Circular Plastic Podcast

Polystyrene has a bad reputation when it comes to recyclability. But is that really fair? In this episode, we are joined by Justin Riney, Commercial Sustainability Manager at INEOS Styrolution, who’ll help us unpack the realities and reputation of a material that sparks some of the strongest opinions in the industry.

In this episode, we explore a technology pathway that aims to solve one of the toughest challenges in plastics: converting polyolefin waste into high-value feedstock. To guide us through it, our guest is Eric Appelman from Aduro Clean Technologies.

Canada is reshaping its plastics system through policy, collaboration, and innovation. Christa Seaman, Vice President of Plastics at the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, and Meg O’Shea, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Canada Plastics Pact, join us to share perspectives from across the value chain, and discuss what the latest data reveals about Canada’s true recycling performance.

Is it possible to recycle single-use medical devices? Niels Otterstrøm, Project Director and head of the ReMed programme in Novo Nordisk, and Thomas Mørch from NG Nordic, share insights gained from five years of collaboration between Novo Nordisk and NG Nordics. 

Jan-Willem Muller, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Infinity Recycling discusses how their €175 million fund supports innovative technologies tackling plastic waste and helping finance the entrepreneurs and companies working to close the loop in plastic. 

Circular business models are essential in tackling plastic waste, shifting the focus from single-use consumption to reusable systems that drive both economic and environmental benefits. But what does that look like in action? Enter the Aarhus case: a large-scale reuse initiative involving the city of Aarhus, TOMRA, Plastic Change, and BCG. Together, they have developed a system to collect, clean, and redistribute reusable cups—one of the biggest pilots of its kind globally.

Inari Seppä, leader of circular advocacy at Eastman Chemical Company, shares Eastman's journey towards sustainability. Discover their innovative carbon and polyester renewal technologies (which convert plastic waste into valuable resources at a molecular level), strategic investments, and ambitious goals for carbon neutrality by 2050. 

Valentijn De Neve, CEO of BlueAlp, shares insights on advanced pyrolysis technology, sustainable solutions, regulation, and key industry partnerships. BlueAlp is a trailblazer in the industry, known for its advanced technology and innovative approach. Valentijn will elaborate on BlueAlp’s business model, including their licensing and engineering procurement and key partnerships with major players. 

This episode focuses on the ever-evolving landscape of certification systems, a critical component in ensuring the sustainability and traceability of circular plastics. Jan Henke, Director of ISCC System, and Nicola Noponen, who was working as a Standards Director at RSB at the time of the recording, will take us through the intricacies of certification status rules, various certification schemes, and their real-world applications.  

To deliver on the goals for the circular plastic economy, we need research to discover new technologies and processes for the effective recycling of plastic waste. This episode brings you a glimpse of the potential future methods for utilizing plastic waste as a resource. Our guest, Kevin Van Geem, shares his and his teams’ latest research on how to make the plastic industry more sustainable. He will cover the usage of steam crackers and pyrolysis, and their discovered challenges associated with using pyrolysis oil instead of e.g., virgin naphtha as steam cracker feedstock.