Episode notes
PVC has been around for decades — 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 the products and…
Podcast
Plastic. Climate. Future.
Mat Wielopolski & John Sewell · Tech & Science · English
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
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S5 · E13 · 13 Oct 2026 · 34 minNew
What It Takes to Make Circularity Mainstream
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 CO₂-based feedstocks, the technologies are evolving. But technology alone isn't enough. Scaling…
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S4 · E9 · 1 Oct 2026 · 44 min
A CRISP Vision for the Future of Manufacturing
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 — 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…
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S5 · E11 · 29 Sep 2026 · 38 min
When Recycling Starts with Design
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 — 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-inking technology can improve the…
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S5 · E10 · 22 Sep 2026 · 39 min
Beyond Sustainability: The Strategic Value of Circularity
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jens Hamprecht, VP 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…
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S5 · E9 · 15 Sep 2026 · 34 min
Scaling What Matters: From Innovation to Industry
Last week in Berlin, Germany’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…
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S5 · E8 · 10 Sep 2026 · 17 min
Turning Germany’s Industrial Strength into Action
This week, Germany’s plastics industry takes its innovation story to Berlin — and our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland looks at what it will take to turn industrial strength into action. Ahead of this week’s innovation press conference, we sit down with Christine Bunte from Plastics Europe Deutschland to discuss what Germany’s plastics industry can contribute to the country’s high-tech ambitions — 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…
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