Why Circular Platforms Need Human Work: Building A Good Thing with Cathy Benwell - Exploring Circular Tech: Technology isn't magic

Circular economy platforms promise simple solutions to complex problems, but what does it actually take to make them work in practice? In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, Barry O’Kane speaks with Cathy Benwell, co-founder of A Good Thing, a nonprofit platform helping businesses donate surplus items to charities in their local communities. Cathy shares the journey of building A Good Thing from scratch, including the early challenges of growing a two-sided network, the importance of persistence, and why human effort—not just software—is key to success. They also explore the deeper questions around circularity, including whether easy donation routes might unintentionally encourage overproduction. The conversation highlights how real-world circular systems depend on trust, relationships, and continuous learning, not just technology. ✨ In this episode: Cathy explains how A Good Thing works and why it resonated so quickly with businesses and charities. We explore the “chicken and egg” challenge of building a two-sided circular platform. Cathy shares how persistence and local outreach helped build early momentum. We discuss the emotional and social impact of small, everyday donations. Barry and Cathy explore the limits of circularity and the risks of enabling overconsumption. We discuss the importance of volunteers and community in scaling a nonprofit platform. Cathy shares her vision for expanding A Good Thing across Europe and into new areas like space sharing and volunteering. 👤 About our guest: Cathy Benwell is co-founder of A Good Thing, a UK-based nonprofit platform that connects businesses with local charities to redistribute surplus physical items. She co-founded A Good Thing with her husband Richard in 2020, building on earlier experience across both the tech and charity sectors. The idea was sparked by seeing first-hand how simple it could be to match unused business resources with real community needs. Cathy has long been motivated by reducing waste and making practical change happen, well before sustainability became mainstream. Her work has been recognised through inclusion in the Digital Leaders Net Zero 50 List in both 2024 and 2025, highlighting individuals driving forward practical solutions for a more sustainable future. Through A Good Thing, Cathy focuses on turning a simple idea into real-world impact, helping organisations reduce waste while supporting the communities around them. 🌍 About HappyPorch HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy. Learn more: 💌

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Why Circular Platforms Need Human Work: Building A Good Thing with Cathy Benwell - Exploring Circular Tech: Technology isn't magic is an episode from Happy Porch Radio by Barry O'Kane.

This episode is 39:00 long.

This episode was published on Mar 26, 2026.

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