Plastic. Climate. Future.

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By: Mat Wielopolski & John Sewell

Plastic. Climate. Future. enables engagement among industry members, climate activists, innovators, and the rest of world (the general public) to ultimately achieve positive changes related to plastic and the climate. In their podcast, Mat & John host guests from these groups of stakeholders and talk about their views, activities and opinions to foster trustful communication and learn from each other. Check out more at www.plasticclimatefuture.com

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Why Europe's Waste Is Worth Keeping
Why Europe's Waste Is Worth Keeping episode artwork
#17
Last Tuesday at 7:50 AM

What if one of Europe's most valuable resources is something we're throwing away?

In the second-to-last episode of our series WHAT HIGHTECH IS MADE OF with Plastics Europe Deutschland, we explore why circularity is becoming more than a sustainability goal โ€” it's a question of Europe's industrial future.

In this episode we speak with Dr. Lukas Dรถssel from Rรถhm about turning plastic waste into valuable resources and making circularity work at scale.

We discuss:

How PLEXIGLASยฎ can be recycled back into virgin-quality material

Why partnerships and trust are essen...


What Happens Between the Lab and the Factory
What Happens Between the Lab and the Factory episode artwork
#16
11/04/2026

We're approaching the end of our series WHAT HIGHTECH IS MADE OF with Plastics Europe Deutschland โ€” and there's one big question we still need to answer:

If Germany has world-class research and engineering, why is turning innovation into industrial reality still so difficult?

In this episode of, we speak with Prof. Dr. Manfred Renner and Prof. Dr. Matthias Franke from Fraunhofer Umsicht about what happens between a promising scientific breakthrough and a technology that actually works at scale.

And surprisingly, the biggest obstacles aren't always technological.

We discuss:

Why pr...


Why Great Ideas Are Not Enough
Why Great Ideas Are Not Enough episode artwork
#15
10/27/2026

What do humanoid robots, artificial skin and innovative medical devices have in common?

They all depend on materials that make new technologies possible. But turning promising ideas into reality takes more than scientific breakthroughs.

In this episode of we speak with Andreas Binder, Head of Sustainability Transformation and Business Building at Covestro, about how material innovation becomes commercially viable and scalable.

We discuss:

How high-performance polymers enable the next generation of robotics, from lightweight structures to artificial skin

Why successful innovation starts with real customer needs, not just interesting...


The Unexpected Ways Plastics Change Lives
The Unexpected Ways Plastics Change Lives episode artwork
#14
10/20/2026

When we talk about plastics, we often think about packaging, recycling and waste. But what about the plastics that become part of the human body โ€” sometimes for decades?

In the latest episode of our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland, we speak with Alexander Paasche and Marc Knebel from Evonik about a fascinating side of material innovation: high-performance polymers that are helping shape the future of medical care.

From personalized skull implants made with 3D printing to hip implants for dogs, the applications are as surprising as they are meaningful. At the center of the conversation is...


What It Takes to Make Circularity Mainstream
What It Takes to Make Circularity Mainstream episode artwork
#13
10/13/2026

Circular plastics are no longer just a sustainability ambition. They are becoming a strategic business opportunity. But what will it take to move from early adopters to industry-wide adoption?

In the latest episode of our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland, we speak with Dirk Langhammer from Borouge International about the future of circular plastics and what needs to happen to make circularity the norm rather than the exception.

From mechanical and chemical recycling to renewable and COโ‚‚-based feedstocks, the technologies are evolving. But technology alone isn't enough. Scaling circularity requires market demand, investment, collaboration ac...


Looking at PVC with Fresh Eyes
Looking at PVC with Fresh Eyes episode artwork
#12
10/06/2026

PVC has been around for decades โ€” and so have many of the perceptions surrounding it. But how much has the material, and the industry behind it, changed?

In the latest episode of our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland we speak with Alexander Kronimus from VinylPlus Deutschland about taking a fresh look at PVC: where it is used, why durability matters, and how the industry is working to make an already long-lasting material more circular.

From window frames and cable insulation to medical applications and, of course, vinyl records, PVC is often an invisible part of th...


A CRISP Vision for the Future of Manufacturing
A CRISP Vision for the Future of Manufacturing episode artwork
#9
10/01/2026

What does it take to make industry truly future-ready?

In this episode, we speak with Gunther Weidinger, founder and chairman of Estanium and former Siemens executive, about how manufacturing can become more connected, resilient, intelligent, sustainable and people-centric โ€” or, in one word: CRISP.

Drawing on more than three decades of industrial experience, Gunther shares why the biggest challenges facing manufacturing cannot be tackled in isolation. Digitalization, resilience, sustainability, AI and people all need to become part of the same transformation.

We discuss:

What CRISP manufacturing means โ€” and why factories need a more...


When Recycling Starts with Design
When Recycling Starts with Design episode artwork
#11
09/29/2026

Another episode of our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland is out! This time, we look at why successful recycling often starts long before a product reaches the end of its life โ€” at the design stage.

We speak with Dr. Alexander Azzawi from Evonik about the technologies that can make plastics easier to separate, repair and recycle.

From inks that can be washed off packaging to adhesives designed to debond on demand, Alex shows how innovations at the design stage can enable higher-quality recycling and more circular material flows.

We discuss:

How de...


Beyond Sustainability: The Strategic Value of Circularity
Beyond Sustainability: The Strategic Value of Circularity episode artwork
#10
09/22/2026

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jens Hamprecht, โ€ŠVP Global Plastics Steering Committee & Sustainability at BASF, about the transformation of the plastics industry and why circularity is becoming increasingly important for Europe's industrial future.

From innovative recycling technologies to reducing dependence on imported resources, Jens shares his perspective on the opportunities and challenges of building a circular plastics industry.

We discuss:

How BASF is advancing circular plastics through innovative recycling technologies and industry collaborations

Why scaling circular solutions requires market demand, investment and collaboration across the value chain

Ho...


Scaling What Matters: From Innovation to Industry
Scaling What Matters: From Innovation to Industry episode artwork
#9
09/15/2026

Last week in Berlin, Germanyโ€™s innovation ambitions took center stage. Our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland continues with another example of the technologies and companies shaping its industrial future.

We speak with Melanie Hackler and Eva Kamp from matterr about what happens after you develop a promising recycling technology: how do you actually scale it into an industrial business?

matterr has developed a chemical recycling process that breaks polyester-rich waste back down into its original building blocks. Those recycled monomers can then be used again in existing polyester production โ€” turning waste into a ne...


Turning Germanyโ€™s Industrial Strength into Action
Turning Germanyโ€™s Industrial Strength into Action episode artwork
#8
09/10/2026

This week, Germanyโ€™s plastics industry takes its innovation story to Berlin โ€” and our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland looks at what it will take to turn industrial strength into action.

Ahead of this weekโ€™s innovation press conference, we sit down with Christine Bunte from Plastics Europe Deutschland to discuss what Germanyโ€™s plastics industry can contribute to the countryโ€™s high-tech ambitions โ€” and what needs to happen to turn that potential into action.

Germany has strong industrial capabilities, material expertise and an active innovation landscape. But having the right ingredients is not enough. The challeng...


A Front-Row Perspective on the Plastics Industry
A Front-Row Perspective on the Plastics Industry episode artwork
#7
09/08/2026

Our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland continues with a perspective from someone who has been observing the chemical and plastics industries from a front-row seat for more than three decades.

Michael Reubold is a polymer chemist by training โ€” but instead of working directly in the plastics industry, he has spent more than 30 years observing, reporting on and engaging with it as Editor-in-Chief of CHEManager.

That gives him a unique perspective on how the industry has changed, the challenges it faces today, and where it could go next.

๐—ช๐—ฒ ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜€:

How the plastics industry โ€” and the way we talk about it โ€”...


The Invisible Chemistry Behind Safer Materials
The Invisible Chemistry Behind Safer Materials episode artwork
#6
09/03/2026

Flame retardants rarely get much attention. Yet they play an important role in enabling the plastics used across electronics, electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, buildings and many other high-tech applications.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Adrian Beard from Clariant to explore the science behind flame retardants and the challenge of combining fire safety, material performance and sustainability.

We discuss:

How flame retardants help make polymers suitable for demanding high-tech applications

Why electrification, batteries and renewable energy technologies are creating new material safety challenges

Why developing a...


When Conventional Recycling Isn't Enough
When Conventional Recycling Isn't Enough episode artwork
#5
09/01/2026

Our series with Plastics Europe Germany takes on another key question for the future of plastics: What happens when conventional recycling isn't enough?

In this episode, we sit down with Marcel Beermann, CEO of ARCUS GreencyclingTechnologies, to explore the role chemical recycling can play in tackling mixed and difficult-to-recycle plastic waste โ€” and what it takes to turn these waste streams back into valuable resources.

We discuss:

Why mechanical and chemical recycling can complement each other, rather than compete

How mixed plastic waste can be converted into pyrolysis oil and used again as...


Building the Energy Infrastructure of Tomorrow
Building the Energy Infrastructure of Tomorrow episode artwork
#4
08/27/2026

The energy transition isnโ€™t only about generating renewable energy. Itโ€™s also about how we transport and distribute that energy โ€” and the materials that make this infrastructure possible.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr.Matthias Purschย from Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics to explore the often invisible role advanced materials play in the infrastructure around us.

We discuss:

How material innovation is enabling high-voltage and HVDC cableshigh-voltage power cables, including HVDC systems, to transport electricity over long distances

Why these technologies are increasingly important as we connect renewable energy generat...


Rethinking How We Innovate Materials
Rethinking How We Innovate Materials episode artwork
#3
08/25/2026

ย New episode of our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland, exploring โ€œWhat HighTech is made of โ€“ Plastics as the Enablers of German Innovation Goals,โ€ is live.

Episode 2:ย Rethinking How We Innovate Materials

How do we turn promising material ideas into solutions that actually work at industrial scale โ€” and can we do it faster?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jรผrgen Stebani, founder and CEO of Polymaterials, to explore how material innovation itself is changing.

We discuss:

How to accelerate material development and move from ideas to industrial solutions f...


Building Circularity at Industrial Scale
Building Circularity at Industrial Scale episode artwork
#2
08/20/2026

Germanyโ€™s future technologies share one common denominator: plastics. In our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland, we talk to the people turning that into solutions โ€” from material volume to material competence, the core idea behind The Plastic Shift.

For our first company conversation, we sit down with Daniel Koch from LyondellBasell to look at what circularity means when it moves beyond the lab and into industrial reality.

At LyondellBasellโ€™s Wesseling site, the company is building its first industrial-scale MoReTec plant, designed to turn difficult-to-recycle mixed plastic waste into feedstock for new polymers.

We tal...


The Next Chapter for Germanyโ€™s Plastics Industry
The Next Chapter for Germanyโ€™s Plastics Industry episode artwork
#1
08/18/2026

Germany doesn't have an ideas problem.

Eight years of shrinking industrial production. Christine Bunte, Managing Director of Plastics Europe Deutschland, calls it what it is: not an economic dip, but a structural crisis.

And yet โ€” the universities are excellent. The research is excellent. The ideas are there. What's missing is the step from idea to industrial scale.

โ€œWe have lost speed in making these ideas industrial products and bringing them to industrial scale. That is often the step that's missing.โ€

So Plastics Europe Deutschland is turning the perspective around: from material volume...


The Plastic That Fades Away, and Ends Up Saving Coral Reefs
The Plastic That Fades Away, and Ends Up Saving Coral Reefs episode artwork
#8
07/23/2026

What started as an effort to create a better alternative to conventional plastic straws led to something nobody expected.

In this episode, we speak with Brad Laporte and Michael Winters from WinCup, the team behind PHADEยฎโ€”a PHA-based material designed to biodegrade in environments where conventional plastics persist. Along the way, they discovered an entirely unexpected application: helping researchers restore coral reefs by protecting young corals during their most vulnerable stage.

Together, we discuss:

- How bacteria can produce the next generation of plastics

- Why they chose PHA over paper str...


Are Circular Plastics Ready for the Mainstream?
Are Circular Plastics Ready for the Mainstream? episode artwork
#7
07/01/2026

Circular plastics have moved beyond pilot projects. Today, companies are investing in mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, renewable feedstocks, and even COโ‚‚-based materials. But are these solutions ready to scaleโ€”and what will it take to make them mainstream?

In this episode, we sit down with Stephan Roest, Head of Circular Economy Business Development at Borouge International. Having spent many years at Borealis, Stephan brings a unique perspective on how the plastics industry is evolvingโ€”from linear production towards truly circular value chains.

Together, we discuss:

What it takes to scale circular plastics

...


Is Seaweed a New Hope for Sustainable Packaging?
Is Seaweed a New Hope for Sustainable Packaging? episode artwork
#6
06/09/2026

In this episode, we speak with Neil Morris, founder of Kelpi, about how seaweed-based materials could help reshape the future of packaging โ€” and what it really takes to move beyond fossil-based plastics.

We discuss:

Why seaweed is attracting attention as a renewable feedstock

The challenge of scaling sustainable packaging solutions

How brands are approaching next-generation materials

The realities behind replacing conventional plastics

Why infrastructure, economics, and regulation matter as much as innovation

What makes this conversation especially interesting is that it moves beyond hype. Neil sh...


Is Plastic Recycling in Europe Really Broken?
Is Plastic Recycling in Europe Really Broken? episode artwork
#5
04/16/2026

What if the problem isnโ€™t that weโ€™re failing to recycle, but that the system itself is working against it?

In this episode, we speak with Joan Marc Simon, founder of Zero Waste Europe and one of the leading voices shaping circular economy policy across the EU. With decades of experience bridging grassroots action and European regulation, he brings a sharp and often uncomfortable perspective on whatโ€™s really happening behind the scenes of plastic recycling.

Note: This conversation was recorded prior to recent developments in the Middle East impacting global oil and plastics market...


Can Design Thinking Change the Future of Plastics?
Can Design Thinking Change the Future of Plastics? episode artwork
#4
03/24/2026

What if the future of plastics doesnโ€™t start in a lab, but in a design studio?

In this episode of Plastic. Climate. Future., we speak with Beat Karrer, founder of FluidSolids, who took an unconventional path from industrial design into material innovation โ€” developing high-performance materials made entirely from waste streams.

From corn cobs to coffee waste, his work challenges a fundamental assumption: that plastics must come from fossil resources.

We explore:

How waste streams can become high-performance material feedstock

Why design thinking is a powerful (and often overlooked) driv...


Electrifying the Future: Can Power Drive Circularity?
Electrifying the Future: Can Power Drive Circularity? episode artwork
#3
03/03/2026

Circularity isnโ€™t just about materials. Itโ€™s about energy.

In this episode of Plastic. Climate. Future., we speak with Constantine Lau from Schneider Electric, who is leading electrification strategies for some of the worldโ€™s most energy-intensive industries.

With decades of experience across oil, gas, and chemicals, Constantine shares why the shift from managing molecules to managing electrons may be one of the most underestimated levers for circular transformation.

We explore:

Why electrification is central to scaling circular systems

How digitalization and energy management reshape industrial operations

The...


Are Enzymes the Missing Link in Plastics Circularity?
Are Enzymes the Missing Link in Plastics Circularity? episode artwork
#2
02/19/2026

What if the breakthrough in plastic recycling doesnโ€™t come from higher temperatures or bigger reactors โ€” but from biology?

In this episode of Plastic. Climate. Future., we speak with Oliver Borek from Entzimatiko, a company developing a novel enzymatic technology that goes beyond conventional chemical recycling.

Their approach combines enzyme engineering, nano-encapsulation, and oxidation in a single-step process โ€” operating at ambient conditions and targeting even the toughest materials, including polyolefins.

We explore:

Why polyolefins have long been considered โ€œuncrackableโ€ โ€” and what may be changing

How enzymatic machinery differs from pyrolysis an...


The Packaging Puzzle: Will Digital Twins Bring Us Closer to Circularity?
The Packaging Puzzle: Will Digital Twins Bring Us Closer to Circularity? episode artwork
#1
01/21/2026

Weโ€™re kicking off the next series of Plastic. Climate. Future. โ€”๐“๐จ๐ฐ๐š๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐š ๐‚๐ข๐ซ๐œ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐š๐ซ ๐…๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž โ€” a 12-month journey exploring the innovations, systems, and people shaping a circular plastics economy.

๐„๐ฉ๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ž ๐Ÿ: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ธ๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฃ๐˜‚๐˜‡๐˜‡๐—น๐—ฒ: ๐—ช๐—ถ๐—น๐—น ๐——๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ง๐˜„๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜€ ๐—•๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—จ๐˜€ ๐—–๐—น๐—ผ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—–๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜๐˜†?

We kick things off by tackling a major roadblock on the path to circularity: packaging systems that lack transparency, traceability, and integration.

Our guests โ€” Valeria Masci and Ignacio Fernรกndez-Pacheco Ruiz from the MAGNO project โ€” share how advanced modeling and data tools are helping map packaging flows, identify inefficiencies, and design solutions that actually work at scale.

๐—ช๐—ฒ ๐—ฒ๐˜…๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ:

Why packaging data is fragmented โ€” and how digital twins could help

What it takes to trace, model, and redesign circular flows

How collaboration across brands, suppliers, and policymakers is both the challenge and the opportunity

A forward-looking start to a year of ideas that move us from ambition to action.


YEAR-END WRAP UP (2025)
YEAR-END WRAP UP (2025) episode artwork
#12
01/07/2026

New Year, New Episode โ€“ But First, Letโ€™s Rewind.
๐—ฃ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ. ๐—–๐—น๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ. ๐—™๐˜‚๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฒ. โ€“ ๐™”๐™š๐™–๐™ง-๐™€๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™๐™š๐™˜๐™–๐™ฅ ๐™€๐™ฅ๐™ž๐™จ๐™ค๐™™๐™š (2025)

Weโ€™re kicking off 2026 with something different: a raw, reflective conversation about the episodes that changed how we think about circularity.

Three people. Three generations. Three completely different favorite episodes:

Katarina (our brilliant marketing lead, now finally on mic) chose Voices of the Ocean โ€” where individual action becomes global data. Ocean Conservancy proved that beach cleanups arenโ€™t symbolic โ€” theyโ€™re strategic.

John picked Chemical Recycling Europe and Anteroโ€™s Legacy โ€” long-term vision over short-term ROI. Anteroโ€™s story showed us that innovation is built by people, not just technology.

Mat went with BASFโ€™s Mass Balance and WILDPLASTICโ€™s Ground Game โ€” the tw...


Is This the Most Unexpected Sustainable Material Yet?
Is This the Most Unexpected Sustainable Material Yet? episode artwork
#11
11/11/2025

What began as a curious design experiment has grown into a pioneering materials company, one thatโ€™s rethinking circularity, material value, and how we deal with overlooked waste streams.

In this episode, we speak with Zsofia Kollar, founder of Human Material Loop, a startup turning human hair waste into high-performance textile fibers for the interior and design industries.

From salon floors to acoustic panels, Zsofia shares how their material innovation โ€” Adara fiber โ€” is entering the market with a low-carbon footprint, strong performance, and zero microplastics.

๐—ช๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐˜„๐—ฒ ๐—ฒ๐˜…๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ:
-How creative design thinking can unlock new material value
- Why human hair is a clean...


The Lignin Solution: From Forestry Waste to Plastic Innovation
The Lignin Solution: From Forestry Waste to Plastic Innovation episode artwork
#10
10/16/2025

What if plastic could be made โ€” not from fossil fuels โ€” but from forestry residues?

In this episode of Plastic Climate Future, we speak with Fredrik Malmfors, CEO of Lignin Industries, about how this abundant, underused natural material is being transformed into a scalable alternative to traditional plastics.

With roots in consulting and food supply chains, Fredrik shares his personal journey to biopolymers โ€” and how lignin-based materials can deliver performance, circularity, and value, from trucks to e-commerce packaging.

Why tune in:
- What makes lignin a game-changer in the bioplastics landscape
- How Li...


Is This the Future of Sustainable Food Packaging?
Is This the Future of Sustainable Food Packaging? episode artwork
#9
09/23/2025

In this episode, we speak with Ved Krishna, the visionary behind Pakka, a company creating compostable food packaging from sugarcane waste โ€” and aiming to scale regenerative packaging across the food industry.

With deep roots in India and global ambitions, Ved shares how Pakka is building local supply chains, designing for true end-of-use, and why theyโ€™ve chosen to stay laser-focused on just one thing: food packaging.

What we explore:

- What regenerative packaging means in practice
- Why scalability and pricing still challenge bio-based solutions
- How values, design, and market pres...


Conference Countdown: Why CRE Forum 2025 Matters Now
Conference Countdown: Why CRE Forum 2025 Matters Now episode artwork
#8
09/03/2025

In this episode of Plastic Climate Future, we speak with Valentijn de Neve, CEO of BlueAlp and President of Chemical Recycling Europe, ahead of the ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜†๐—ฐ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ ๐—™๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐—บ (๐—–๐—ฅ๐—˜๐—™ ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฑ) โ€” taking place 16 September in Brussels, with a networking reception on the evening of 15 September.

๐—ช๐—ต๐˜† ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป โ€” ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐˜„๐—ต๐˜† ๐—–๐—ฅ๐—˜๐—™ ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฑ ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—น๐—ฑ ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ?
This episode unpacks why the upcoming forum isnโ€™t just another industry meetup โ€” itโ€™s a strategic moment for anyone serious about the future of circular plastics in Europe:

What sets CREF 2025 apart โ€” and why it comes at a critical time

How regulation, innovation, and demand are aligning to drive real change

What to expect โ€” and why itโ€™s worth being in the room

Register now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chemical-recycling-europe-forum-2025-tickets-1362718530809?aff=oddtdtcreator


Circular by Design: What It Takes to Rethink Plastics
Circular by Design: What It Takes to Rethink Plastics episode artwork
#7
08/20/2025

In this episode of Plastic Climate Future, we speak with Dr. Christine Bunte, Managing Director of Plastics Europe, about what it really means to make plastics circular โ€” and why achieving it is far more complex than simply recycling more.

Christine brings a unique perspective, blending a background in polymer chemistry with years in public affairs, now representing Europeโ€™s plastics producers at the center of policy and industry change.

What we explore:

Why โ€œwell-madeโ€ packaging can be more sustainable than we think

The role of chemical and mechanical recycling in scaling circular...


Policy Meets Practice: Scaling Circularity Through Regulation
Policy Meets Practice: Scaling Circularity Through Regulation episode artwork
#6
07/24/2025

In this episode of Plastic Climate Future, we speak with Olivier Van Volden, a leading expert in plastics regulation and circular policy across Belgium and the EU. With a PhD in polymer science and a career spanning sustainable logistics, packaging legislation, and industry advocacy, Olivier shares how regulation can both enable and challenge the transition toward circularity.

This episode also marks a milestone for our team: for the first time, Pedro Guincho steps behind the microphone to lead the discussion.

Together, they explore what it takes to align EU legislation with on-the-ground innovation โ€” and why th...


Voices of the Ocean: Turning Trash and Data into Action
Voices of the Ocean: Turning Trash and Data into Action episode artwork
#5
06/26/2025

What if every bottle cap, cigarette butt, or food wrapper washed up on a beach was more than just waste? What if it represented a data point, a story, and a call to action?

In this episode of Plastic Climate Future, we speak with Sarah Weller from Ocean Conservancy, whose work transforms global beach cleanups into one of the worldโ€™s most extensive sources of data on ocean pollution.

From her early experiences diving in the Bahamas to leading the International Coastal Cleanup, Sarah shares how community-driven action, digital tools, and science communication are reshaping th...


Serious Fun: The People Behind Plastic Progress with Antero Ahvenainen
Serious Fun: The People Behind Plastic Progress with Antero Ahvenainen episode artwork
#4
06/03/2025

At just 30 years old, Antero Ahvenainen was trusted to lead the most critical technology project in his company โ€” a polyethylene innovation that would eventually power some of the largest polymer plants in the world.

He didnโ€™t have formal training in plastics. What he had was curiosity, courage, and a team with the right attitude. The result? A process that helped shape the future of the global polyolefins industry.

Together with John, who knows Antero from ๐˜ฃ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ฌ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜บ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜บ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ถ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ง๐˜ง, they remember the old days, laugh about old times, and reflect on what it took to bring big ideas to life โ€” sauna breaks and all.

This ๐˜€๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ is a tribute โ€” to Anteroโ€™s career, his leadership, his legacy, and the spirit of innovation


Bio-Based and Beyond: Pioneering the Future of Sustainable Chemistry with BASF
Bio-Based and Beyond: Pioneering the Future of Sustainable Chemistry with BASF episode artwork
#3
05/13/2025

In this episode of Plastic Climate Future, BASF experts Dr. Ivana Krkljuลก, Dr. Christian Krueger, and Prof. Peter Saling discuss the future of sustainable chemistry through the lens of bio-attributed products, mass balance, and industrial decarbonization. Drawing from their recently published book chapter, the conversation unpacks the science, standards, and strategies driving BASFโ€™s climate-focused transformation.

Key Highlights:

๐—•๐—ถ๐—ผ-๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฏ๐˜‚๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐˜๐˜€: Understanding their role and significance in reducing carbon footprints.

๐— ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐—ฏ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ: Demystifying the concept and its importance beyond just "creative accounting."

๐——๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜‡๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜๐—ฟ๐˜†: Practical strategies and innovations making a real impact.

๐ŸŽง Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!


Transforming Waste into Wonders: WildPlastic's Mission with Christian Sigmund
Transforming Waste into Wonders: WildPlastic's Mission with Christian Sigmund episode artwork
#2
04/17/2025

In the second episode of the podcast series Plastic. Climate. Future: A Journey into Circular Solutions for a Sustainable World, Christian Sigmund discusses WildPlasticโ€™s mission and its innovative approach to transforming plastic waste into sustainable packaging solutions. He also reflects on the pivotal moment that redirected his career towards addressing the global plastic crisis.

Key Highlights:

๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ฏ๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ธ๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด & ๐—ด๐—น๐—ผ๐—ฏ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐˜„๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—น๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป โ€“ Turning plastic waste into packaging while collecting it worldwide to fight pollution.

๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฒ๐˜…๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜€๐˜†๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ๐—บ๐˜€ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐˜ โ€“ Focusing on linking existing systems to make recycling more efficient and effective.

๐—” ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ด-๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—บ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—บ๐—ถ๐˜๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ โ€“ Vision to be part of the solution for decades, working tirelessly to address the global plastic problem.

๐ŸŽง Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!


Can You Reimagine Performance Through Circularity in Sportswear? with Christian Goldhahn from On Running
Can You Reimagine Performance Through Circularity in Sportswear? with Christian Goldhahn from On Running episode artwork
#1
01/28/2025

In the first episode of this new podcast series: Plastic. Climate. Future.: A Journey into Circular Solutions for a Sustainable World. , we are joined by Christian Goldhahn, a material scientist at ON Running, to explore how circularity is reshaping the sportswear industry.

Key Highlights:

โ€ข Bio-Based Materials in Performance Gear: Christian explains how renewable materials are redefining performance without compromising on quality.

โ€ข Closed-Loop Systems for Sustainability: Discover ON Runningโ€™s innovations in creating fully recyclable sportswear.

โ€ข Scaling Circular Design: Learn about the challenges of making circular systems economically viable in the competitive sportswe...


The Tight Knot of Sustainability in Fashion with Nicolรฒ Giusti from Tommy Hilfiger
The Tight Knot of Sustainability in Fashion with Nicolรฒ Giusti from Tommy Hilfiger episode artwork
#72
12/17/2024

In the latest episode of the Plastic. Climate. Future. podcast, we sit down with sustainability expert Nicolo Giusti to untangle some of the toughest challenges facing the fashion industry as it strives to become more sustainable.

This insightful conversation covers some of the most pressing topics shaping the future of fashion:

โ€ข Nicoloโ€™s journey from working in textiles to founding the Sustainable Academy, where he advocates for meaningful change in the industry.

โ€ข The reality behind terms like โ€œvegan leatherโ€ and how misleading claims can contribute to greenwashing.

โ€ข The uphill battle of making footw...


Carbon Cuts at the Core: BASFโ€™s vision for a Greener Chemistry Future Ivana Krkljuลก from BASF
Carbon Cuts at the Core: BASFโ€™s vision for a Greener Chemistry Future Ivana Krkljuลก from BASF episode artwork
#70
12/10/2024

In the latest episode of the Plastic. Climate. Future. podcast, we sit down with Ivana Krkljus from BASF to discuss the companyโ€™s innovative approaches to sustainability. As a leader in the chemical industry, BASF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition toward renewable materials.

Highlights from the Episode:

โ€ข Innovative Carbon Solutions: Ivana provides insight into BASFโ€™s Carbon Division, a key player in the companyโ€™s journey to achieving a low-carbon footprint.
โ€ข Biogenic Feedstocks and Renewables: Learn about the integration of renewable raw materials into BASFโ€™s processes, along with t...