Episode notes
New Year, New Episode – But First, Let’s Rewind. . . . – - (2025) We’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 — where individual action becomes global data. Ocean Conservancy proved that beach cleanups aren’t symbolic — they’re strategic. John picked Chemical Recycling Europe and Antero’s Legacy — long-term vision over short-term…
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
More from Plastic. Climate. Future. All episodes →
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S4 · E5 · 16 Apr 2026 · 37 min
Is Plastic Recycling in Europe Really Broken?
What if the problem isn’t that we’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 what’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 markets. From…
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S4 · E4 · 24 Mar 2026 · 43 min
Can Design Thinking Change the Future of Plastics?
What if the future of plastics doesn’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 — 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) driver of…
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S4 · E3 · 3 Mar 2026 · 41 min
Electrifying the Future: Can Power Drive Circularity?
Circularity isn’t just about materials. It’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 world’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…
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S4 · E2 · 19 Feb 2026 · 53 min
Are Enzymes the Missing Link in Plastics Circularity?
What if the breakthrough in plastic recycling doesn’t come from higher temperatures or bigger reactors — 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 — operating at ambient conditions and targeting even the toughest materials, including polyolefins. We explore: Why polyolefins have long been considered “uncrackable” — and what…
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S4 · E1 · 21 Jan 2026 · 45 min
The Packaging Puzzle: Will Digital Twins Bring Us Closer to Circularity?
We’re kicking off the next series of Plastic. Climate. Future. — — a 12-month journey exploring the innovations, systems, and people shaping a circular plastics economy. : : ? We kick things off by tackling a major roadblock on the path to circularity: packaging systems that lack transparency, traceability, and integration. Our guests — Valeria Masci and Ignacio Fernández-Pacheco Ruiz from the MAGNO project — share how advanced modeling and data tools are helping map packaging flows, identify inefficiencies, and design solutions that actually work at scale. : Why packaging data is fragmented…
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S3 · E11 · 11 Nov 2025 · 42 min
Is This the Most Unexpected Sustainable Material Yet?
What began as a curious design experiment has grown into a pioneering materials company, one that’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 — Adara fiber — is entering the market with a low-carbon footprint, strong performance, and zero microplastics. : -How creative design…
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S3 · E10 · 16 Oct 2025 · 51 min
The Lignin Solution: From Forestry Waste to Plastic Innovation
What if plastic could be made — not from fossil fuels — 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 — 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…
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S3 · E9 · 23 Sep 2025 · 48 min
Is This the Future of Sustainable Food Packaging?
In this episode, we speak with Ved Krishna, the visionary behind Pakka, a company creating compostable food packaging from sugarcane waste — 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 they’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 pressure…
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S3 · E8 · 3 Sep 2025 · 38 min
Conference Countdown: Why CRE Forum 2025 Matters Now
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 ( ) — taking place 16 September in Brussels, with a networking reception on the evening of 15 September. — ?This episode unpacks why the upcoming forum isn’t just another industry meetup — it’s a strategic moment for anyone serious about the future of circular plastics in Europe: What sets CREF 2025 apart — and why it comes at a critical time How regulation, innovation, and demand are aligning to drive real change What to expect — and why it’s…
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S3 · E7 · 20 Aug 2025 · 41 min
Circular by Design: What It Takes to Rethink Plastics
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 — 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 Europe’s plastics producers at the center of policy and industry change. What we explore: Why “well-made” packaging can be more sustainable than we think The role of chemical and mechanical recycling in scaling circularity How…
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