genuinely fun is building connections with people from all over Europe and beyond. We connect with people from literally all walks of life – you might be talking to a municipal official in Estonia one minute and a small business owner in Portugal the next. It’s fascinating to meet and collaborate with such a diverse range of individuals who are all dedicated to this same mission.

In your view, what needs to happen for European municipalities and businesses to transition to zero waste on a large scale?

They should give us a call and join one of our programmes!

MiZA provides the exact certified, step-by-step framework and the mentorship needed to make that ambitious transition a scalable reality for both businesses and municipalities.

Looking ahead, which priorities will you be focusing on in your work?

My main focus is the evolution of the Academy. We’re currently developing and launching a new version of our offerings, and our priority is making sure the learner experience and learning journeys are top-notch. We are aiming to make our zero-waste roadmaps even more effective and accessible. We’re developing some really exciting new content, so definitely stay tuned for the launch in early 2026!