Hi! I’m Cris García Saravia Ortiz de Montellano, a researcher in sustainability and circularity at Maastricht University. My work explores how we can redesign products, policies, and systems for a more regenerative future; one that balances environmental responsibility with social and economic wellbeing. I specialize in Life Cycle Assessment, Circularity Indicators, and the Sustainable Development Goals, creating tools that help bring circular economy principles into practice.

But my story starts elsewhere.

I was born and raised in Mexico, where I developed an early interest in sustainability through hands-on experiences in rural and sub-urban communities. I studied Environmental Engineering and co-founded a company while still in university, working on projects that connected environmental and social challenges. Those experiences shaped my understanding of systems thinking, justice, and development far beyond what I found in classrooms.

Later, I moved to the Netherlands on scholarship for a Master’s in Biosystems Engineering. It was there that I first encountered the concept of the Circular Economy, and it seemed to bridge everything I cared about: the local and the global, the social and the technical, theory and practice. That encounter sparked the research path I’m still walking. I now work on Life Cycle Assessment as a tool to critically evaluate the circular economy and support better decision-making.

Outside of research, I’m deeply curious about how we manage knowledge and cultivate meaning (what is often called sense-making). My wide interests (reading, writing, photography, illustration, gardening, fermenting, beekeeping…) once led to a creative chaos of notes and half-formed ideas. Discovering the Zettelkasten method changed that. It helped me build a personal system for organizing thoughts and connecting ideas, which eventually gave rise to this blog.

This space is where I share my field notes on sustainability and circularity. It is the backstage of my research and life, where not everything is polished, but everything is part of the process. You will find a mix of reflections on science, systems thinking, storytelling, illustration, and whatever else I'm currently exploring.

Think of this as an open notebook. A place for thinking out loud, learning to ask better questions, and letting reflection take its time. If something here resonates, or you want to collaborate or talk, feel free to reach out. I’d love to hear from you!