Nicole Rycroft

Activist, Brainstormer, Change agent, Environmentalist, World traveler

Nicole Rycroft is the Founder and Executive Director of Canopy, the award-winning not-for-profit that’s transforming some of the world’s biggest supply chains to keep forests standing and bring low-carbon solutions to market at scale. A former elite-level rower turned environmental strategist, Nicole brings creative determination to Canopy’s mission: to transform the systems at the root of deforestation and biodiversity loss—and prove that doing the smart, sustainable thing is also the scalable thing. For over two decades, Nicole has forged partnerships with publishing giants, fashion houses, and global brands to phase out Ancient and Endangered Forests from paper, packaging, and forest-based textiles. Under her leadership, Canopy has catalyzed the protection of over 39 million hectares of forest and secured commitments from more than 1,000 companies—with a collective annual revenue exceeding USD 2 trillion—to shift toward low-impact, circular Next Gen alternatives. From greening the Harry Potter book series to landing a $60M investment from The Audacious Project, Nicole’s track record shows what’s possible when vision meets execution. She also took the TED stage to lay out Canopy’s vision: one where circular solutions replace ‘take, make, waste’ production, and commerce is a catalyst for conservation.

I'm passionate about transforming the systems that are pushing our planet to the brink—and replacing them with ones that actually deserve to last. I believe in the power of bold ideas, unlikely alliances, and relentless collaboration to rewrite the rules of how our world works. I started out on the frontlines defending forests, and I’ve spent the last 25 years building a movement to protect them by shifting the very supply chains that threaten them. Because the future we want—for forests, for people, for the climate—depends on what we do now, and how courageously we do it.

The Take-Make-Waste economy is over. In its place, a circular and just future is rising—built to scale, and built to sustain life on this planet.

Alternative Fiber Markets, Circular Economy, Circular Supply Chains, Climate Change, Climate Innovation, Conservation Based Economy, Environmental Leadership, Fashion Supply Chains, Forest Conservation, Impact Philanthropy, Next Gen Solutions, Next Generation Solutions, Packaging Supply Chains, Regenerative Economy, Supply Chain Resilience, Textile Recycling

Taking the TED stage wasn’t exactly on my career bingo card. I’m usually deep in strategy meetings or on calls about textile-to-textile recycling mills — not prepping for a global spotlight. But being selected for The Audacious Project was a major milestone for Canopy. It meant our work to transform unsustainable supply chains—at scale—was seen not just as urgent, but as audacious enough to back. The Audacious Project process itself was unlike anything I’ve experienced. It was rigorous, deeply collaborative, and designed to push your thinking to the edge—then past it. Every line, every idea was sharpened to land with impact. Somewhere in the middle of it all, I found myself in a hair and makeup chair for the first time, which I still think was the most improbable part of the whole experience. But the real power was the cohort. We were ten projects tackling some of the toughest issues out there—from foster care reform to engineering microbiomes to climate action. Different sectors, same drive to rewire the systems that aren’t working. Standing on that red dot, I wasn’t trying to give a performance. I was there to issue an invitation—to rethink what’s possible when we take the climate, nature, and systems change seriously. To scale the solutions that already exist. To stop tinkering and start transforming. Because our planet deserves nothing less.

People don’t know I’m good at spotting the quietest person in the room and making sure their voice is heard. I’m good at finding the seam in an impossible problem and prying it open with dogged creativity. And yes—I can hold my own in a rowing shell, in a karaoke bar, and in a boardroom full of skeptics. Especially when forests are on the line.