Are Enzymes the Missing Link in Plastics Circularity?

More from Plastic. Climate. Future. All episodes →

1. 

   S4 · E7 · 1 Jul 2026 · 38 min

   Are Circular Plastics Ready for the Mainstream?

   Circular plastics have moved beyond pilot projects. Today, companies are investing in mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, renewable feedstocks, and even CO₂-based materials. But are these solutions ready to scale—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 evolving—from linear production towards truly circular value chains. Together, we discuss: What it takes…

2. 

   S4 · E6 · 9 Jun 2026 · 55 min

   Is Seaweed a New Hope for Sustainable Packaging?

   In this episode, we speak with Neil Morris, founder of Kelpi, about how seaweed-based materials could help reshape the future of packaging — 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.…

3. 

   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…

4. 

   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…

5. 

   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…

6. 

   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…

7. 

   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…

8. 

   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…

9. 

   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…

10. 

    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…