Liz Ricketts is the co-founder and executive director of The Or Foundation, a USA and Ghana-based non-profit organization that operates at the intersection of environmental justice, education, and fashion development. Under her leadership, The Or Foundation has undertaken a comprehensive multi-year, multimedia research project called Dead White Man's Clothes (DWMC),which delves into the "afterlife" of clothing within the context of Kantamanto market in Accra, Ghana, the largest second-hand market in the world.
As the executive director, Liz oversees the foundation's operations across three tiers: material waste transformation, direct relief, and ecotoxicology research and remediation. The Or Foundation is working in solidarity with the Kantamanto community to catalyze a justice-led circular textiles economy in Accra.
In collaboration with community members, Liz and her team recently launched the Stop Waste Colonialism campaign, which aims to push for Extended Producer Responsibility policies that are globally accountable. This initiative ensures that the transition to circularity is not subsidized by human exploitation and environmental injustice.
The Or Foundation is committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable fashion industry, and Liz's work has been recognized for its innovative approach to addressing environmental and social issues. You can learn more about The Or Foundation and its initiatives at theor.org and stopwastecolonialism.org.
