Kelly Burton
Education
BA, University of Toronto
Biography
Kelly Burton is an award-winning sustainability leader. As the Head of Sustainability and Social Impact for meal kit leader Blue Apron, she is tasked with operationalizing the company’s vision of Better Living Through Better Food™. Before joining Blue Apron in January 2022, Burton served as the Chief Sustainability Officer of Material Exchange AB, a Swedish-based tech start-up co-developed by the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) and the Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association (FDRA), where she developed and executed the strategic roadmap aligning with ESG, SDG, investor, and value chain commitments. Passionate about sharing her knowledge with the next generation of leaders, she is also an adjunct professor at Harvard University.
Burton began her career in Toronto, Canada, in digital marketing and held top roles that saw her work in Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Japan before emigrating to the United States. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Toronto, a Masters in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard University, and a certificate in ESG & Sustainable Capitalism from University of California, Berkeley - School of Law. In 2021 she received the Emerging Leader Award from the Harvard Extension Alumni Association, and was named a Fulbright Fellow.
Selected Publications
“Reducing textile waste in the apparel industry: Examining EPR as an option.” Clothing Cultures, Mar 2018, Vol.5(1), pp.33-45, DOI: 10.1386/cc.5.1.33_1
Conferences and Presentations
“Exploring EPR as an option for Textile Waste.” Sustainable Innovation 2019, Centre for Sustainable Design at the Business School for the Creative Industries, University for the Creative Arts, Epsom (UK).
Awards
Emerging Leader, Harvard Extension Alumni Association, 2021
Fellow, Fulbright Canada, 2021