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1. 

   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…

2. 

   S3 · E12 · 7 Jan 2026 · 19 min

   YEAR-END WRAP UP (2025)

   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…

3. 

   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…

4. 

   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…

5. 

   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…

6. 

   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…

7. 

   S3 · E6 · 24 Jul 2025 · 50 min

   Policy Meets Practice: Scaling Circularity Through Regulation

   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…

8. 

   S3 · E5 · 26 Jun 2025 · 49 min

   Voices of the Ocean: Turning Trash and Data into Action

   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 world’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 the movement toward…

9. 

   S3 · E4 · 3 Jun 2025 · 40 min

   Serious Fun: The People Behind Plastic Progress with Antero Ahvenainen

   At just 30 years old, Antero Ahvenainen was trusted to lead the most critical technology project in his company — a polyethylene innovation that would eventually power some of the largest polymer plants in the world. He didn’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 , they remember the old days, laugh about old times, and reflect on what it took to bring big ideas to life — sauna breaks and all. This…

10. 

    S3 · E3 · 13 May 2025 · 47 min

    Bio-Based and Beyond: Pioneering the Future of Sustainable Chemistry with BASF

    In this episode of Plastic Climate Future, BASF experts Dr. Ivana Krkljuš, 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 BASF’s climate-focused transformation. Key Highlights: - : Understanding their role and significance in reducing carbon footprints. : Demystifying the concept and its importance beyond just "creative accounting." :…